What's the first thing that comes to your mind when I say the word "terrorist"?

Question

I'm working on a presentation for class about differing perspectives on terrorism. When you answer this question I would very much appreciate it if you would tell me what country you are from and any details about what makes you associate that particular thing with terrorism. No names will be given in the presentation so be as honest as you want...no profanity though please :)

Answer 1

I know it's bad but I automatically think of anyone from Iraq...that's bad and it's all bin laden, and suddam husseins fault.

Answer 2

Baader-Meinhof Group
IRA - post 1970
Symbionese Liberation Army
Black September

These a four groups which were active in the 1970s when I was a teenager. They were all referred to as terrorists, and this is where I first heard the word.
Baader-Meinhof was responsible for kidnapping a top German industrialist and dumping his body in the boot of a car.
The IRA (Irish Republican Army) was engaged in conflict with the UK for most of the 20th century but things escalated in the 70s with bombings that killed large numbers of civilians.
The Symbionese Liberation Army was an American group which is most well known for kidnapping newspaper heiress Patty Hearst, who subsequently joined them.
The Black September group was an arm of the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organisation) that is best known for killing eleven Israeli athletes during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. This action shocked the world because the Olympics had until then been relatively free of violence.
They are the only one of the four, that was based in the Middle East. I'm using these examples to emphasise that terrorism should not necessarily be associated with Islam.

Information on all of these groups can be found with a quick google search.

I live in Australia, which has so far been spared any large scale terrorist attack. Although on October 12, 2002, or exactly one year, one month, and one day after the World Trade Centre was destroyed, a large number of Australians were killed in a Nightclub in Bali.
Also, you could look at Timothy McVeigh, who was executed precisely three months before the incident at the World Trade Centre.

Answer 3

The first thing that comes to my mind is the September 11 incident. I did a presentation in my grade 10 English class, in which i had to analyze 2 essay articles. One of the essay was about the 9/11 incident. I still remember pictures of people jumping off the buildings. I'm from Canada by the way.

Answer 4

i am from india. india has a HUGE problem with terrorism. These problems maybe behind the border (caused by someone of the same country) or over ther country (a person from other countries causing the problem. Terrorism is mainly related with politics. To get the upper hand in politics, the parties cause terror among people in the country.In over the border, we get terrorists from pakistan and bangladesh to keep the government in pressure and keep the citizens in terror. it is not really about killing but about filling civilians lives with terror.

Answer 5

To me, the 1st image I get is an Arabic man, decked out in old camoflauge uniforms, a head-scarf that looks like a dish-clothe holding a Kalashnikov rifle (AK-47) and a Qu'ran and speaking in Arabic. And of course a big, bushy beard. Hey, don't blame me. Muslim terrorists are just the personification of terrorism in todays world.

What makes me associate them with terrorism? Things like 9/11, the London bombings, the videoed beheadings, the heavy anti-Western movement in Islamic countries.

I'm a European (British).

Answer 6

Im from the US, when I hear the word terroism , I imagine bombings, killings of more than 5 people by a group. If you go to Pa's capital sight , they give u a online lesson about terrorism, its really neat , it teaches you like what terrorism really is and why people do it

Answer 7

Bully!

I am from the USA.
Terrorism comes in many forms. People are trying to bully people out of their own insecurities. It happens in all societies, all education levels, and ages. It's an immature, unintelligent, desperate act.

Answer 8

America

Answer 9

Osama Bin Laden with gun standing near to Bush

Answer 10

i am american and i am dating an arabic man. he is one of thr best relationships i have ever been in. I think people should stop thinking arab when they think of terrorist and think of certain people. there are terrorist everywhere. some americans can be considered terrorist. the looks that people have been giving us sense 9/11 is horrible. people look down on you when you are dating an arabic man. When i think of terrorist i think of someone that has preformed an act of violence or another harmful act against civilians. not just the race of a person.

Answer 11

The first word that comes to my mind is zealot.