4 ms·
Terrorist is an arbitrary term used to stifle dissent and demonide an opposition. One could use the term "freedom fighter" in it place and suddenly it has a who
by alan_cx 13y ago
Terrorist is an arbitrary term used to stifle dissent and demonide an opposition. One could use the term "freedom fighter" in it place and suddenly it has a whole new moral meaning.
We Brits know this well, as we referred to the IRA terrorists, while many Americans and Irish called them freedom fighters, while funding them.
Perhaps consider this when Nelson Mandela dies. A man who for years was considered a terrorist, but is now almost universally considered a freedom fighter.
Note: I have mode no moral judgement about either the IRA or Nelson Mandela.
The falseness is this is in the application of morality labels. "Terrorist" implies something wrong and evil. Freedom Fighter implies nobility. Both are people using violence to achieve political aims. Much like the US does. Which means many world wide have every right to consider the US a terrorist state, since that terror is by a democratically elected government.
- eitland 13y agoTerrorism implies the use of terror, -choosing targets and tactics not to inflict the biggest/smallest damage but to scare. Typically this results in attacks on civilians instead of attacking enemy soldiers (who have been trained to handle fear). Other typical traits: using weapons that creates visible damage, injures etc The sets of freedom fighters and terrorists might intercept but neither is a subset of the other.
- malandrew 13y agoExactly. This country was founded by terrorists. "The first recorded incident in America occurred in 1766: Captain William Smith was tarred, feathered, and dumped into the harbor of Norfolk, Virginia, by a mob that included the town's Mayor."[0] Claims of US perpetrated terrorism aren't even limited to the founding of the country. Take the downing of Cubana de Aviación Flight 455 and the Contras in Nicaragua for example[5] [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarring_and_feathering http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarring_and_feathering [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Liberty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Liberty [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaspée_Affair http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaspée_Affair [4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Marion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Marion [5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubana_de_Aviación_Flight_455 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubana_de_Aviación_Flight_455 [6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contras http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contras