is the only differnce between assination and murder the celebrity status of the victim?

Answer 1

The origin of the word "assassin" comes from the word "hashish" and relates to a small group of Muslim fanatics back in the 13th or 14th century who plied their members with drugs, then sent them out from their remote mountain hideout in either Persia or Afghanistan to assassinate rulers all over the Middle East whom their leader didn't think were holding to the one true faith. Assassinations occur because someone believes that the views or actions of another are contrary to theirs. They hope to destabilise whatever influence the target had over politics, religion, or, more broadly, society as a whole.


Motivation is the difference between murder and assassination, usually politcal in nature.

Answer 2

No. Murder and assassination are completeyl different, at least legally.

Murder is one person causing the death or killing another person, usually for some kind of personal gain or compelling reason. It could be said murder is any non sanctioned, NON POLITICAL killing.
When a cop shoots a suspect who is about to shoot the cop, thats neither murder, nor assassination. If the suspect is unarmed and the cop is in no personal danger and shoots out of prejudice, hate or fear, it could be considered murder and charged that way. If the suspect is someone in a position of public leadership, one whose death could alter political existance, then his or her death can be assassination. Usually an assassin (or whoever the assassin is killing for; Rarely do leaders do their own dirty work) does not kill for personal reasons, it's always because the person's political views are what condemns him or her to the assassin's bullet. It's not the level of CELEBRITY (If Paris Hilton was killed, it would be shocking but the leadership of the country wouldn't change because of it) it's the level of power that person holds over a given segment of the populace. Celebrity (the kind movie actors enjoy) is not power, not really. it is WAY more fragile than a LOT of movie stars and Oscar winning directors thought it was. JUst ask Mel Gibson, how many people are asking to see "Air America" or "Tequila Sunrise" at the local Blockbuster.

The bad thing for assassins is, in almost ANY case of obvious assassination (Malcolm X, MLK, JFK, RFK and many others in history), you turn the murdered into martyrs. At first, repeated assassinations could be excused for not realizing this, but the murderers seem to have finally understood this fact, as there are relatively few assassinations in this day and age. Unless you live in the Middle East, of course.

Assassinations these days seem to be limited to only the character type. We live in a society which seems to feel its ok to go along with lies, as long as don't consciously know they are lies. WHen I see thinly vieled libel disguised as questions, some coming right out and calling Barack Obama a terrorist, and few protest, aand most seem to think well I saw it in Yahoo Answers, it must be true, I start thinking very depressed thoughts about the future of this country.

Chuckles D, its not satire to call Nancy Pelosi a "Nazi"; it is libel in print and slander in voice and shows how little actual problem you have with her other than she's a woman in a position of power (and MAN that just terrifies you). So you call her a Nazi and a Baby Killer in your stupid little questions and think this is Free Speech. It isn't free speech to spread poison (you can't yell fire in a crowded movie house and consider that free speech either). You need to re-read the Terms and Conditions under which you post on Yahoo Answers.

Answer 3

I think it is deemed a assination when it appears that its been done by a known killer or group of known killers. mob, street gange, killer for hire, or any killing thats been contracted. but I think it leans more to the celebrity of the kiler/s.

Answer 4

Pretty much. Look at war and murder. The only difference is a uniform.

Answer 5

Assassination is when someone in leadership position or someone with lot of power and influence is killed in premeditated/calculated plan. If someone like Paris Hilton is guned down they wouldn't call it assassination.

Answer 6

Yup...but it is generally used if a politically renowned person is killed.