THAT we are now on high alert as a result of a bomb scare in the United States shows that we live in a dangerous world.

THAT we are now on high alert as a result of a bomb scare in the United States shows that we live in a dangerous world.

We live with wicked demagogues who see nothing wrong in destroying lives if this will achieve whatever partisan view they might hold.

We are alive to the reality that the world is not a just place. There are still too many who feel that the interests of historically imperialist countries have been given too much currency at the expense of the rest of the world.

But that gives nobody the right to attempt to bomb a flight full of passengers as the supposed al-Qaeda-linked Nigerian student did with a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day.

There are those, especially in our country, who remember that those who fought for our freedom were called terrorists by our oppressors and therefor say we should not use the name to describe those who deserve the tag.

Let it be clear that any person who bombs an airplane filled with ordinary civilians going about their lives is a terrorist. Any person who uses fear and targets ordinary people in everyday circumstances is guilty of terrorism.

That they might have a worthy cause is a different matter altogether but one that does not change the fact that they are terrorists.

Such actions are unacceptable at any time, but are more so in this season of peace, joy and goodwill for all - regardless of political or religious views.