Terrorism: Terrorism And The Definition Of Terrorism

Terror in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is described as an intense state of fear. Which means terrorism should be the act of intense fear, that is only partly true. Terrorism is actually defined as the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims. Terrorism is a word that is misinterpreted and misused in most violent cases. Of the last ten major attacks in the U.S., only two of them have been terrorist attacks by this definition. The two were the 2017 Congressional baseball shooting and the Charlottesville car attack. (Johnson). Both were in pursuit of political difference. Antagonists would say how was 9/11 a terrorist attack then. The misconception is that terrorism has a face

The answer is because the definitions have changed over the years. The first definition of terrorism in the Oxford dictionary was a supporter of the Jacobin faction in the French Revolution in 1792 which called to overthrow the king of France. (Netzley). That is not the only definition that has been used throughout the years. According to terrorism scholar Walter Laqueur, there will never be a generally accepted definition by everyone. (“The Terrorist Mind”). Another reason why the definition cannot be concrete is because some believe that religious gains are linked to terrorism. When religious beliefs are included in the last ten major attacks, it covers nine out of the ten instead of two out of ten. Settling on a single definition of terrorism that was broad would clear up confusion and would help people

Which is racial profiling and flat out wrong. According to Global Research, only 6% of the terrorist attacks between the years of 1985-2005 were from Islamic extremist. Nowhere in any of the definitions does it mention a certain race or religion. This is especially not true in the U.S., where only 7.8% of terrorism happens (Muhlhausen). Americans are blinded by the few, but major attacks that have happened on our soil. The countries that should be outraged are Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan, which make up for over 54% of terrorist attacks and 58% of the deaths in those attacks (Keating).The people that we accuse to be the attackers are more than often the