Freedom fighters, or terrorists?

Freedom fighters, or terrorists? [+ favourites]

In the news, Chechnyan rebels are often described as just that: rebels, or freedom fighters, when they actually fit the description of terrorists. They take hostages and go on suicide bombings too, so are they not terrorists?

Also, IRA "freedom fighters" get the same deal.

It seems Arabs are the only ones considered terrorists.

This may also bring up the subject "What is a terrorist?" You could consider George W. a terrorist for trying to scare everyone into a war with Iraq, no?

"Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what you think it is you want to hear."

A terrorist is someone that uses terror as a way of fighting back. They don't have to win the whole war, but as long as they scare everyone, then they win. Yet, we think that all of the people we are fighting are terrorist. Which is wrong, we are fighting another nation. A rebelion is not a terrorist group, because they are trying to fight for a change in government, not to scare people. So it is wrong to say that anyone that fights as a rebel is a terrorist.

"If the opposite of Pro is Con, then is the opposite of Progress, Congress?"

I would have to agree Dani.

It appears that the word "terorist" is synonymous with "muslim". I don't think I've ever seen or even heard of anyone in America referring to a white person or group as a terrorist group.

It would be nice if they were called rebels, patriots, freedom fighters or the like.

But then again, that is propaganda....

Where are Chechnyan rebels and what is their motive?

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

Charles Manson? PLO? they were terrorist, and they were white.

"If the opposite of Pro is Con, then is the opposite of Progress, Congress?"

Charles Manson is not referred to as a terrorist by the masses, Dug.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

I'll agree that some terrorist organizations are called such things that they aren't. But, we don't just lable the muslims. We do lable the groups in the Congo, and Latin America as terrorist too.

I have a feeling that with the new terrorism craze we have changed the meaning of terrorist. They have started to define it to major threats against NATO countries(of course mainly the US) but the threat can't be a rebellion.

Such groups like the IRA are actually rebellions that we don't notice. And it is actually funny that the British and Americans will fight for others freedom, unless it occurs in their own countries.

"If the opposite of Pro is Con, then is the opposite of Progress, Congress?"

?

The point is that if you say terrorist on the street everyone thinks of Muslims in the middle east. I think that's the point Dani was trying to make.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

Yes, because they are the newest terrorist. The other groups of terrorists haven't done anything yet. If I were to say murders, you'd think of recent ones in the news, then you would think of the older ones.

"If the opposite of Pro is Con, then is the opposite of Progress, Congress?"

It's all politics. Rebels we're impartial to or we support are just rebels or freedom fighters. The ones we don't like are terrorists. Bin Laden was a rebel when he fought against the Soviets in the 80s. Now that we're moving in on the Middle Eastern oil supply, everyone that opposes us is a terrorist (or "evil-doer"... *L* ... that shit cracks me up).

It's not about current events.

The word "terrorist" has been associated with Muslims for over ten years now. this is visible in video games and film.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

Only some films not all. I can name some films that don't have muslim terrorists.

Also I can name some games that don't have muslim terrorists.

Even though, films and games are still based on current events. And I have evidence of that.

"If the opposite of Pro is Con, then is the opposite of Progress, Congress?"

lol

Dug: Reality is what it is. If you can point out one or two movies or games that break the trend that doesn't make the trend invalid.

The truth is that 9 times out of 10 if you mention the word "terrorist" to anyone on the street, they will think of muslims, and this has been the case for over 10 years.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

First of all, sorry I haven't been involved in this conversation I think I must've forgotten to turn E-mail notification on.

Anyway, Decius is right in that I was trying to make a point about how the word terrorist is practically synonymous with the word Muslim in America these days.

What I was also trying to bring up is the fact that there are other terrorists, right here at home, who don't threaten to hurt anyone, but might scare someone into doing what they want, which is what I meant with the George W. comment.

I also was talking about how the Chechnyans never receive repsonsibility for attacking innocent Russian civilians. You may remember the whole attack by Chechnyans on a theater in Moscow, or more recently, a suicide bombing on a bus. Not only are the Chechnyans terrorists on their own, but it has been known that they are influenced and working with the Muslim fanatics who Americans know as the only terrorists.

I do agree with Dugbug when he says that some films and video games do not have Muslim terrorists, although it's a little off the point. You will notice that many movies (mostly action)from just a few years ago often at Eastern European terrorists (i.e. Air Force One).

Ok, hopefully I cleared a few things up, and I am now turning on E-mail notification

"Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what you think it is you want to hear."

Even if it has been for the past 10 years. Wouldn't it still have to do with current events/dramatics? Like, Wouldn't it only be that we think about muslims because we forgot about the other guy? And wouldn't that be because they haven't done anything recent?

Just tell, if a group from the Congo or from South America attack a country big time, wouldn't we start noticing them?

"If the opposite of Pro is Con, then is the opposite of Progress, Congress?"

Well Dug, events will always change our perception. That is an obvious point.

But regardless of how many other things have occurred in the last decade, it seems that the word terrorist has been associated with Muslims unjustly.

When I talk to people, they seem to think the Oklahoma bombing was done by Muslims, even though it was American terrorists that did it.

Terrorist is synonymous with Muslim, perhaps due to events, but it is still unjust.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."