Terror won’t prevail

SEPTEMBER 11 changed the world.

It revealed the true global ambitions of an ugly ideology determined to drag the modern world back to the medieval era.

But it was not until a year a month and a day later — on October 12, 2002, — that we Australians really lost our innocence to terror.

The first Bali bombings targeted bars in Kuta where sunburnt Aussies thronged to drink, dance and have a good time — ‘infidel’ pleasures considered offensive to Islamofascists with exploding backpacks. This left 88 of us dead. Today, terror attacks are depressingly routine and expected.

We know jihadis (as well as people with mental problems adopting the tyranny of our time) will continue to threaten civilians and police going about their lives in our major cities and foreign idylls where we once travelled to relax.

But in October 2002 the depths of our enemies’ depravity was still a surprise.

So where do we draw strength from today in the face of unremitting wickedness from ignorant and deluded young men?

It is from stories like that of Grovedale mum Therese Fox who survived the inferno of Bali but lost friends to the actions of fanatics.

With burns to 85 per cent of her own body she fought for her own survival in order to see her children again.

Like most inspirational people, Ms Fox shuns attention wanting the focus of this sad anniversary to be on those left behind.

But it is impossible to ignore her example and inner strength.

She says Bali made her a better person despite “some fanatic” robbing young people of their lives.

Like her we withstand the regular terror attacks for our children and our future.

We draw hope from the knowledge that our society is a good one, a fair and rational one where good lives can be made. These are our ideals. And the fanatics can never burn those down.