Terrorism; the use or threat of force or violence to intimidate, to strike fear or to coerce action
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10 comments:
terrosim: The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons. See www.dictionary.com. By omitting the "unlawful" element of terrorism, your definition implies that police and even parents who spank their children are terrorists, which effectively renders the term "terrorism" meaningless.
correction, you've probably never heard of "terrosim," I meant terrorism.
Additionally, "terrorism" is committed by a "person" or "organized group" to intimidate "societies or governments." Again, taking these elements into account allows us to exclude fathers who spank their kids from the category of terrorist.
A father who abuses, a policeman beating and killing unarmed victims, and a US government killing 25,000 civilians while also cutting taxes for the wealthy is under the umbrella of "unlawful".
Terrorism is very well defined and meaningfull.
Physical, mental, and verbal violence are all forms of terrorism. That is the point - to "strike fear".
TB
Actually, there is nothing unlawful about the U.S. government cutting taxes for anyone. Some may think it unfair, but it is not "unlawful." And no, all forms of violence are not forms of terrorism, b/c all forms of violence do not fall within the definition of terrorism. Ted Bundy killed lots of people , as did Timothy McVeigh. Ted Bundy's killings were not meant to send a message to society or a government. They were simply for his own pleasure. Timothy McVeigh, on the other hand, resented the federal government, particularly its handling of Branch Dividian Compound in Waco, Texas. The Oklahoma City bombing was meant as retaliation against the U.S. Govermnet. One was a "serial killer" and one was a "terrorist." You might say the distinction is meaningless, but if you're not going to recognize any nuance at all, why use the term "terrorist" or "serial killer?" Why not just refer to "killers." Or you could go even broader and just refer to "bad people." That way we can lump shoplifters, jaywalkers, terrorists, dictators, serial killers, abusive fathers and anybody else into one, uncomplicated category.
"terrorism" is a term that is in vogue right now. people are quick to throw it around carelessly without regard for its actual meaning. someone can be doing something wrong without actually being a terrorist. if you disagree with U.S. foreign policy, then use the term "jingoism." terrorism is simply inapplicable when we're talking about nation on nation violence. it certainly doesn't make war right or desirable, but there's really no reason to mislable it as terrorism.
i whole-heartedly agree. from here on out, we should all refer to those bad people in a language that is simply understood, and simply stated from a simpleton. why mince words? after all, we all know who and what these people are anyway. they're the "evil doers".
peace?
here we go again...heaven forbid we actually ever admit that we as the USA have ever mis-used our power to coerce or intimidate other people or nations for our own selfish and self serving reasons...
That statement above is the sole reason we exist as a nation. European expansion to the west for their "freedom" actually enslaved or killed those already occupying this territory because they believed it was rightfully "theirs" to take. This is the kind of mindset we continue to have as a nation and that is simply unbiblical. Pride is the reason we behave as we do...this is not to say that everything the US does is wrong...but to not admit that some of our practices and tactics border on terrorism, or at the very least bullying, is indicitive of the disease of pride infecting this culture.
I thank God that I live in the US; however, I can freely admit that I don't like what the Government of the US has become(and in some ways has always been). Despite the apparent common perception, it IS possible for someone to be a follower of Christ and yet completely disagree with most of the ideology of the US.
Noone is suggesting that the U.S. is always right, or even that its foreign policies are mostly right. Noone is suggesting that one can't be a Christian and disagree. If the polls are correct, nearly half the country disagrees with the war in Iraq. So you can stop feeling like an oppressed dissenting voice. I simply do not see the purpose in throwing the "terrorism" label around carelessly. To do that is to totally disregard the conventional, or correct, definition of terrorism. To call U.S. action terrorism is simply incorrect. There are plenty of other inflammatory terms you can use to describe the current administration, if you must use broad, inflammatory terms: warmongers, interventionist, jingoism, fascist...heck even imperialist, while still incorrect, would be closer to the mark than terrorist. Every person or institution who is bad is not a terrorist, just like every sugary beverage is not Kool-Aid. It could be tea, fruit juice, soda, etc. When we start abusing language, we can no longer communicate effectively.
i guess my comment was meant more in response to many of the other "anonymous" comments from the past that have been posted in response to any statement that disagrees with the President and/or the US government.
It just seems to me, according to some anonymous comments, that respecting our leaders and challenging their policies, programs, and practices are mutually exclusive.
That is just my opinion and perception, which is subjective at best.
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