September 8th, 2004 - Jon

I like to think that my columns make you think about world events... but there are certain things you just can't stop thinking about. The horrible thing is, you get much more bad news than good news. If you just don't keep up with world events, you won't know that Chechen rebels held around 600 people hostage in a school in southern Russia. Many of the captured were small children, going in for an innocent day at school. For some children, it was their first day at school. For some of them, it was also their last, and the last thing they ever did. The terrorists were demanding independence from the Russian government, and so brainwashed with hate, these people were more than willing to kill the most innocent in an attempt to get their own way. The death reached around 330, over half of those children, who died from numerous explosions and shootings. Nearly 200 are still missing. The kids who had survived had not eaten or drank for three days. With minds so infant and unlearned, how this twisted act of terrorism must have played on their hopes and dreams. The rebels were driven by pure hate and caused around £1.5million ($2.6m, €2.2m) in damages. Read for yourself some of the horror quotes from the bloodbath: "I saw many arms and legs torn away in final blasts" ~ Diana, 14 "Most of us had to drink urine - it's all we could do" ~ Sasha, 13 "I was covered in blood and didn't know if I was dead" ~ Zalina, 13 "The floor was completely blown up near us. I was too weak and couldn't get out" ~ Arkadiy, 15 "My 10-year-old sister Lena was left inside there. I don't know if she's alive" ~ Zalina, 13 "Several 15-year-olds were raped by their captors. I had to listen to their screams" ~ Dzerase, 12 So who is to blame for this act of extreme violence? Well, a good place to start would be the Russian government, who according to some were ordered to storm the building, thus triggering scenes of terror and devastation. But was it the government's fault or the army's fault? Was there anything they could've done? The Chechens had already blown up their own president four months previously. If the government had come to terms with the rebels, how many would have been spared? One possible answer is it's Bush's fault, but in the long run. On September 12th 2001, President Bush declared war on terrorism. Three years on, who's won? Have they found WMD's? Yes, they caught Saddam, but was he the real threat? The American government have done everything possible to make sure they are better off... but have done nothing to help every other poverty-hit, war-ridden country. The horrible thing is, you can get every political mind in the world together, and all they will be able to do is guess the next terrorist attack. Since Bush declared war, the world has become more dangerous. I don't like to be the bringer of bad news, but for the forseeable future, that's all I'm able to bring. But, hey, don't blame me. I'm one of the innocent ones, just like you. And it's obvious now that we are the targets. It's sad, yet horribly true. Perhaps in the long term, there is light at the end of the tunnel. But the tunnel seems to be getting longer every day. Saying that, anything anywhere can happen. Perhaps we're approaching something that will turn fate around. If the innocent believe in themselves, the sky really is the limit. Thanks for reading.