When I was young, an age ago, the word terrorist had a specific meaning, which was someone committing shocking acts to strike fear and hysteria into the general public and thereby influence society and policy.
Then 9/11 happened and although the 19 attackers were most definitely terrorists by the old definition, somehow the definition drifted until it meant “inhuman opponent against whom we are justified to suspend the rules and respond in any way we want to.”
Ironically, this usage itself is designed to inspire fear and keep people from looking too closely at what’s happening. “Oh no! Terrorists! Fine! Just kill them! Keep us safe!” Using people’s fear to justify whatever our military and government want to do comes ominously close to the old definition of terrorism.
When I was young, an age ago, the word terrorist had a specific meaning, which was someone committing shocking acts to strike fear and hysteria into the general public and thereby influence society and policy.
Then 9/11 happened and although the 19 attackers were most definitely terrorists by the old definition, somehow the definition drifted until it meant “inhuman opponent against whom we are justified to suspend the rules and respond in any way we want to.”
Ironically, this usage itself is designed to inspire fear and keep people from looking too closely at what’s happening. “Oh no! Terrorists! Fine! Just kill them! Keep us safe!” Using people’s fear to justify whatever our military and government want to do comes ominously close to the old definition of terrorism.