Defining the word "Terrorist"?

Question

Firstly, I know I'll get a lot of thumbs down on this... but it needs to be said.

Isn't the word "terrorist" just I way of taking away someones humanity and rendering their grievances meaningless? I mean, how do you define the difference between a terrorist and a freedom-fighter? Was the French resistance in world war two a terrorist orginization because they resisted the Nazis, killed innocent civillians, and blew stuff up? So basically what I'm asking is, if a resistor is muslim does that make him a terrorist? And if someone is classified as a terrorist, why should negotiation not be considered?

I now I'm going to get a lot of, "You liberals support terrorists" on this question, and that will only show that many people don't have any answers...

Crybaby Clinton: I predicted that someone would say something like your answer because they didn't have a way of answering my question... Check my details for the question...

Isn't it amazing how well my prediction came true? I said: "Liberals support terrorists" will come as "answers" from people who don't have any answers for the question. Thank you for proving that you have no way to answer my question...

Umm, the French resistance did kill innocent civilians, so did the american revolutionaries in the 1770s... Or have you people not read your history books?

Answer 1

It's just another label. People feel comfortable by putting people into cubbyholes - the smaller the mind, the fewer possible cubbyholes.

Answer 2

A terrorist is someone who goes against authority. A person who ridicules authority and tries to break it down bit by bit and when you think about it we are all terrorists in a way. Heres an example when the colonists resisted King George III they could be considered terrorists. But understand that a freedom fighter is only a freedom fighter if they win and overthrow authority. A terrorist is a person who fights against authority but the authority that they fought against is stil there to accuse them of terrorism therefore there is no essential difference between a freedom fighter and a terrorist because they do the same thing. The difference is if they win in the long run they are a freedom fighter. If they lose they are terrorists. History is made by the winners What is history if not a fable agreed upon- Napoleon Bonaparte

Answer 3

I agree. It is not difficult to predict the reaction of people who have no intelligent answer. They are trained very well with buzzwords and cliches, but are incapable of independent analysis of the facts. The real meaning of terrorism is illegal action taken with the intent of causing fear to the greater community rather than commiting a criminal act against a target group. Instead, many people are being lumped into this catagory, much of it racially based.

The problem is we have a fundamental disagreement with conservatives with respect to certain human rights, they believe in holding 100 people without affording them rights to catch 1 person, whereas our system was set up (ideally) to let more guilty people go rather to imprison innocent. Hence the burden on the state to convict beyond a reasonable doubt and the right to a fair trial and competent legal counsel. We support innocent people and the rights we feel we should be entitled to. People that disagree with these fundamental rights call this supporting terrorists.

Answer 4

In my opinion, a terrorist is someone who intentionally seeks to harm innocents in order to instill terror into the hearts of his opposition. The French Resistance fought against Nazi soldiers, not German women and children. The Muslim terrorists do not even attempt to limit their attacks to the military. They actually strive to blow up women and children because this causes a bigger uproar than fighting the military. And beheadings are definitely not called for. They too are done just for the terror aspect.

Answer 5

Wikipedia definition: Terrorism is a term used to describe violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians by groups or persons for political, nationalist, or religious goals. As a type of unconventional warfare, terrorism means to weaken or supplant existing political landscapes through capitulation, acquiescence, or radicalization, as opposed to subversion or direct military action.

Application of this definition to the French resistance is incorrect as they did not civilians or civilian landmarks - They were resisting the Nazi soldiers.

Application of this definition to radical Muslims is correct. Their own propaganda, audio, video, training etc. demands that they target civilians in order to further their jihad and be rewarded in heaven.

Further, application of this definition to President Bush or our brave soldiers, sailors, Marines and reservists is political propaganda - espoused by the terrorists and by liberals.

You either stand with us or against us. The liberals in this country, by their words, their actions, their writings, etc. - stand with the terrorists.

xbvi3tboix - What you are describing is anarchism NOT terrorism. Look it up! Furthermore the colonists fighting against King George III fought IN UNIFORM against at UNIFORMED MILITARY and did not target CIVILIAN. You think you are logical but you are sadly just ignorant.

Answer 6

Look up the word ethnocentrism. The libs ought to be familiar with the term, since they popularized it.

Now look who's being ethnocentric? Don't apply today's mores to yesterday's. You weren't there.

Today? A terrorist is someone who takes a shot at the US. That's good enough for most Americans. What's wrong with you?

Answer 7

Well, according to the Military Commissions Act, a terrorist is anyone whom George W. Bush declares to be a terrorist. At least it simplified things somewhat.

Answer 8

Without going into history details, to me a terrorist is someone who intentionally targets innoncent people in order to achieve a political end.

Answer 9

if a group of people clearly state they want another group of people dead on behalf of their religion they are terrorist . to say we are the terrorist for countering their attack would be supporting the terrorist , and yes liberals do suport terrorsist , they can't figure out who the enemy is for some reason

Answer 10

terrorists target civilians, freedom fighters target enemy forces.

the muslims blowing up their fellow mulsims in iraq, at their mosques, their markets, schools, etc, ARE TERRORISTS.

The US troops defending these sites, are not terrorists.

the french resistance did not target women and children, they were not terrorists.


If you can get information from a terrorist by making him feel like he is drowning, to save just ONE human life, then it is worth it. to save lives, to defeat these barbarians.