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"Rebels" "Revolutionaries" and "Freedom fighters" (amongst others) also refer to political violence. What distinguishes them from terrorists? Actually, I think
by smichel17 6y ago
"Rebels" "Revolutionaries" and "Freedom fighters" (amongst others) also refer to political violence. What distinguishes them from terrorists?
Actually, I think all four of these words have the same issue: none of them refer to a specific deed. Arson can be terrorism. Assault and battery can be terrorism. Mass murder can be terrorism.
Maybe we need to turn it into an adjective instead. Terror-theft, terror-torture, terror-trespassing. It seems obvious to me that those things are not the same. Yet we lump them all under one label. Maybe there's different lines where those acts cross into terrorism? It's not terror-theft unless you've stolen the nuclear briefcase? Or maybe a laptop is enough. Is that what we're arguing?
- pc86 6y agoTerrorism is an all-encompassing evil because it aims to undermine democracy. It doesn't matter if you do that by murder, arson, or mailing a letter to someone telling them if they vote you'll kill them. They all undermine the very foundation of our democracy and should be treated equally, harshly, and swiftly.
- smichel17 6y ago> Terrorism is an all-encompassing evil because it aims to undermine democracy. I can agree with this part. But it seems to me that the primary method by which it undermines democracy is our [over]reaction to it, like an autoimmune disorder. To be glib about it, Terrorism: exists Democracy: undermines self If the goal of terrorism is to undermine democracy, reacting by shifting towards totalitarianism is self-defeating.