12 Alternatives to Suicide/Homicide Bombings
by Andrea Reynolds, Copyright 2003-2009.

For all the government officials who are visiting this page: My list promotes civil ways for extremists to raise awareness of their philosophies which don't take anyone's life... which I view as precious. So don't put me on one of your to-be-watched lists. It won't be worth your time.

I haven't heard anyone suggest alternatives to ending the suicide bombings that take place in the Middle East. The solution isn't to tell them to stop but rather to provide acceptable alternatives to replace the unacceptable acts.

I'm counting on the media and press to get this message to young people who mistakenly believe taking lives - their own and those of others is a solution to a problem.

1. Consider this: suicide bombing is seen by the rest of the world as a cowardly act. On the other hand, taking responsible action is brave and heroic.

2. Walk through the crowded streets or central marketplace wearing a placard or "sandwich" board with your message (instead of strapping a bomb to yourself) to reach people "on the street".

3. Write a pamphlet with your message and publish and distribute it. Use the money for printing that your family would be getting after you were supposed to die as a martyr.

4. Write short, crisp letters to the editor of the newspapers in response to a current event you deplore.

5. Call in to talk radio shows as a listener and voice your opinion in a normal, measured voice - not shouting or rapid. Stick to the topic to appear credible and persuasive.

6. Start a web site which voices your views - you'll get more people to understand what you stand for - and direct attention to it by sending out press releases.

7. Teach an online class for free tuition using your web site and email mailing system to those who sign up for it. You'll reach more people with your message.

8. Post your message clearly and succinctly on Internet discussion lists.

9. Run for political office in your country. Campaign by riding through the streets in your vehicle with print ads and megaphone.

10. If you're so unhappy, move your family and yourself to another country where you'll be happier.

11. The first rule you should have learned as a five year old: If you don't like someone just stay away from them and find someone else to play with.

12. Do something constructive, not destructive to channel your anger and rage. Build something tangible or rebuild something intangible. Spend time with those you think you hate and with all your fervor, determine what you both have in common.

Laugh if you wish, because these ideas seem so commonplace and unimaginative to us, but I've learned that not everyone in the world thinks of the options we do.

If this list stops one person from a suicide bombing mission, it will be worth any criticism or jeers I receive.

Andrea Reynolds, Copyright 2003-2008 Please ask permission if you want to quote from this piece.

Postscript 9-01-03: I reread what I wrote after the death of Brian Wells who had a bomb strapped to his chest as he robbed the PNC bank in Erie PA last Thursday. It occurred to me that with all these alternatives to suicide bombing to choose from, Wells wouldn't have any reason to strap the bomb on himself. He had to have been the victim of a criminal mind.

How sad that police would not have tried to get the bomb off his body or disconnect it in the 20 minutes or more Wells said were left on the timer. Sadder still, that police left him handcuffed with his hands behind his back so he had no chance to try to remove or dismantle it himself.

It's tragic to me to think how long he pleaded for help before the bomb detonated.

Now that we know there was a "scavenger hunt" type list of places Wells was supposed to go before the bomb would be removed why didn't they rush him to each spot so he could get the key to disarm him? Several years ago this identical thing happened to a woman and she managed to get to each designated location and was able to unlock the bomb and cut the wire.

She's alive today. Wells is not. A month later the police and FBI still have no suspect.