External vs. Internal Terrorism

The simple definition of terrorism is

the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion

Basically using fear as a tool for control. If you asked someone in the US for an example of terrorism I believe the most likely answer would be flying planes into buildings. If you asked for multiple examples then planes, suicide bombers, and car bombs would probably come up. All of those are terrorism, but there's a more subtle version of terrorism that most don't think about.

All of the examples above involve external terrorism, an act of terrorism exercised against those outside your group. While heinous and inexcusable, external terrorism is nevertheless very effective. After it's used every parked car, every other person in a shopping mall, and ever plane you're about to board becomes a source of fear. However, in order for external terrorism to be possible you have to first resort to internal terrorism.

Internal terrorism is the use of fear to control those inside your group. Instead of car bombs, airplane missiles, and human grenades you use the fear of "The Other" (an outside group). For those terrorist acts listed above fear of the US, also referred to by some as the Great Satan, was used to gain volunteers for the suicide missions necessary to carry out those acts. Mix an unhealthy level of fear, a massive dose of brainwashing, dilution of free will, and X number of virgins and you have an internal group who's willing to carry out those external acts of terrorism. Without internal terrorism it would be impossible to execute external terrorism.

Internal terrorism doesn't have to result in external terrorism, though. Instead of physical acts of violence against the other, internal terrorism can influence social acceptance. Using internal terrorism to these ends has to be more subtle, at least to those inside the group. Say allowing it will take away your rights, they're a threat to family/Christian values, make some other bullshit up, and the flock is influenced to deny a whole group of "The Other" the right to marry.

Another difference between the two is the tools used. External terrorism is fairly obvious. The use of bombs, whether conventional or makeshift, guns, knives, or any other weapon to instill fear in a group outside your own makes it external terrorism. The tools for internal terrorism are more subtle and numerous.

Fear of stereotypes
Giving your group all of the information won't incite fear as much as only telling them what you want them to hear. Those of us who've studied philosophy and morality term this "lying through ommission", but perhaps the internal terrorists think of it as "plausible deniability". Take something that has a grain of truth if you squint, turn your head sideways, and stick your fingers in your ears and tell it to your followers/fellow members as if it's a fact. Such as

[Some] Homosexuals [and heterosexuals] are child molesters.

Anyone not for [government proxy led] prayer in [public] schools is an atheist [, or supports the First Amendment].

or

There was a study done that shows a corrolation between autism and vaccinations [, that was later shown to use falsified data].

In those cases there's a hint of truth, but when the details are added then it's shown there's no reason to fear. Of course, the internal terrorists want fear, so they leave the important parts out. That leads us to the next one.

Fear of knowledge
Almost everyone has a comfort zone, and few are willing to explore any distance beyond it. That comfort zone encompasses those with the same beliefs and ideals, and lets everyone else remain a mystery. If they don't know any details about "The Other" then the internal terrorist can utilize that ignorance to instill fear. The internal terrorist can make up anything they want and be fairly confident that those inside of the group won't investigate, or even question, the claim.

Homosexuality is a choice.

Atheists don't believe in anything.

or

Vaccines contain toxins.

A little investigation, or even contemplation, would make an individual question these claims. Is heterosexuality a choice, too? Do theists only believe in God? Apples contain cyanogenic compounds, but the amount is low enough that an apple a day won't make you call Poison Control. That leads us to the next tool.

Fear of questioning
I'm referring to some people questioning the basis for their morals. It's much easier to have someone of authority tell you right from wrong than to take the time to examine it yourself. If they have a book that codifies the rules then that's even easier, because you can also read the passages they cite as reasoning. However, it takes mental effort to get off your psychological ass and examine the basis for those rules. Why should that particular authority person more moral than others, what basis is used for claiming that book is actually a source for morality, and what if you discover something that conflicts with what you previously knew? When you spend your life basing your views of moral and immoral actions on a source outside of you then if that source is brought into question all of your past moral decisions become a house of cards. Look at them too closely and the entire stack can come tumbling down, leaving you with having to start over from scratch. It's much easier to not question and continue on in self-inflicted ignorance/denial, than to risk finding out you're wrong.

Fear of leaders
Perhaps you're familiar with Thomas Paine's saying, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way." Humans are social/pack animals. As such we look for those with leadership skills. We tend to undervalue our own decision making abilities and overvalue those in authority. Inside of a group we usually either follow their lead if we agree with them, or stay out of their way if we don't. The reasons for active participation or apathy can usually be attributed to socialization. Even if you stay out of the way you'll still belong to the social group, just on an outer perimeter. That's better than being completely cut off. That brings us to...

Fear of being singled out
As I said, humans are social animals. We don't just like interaction with others, we actually crave it. The more we insert ourselves inside of a group, and depend on them for acceptance, the more difficult it is to bring ourselves into conflict with them. Can you imagine anyone standing up at a gathering of like-minded people and asking, "Why do you think this?" Especially if they've invested years of their lives in those beliefs. What reaction would the others have to the one asking the question?

Fear of being rejected
Outwardly questioning or criticizing the beliefs of a group can have drastic effects, especially if you're inside of it. A huge portion of your social circle will suddenly become off limits, and all of those relationships you've spent years developing will suddenly disappear. In some cases you'll no longer be able to partake of a tasteless wafer and fruit juice on Sundays, but in others it can cost you your job. It's a sort of blackmail that relies on us not being willing to be alone.

This is probably a partial list, but these are the major tools I could think of. All of them have one thing in common, using our own fears against us. However, they take the small fear of the unknown and escalate it into a phobia.

I'll admit that external terrorism isn't as immoral as internal terrorism, but both are still immoral. Spreading a rumor about someone isn't as bad as beating them up isn't as bad as killing them, but all of those actions are still immoral. As with anything immoral, I also feel the need to point it out and criticize it.

Don't follow blindly. If someone in authority uses fear as a means of making you take action, question their motives. Shrug off that cloak of comfort and expose yourself to something new. In the process you'll likely find out that there's no reason to fear, and the leader you look up to is just as fallible as you are... maybe even more. Don't be afraid to stand up to them, either. The only way they can utilize your fear is if you allow it.

Fear, either subtle or overt, is the weapon of the terrorist, and if we give into it they win.