Is the word terrorism abused today? Why?

Question

I need a few opinions from people of different backgrounds, all your help will be greatly appreciated.

THANK YOU

Answer 1

Yes, the word terrorism is being abused. The word itself is being used to induce terror. Whenever the US government wants to distract people from something, we all of a sudden get a terrorism alert. The whole idea of a war against terrrorism that is winnable is absurd. Its like declaring a war on theft, or sin in general. It means we will be in a state of war forever, because there has always been terrorism (like theft, or any other immoral behavior) and always will be. It is human nature.

Organizations and individuals are being called terrorist on the flimsiest basis; such as civil disobedience, or donating to a charity that may be on a suspect list (how is the donor supposed to know). When the former Cat Stevens, (a pop singer from around 1970, who converted to Islam, and became a peacemaker) tried to come to the US, his plane was diverted,and not allowed to fly over the eastern seaboard, for fear HE was a terrorist. That's just silly. So was banning deoderant from carry on luggage. I think that this is all calculated to create fear in the public's mind so that they will support the war. Its also misused in referrence to people fighting American occupiers in Iraq. Without going into the merits of the war, and whether we should impose our system of government, the fact is, we are a foriegn occupier of that country. If another nation occupied us, and we fought them, would you consider yourself a terrorist, or a freedom fighter? Why do we call them terrorists? Then there are groups in the US that are labeled domestic terrorists, including environment and social justice groups. They seem to get the label for committing civil disobedience, which has a long tradition in this country. Was the Boston Tea Party a terrorist act? There is never an excuse for killing people, especially random non-combatants. That is real terrorism. The scares and the labeling of dissident groups is just plain dishonest, cynical manipulation of the public.

Answer 2

Yes it is. If you look at the words terrorist and terrorism:

ter‧ror‧ist  /ˈtɛrərɪst/ –noun

1.a person, usually a member of a group, who uses or advocates terrorism.
2.a person who terrorizes or frightens others.
3.(formerly) a member of a political group in Russia aiming at the demoralization of the government by terror.
4.an agent or partisan of the revolutionary tribunal during the Reign of Terror in France.

ter‧ror‧ism  /ˈtɛrəˌrɪzəm/ –noun

1.the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.
2.the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.
3.a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government.

Being a terrorist or engaging on terrorism is a set of actions not a religion or an ideaology. The terrorist act may be informed by a faith, religion or idea but the faith, religion and idea do not equal terrorism nor terrorism the faith, religion and idea.

For example, I am a Christian. I have killed someone. However that does not mean that the action of killing was Christian. I may have taken an idea from Christianity and manipulated it to justify my killing but that does not mean Christianity is a religion of death (even though there are many scriptures people can use to "prove" the opposite) nor that all Christians are killers.

Answer 3

Terrorism is the intentional focusing on of unarmed civilians. Stuff like pushing historic guys in wheels chairs off the decks of cruise ships, blowing up teens in Pizza parlors, lobbing unguided missles into residental neighborhoods, capturing fleeing basic university scholars within the backs with AK-forty seven, crushing the cranium of toddlers, and educating your possess kids to blow themselves up with suicide vest at part stroll cafes. Terrorism is an unjustifiable tactic, so there's no factor in being involved with the why. All we have to understand is the who. Because the terrorist by means of their deeds have located themselves external the household of mankind and will have to be hunted and slaughtered for the beast that they're. No difference want be made among the man or woman that straps at the bomb, or pulls the cause and those who harbor and help them. They are all responsible of the identical crime in opposition to mankind.

Answer 4

I agree with David J, someone has to jump in to stop future suffering. We are all concerned about creating a better enviroment for our children and grandchildren....but what about someone elses children and grandchildren? do they not matter? I'm 100% Polish and if for instance no one stepped in during WW1 and 2 then i and entire countries would not exist here today . America in WWll was isolating itself but this cannot work and i feel that America still isolates itself very much and this war is an eye opener for many people. but aslo I think that if America started this we have to carefully carry it to the end because I am currently reading an excellent book about the middle east ('From Beirut to Jerusalem' by Thomas Friedman) written by a pulizter winning reporter who lived in Beirut and tells about how the society is oragnized and describes the kind of politics that thrive in the middle east and its a truly wonderful book (highly reccomended). In this book he writes about ocassions when America came to the east and left leaving ends untied and causing major problems. So if America is serious about this they have to stick with it and make sure EVERYTHING will operate without the American government having to support it.

Answer 5

I have a Greek and American background. In no way do I believe that the word terrorism is being abused today.
I Cr 13;8a
10-24-6

Answer 6

Yes, I personally believe that it is. I have a European background.

The biggest problem with terrorism is that one person's terrorism is another person's struggle for independence. Think about the Kurds or Chechnya. Who can judge whether this is terrorism or an independence struggle? I certainly can't.

Answer 7

A question for intelligent people?
what would you do if a group of forigners attack your country,take it over,destroy your house,rape you,kill your parents,abuse your children,insult your beliefs and call you a terrorist for protecting yourself in your own homeland as well?will you sit on your hands and do nothing?and watch them stealling your oil and gold? If you try to get rid of them and you blow one of them up does it mean you're a terrorist or your religion is the religion of war and is full of violence?If so why there were not any before they attacked you?what else would you do if you were in such a terrible situation?
I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO REDEFINE TERRORISM AND VIOLENCE.

Answer 8

Oh *Hell* yeah. Most of the people who use it have no idea what it actually means, and that's very dangerous.

Answer 9

In some ways and to an extent, it is.