Terror

Terror. It's a word that once sat dormant in the bowels of the dictionary, attracting no more attention than any of its homonyms. Yet, in the blink of an eye, this vile word catapulted into the limelight, delighted in sudden drones of onlookers, surpassing every noun, vowel and adjective imaginable.

The word itself is just a word. Of the billions of words used throughout the world, there is nothing extraordinary about it. Yet the feelings and memories that this single word produce make it a symbol of untold evil, of cruelty beyond measure. Wars have and are being waged over it, yet in other contexts it can simply be the thrill of a roller coasting or the shock of a scary movie.

Young men and women have left their families behind to overcome the word, and even though the mission was though to be accomplished long ago, it is still as powerful as ever.

As news stations replay the broadcasts, as though it were just a rerun of some "reality" show, the actual reality sets in. It controls us, like a puppetmaster and his stringed toy, deciding what we do and how we do it.

Terror has nothing to do with the Middle East or an unidentified enemy. It has nothing to do with airplanes or guns or explosives. It is a part of us all, and like obedient children we follow its wishes. When all foreign threats have been eliminated and order is finally restored, it will still be a part of us. As long as there is something to fear, terror will still thrive upon that fear.

Yet, when the fear becomes overwhelming and hope seems a pitiless joke, there is still a triumphant glimmer of solace. It's still just a word.