Denotations Of Terrorism

1112 Words5 Pages
There are many similar denotations of terrorism, but not a valid accepted definition. There are too many variables that play a role in establishing a worldwide definition of terrorism. Each region has their own culture and way of interpreting actions. With any culture, there are going to be biases and determining whether they are a ‘terrorist’ becomes blurry. With a worldwide definition, there can be a clarification of what exactly is terrorism. Accepting a one definition of terrorism can be hard especially when the United States created some biases against the Middle East. When American citizens think of terrorists, they think of an Islamic extremist and people that hate Americans and their freedom. An example includes the Oklahoma City bombing.…show more content…
When one calls an event an act of terrorism, it implies an “either you are with us or you are with the terrorists” stigma. This stigma was presented to Americans when George Bush addressed the Nation after 9/11. When you look at history you find that terrorism has been used for centuries. America was founded by terrorists. The founding fathers of America used terrorism to sway the loyalist. In this instance the line between freedom fighter and terrorist became blurred. To define terrorism the words need to be carefully chosen. Most definitions are either too vague or too narrow. Most government agencies stick to unclear descriptions of terrorism purposely to have many options on how to respond. If each agency has their own definition, they can choose what aspects of terrorism apply to…show more content…
One example of an extremist group in the United States is the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). The KKK is known for their opposition of the advancement of African Americans, Catholics, and Jewish people. They also openly disliked bootleggers, drinkers, and adulterers. To threaten their followers they held tar and feathering and beatings. Their goal was to restore traditional values through moral reform. In some cases the Ku Klux Klan would burn a cross outside African American homes to coerce them into leaving the neighborhood. Although their activity isn’t as prominent as it was when it was created in 1915, there are still members that carry the

    More about Denotations Of Terrorism

      Open Document