Let's Play A Little Game: Terrorist or Freedom Fighter?

[DistressedAmerican]

We constantly hear about the "Terrorists" and how they are coming like barbarians to our gates. I would argue that the very term is devoid of much meaning. Many define it as "someone who attacks innocent civilians for political ends". By that definition terrorism is part of every war, on both sides.

Feel free to provide your own definitions!

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Wrote up this little quiz on American history to illustrate my point:

Question 1: The American Revolution - We didn't kill much in the way of British civilians as they were mostly located in England. However, colonists loyal to the crown were attacked, killed, homes burned etc. These people were attacked by:
A)Terrorists
B)Brave Americans throwing off the shackles of British oppression

Question 2: The American Civil War - Sherman marches to the sea burning towns en route and killing many civilians. These rebels were attacked by:
A) Terrorists
B) Brave Union Soldiers trying to provide freedom for the slaves

Question 3 WWII - Nagasaki, Hiroshima are spared US bombing as they are secretly slated to be used as pristine proving grounds for a bomb meant to get Russia's attention. Over 200,000 civilians are killed by::
A) Terrorists
B) Brave Americans trying to prevent the loss of American lives.

Question 4: Vietnam - Numerous villages are burned, untold number of civilians killed by American soldiers trying to "save" them. These people were killed and their lives ruined by:
A) Terrorists
B) Brave Americans trying to prevent the spread of Godless communism through Southeast Asia

Question 5: Covert wars in Central America - Again rural villages attacked, and civilians (even priests and nuns) targeted by the CIA and their US funded death squads. These civilians were intentionally targeted by:
A) Terrorists
B) Brave Covert Americans trying to stem the spread of Godless communism in the Western Hemisphere
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My point? ALL WARS throughout time have intentionally targeted civilians. The propaganda value of terms like the "war on terror" aside, I think that we could stand to get down off of our high horse a little.

When we raze a city like Falluja to drive out what the administration calls a small minority of the cities large population, do we cross that line?

Terms like "terrorist" that are thrown around are completely arbitrary and useful for propaganda purposes only. We need to realize that all sides in all wars fight with what they have. We must work to end the root causes of the violence rather than loosing the forest for the trees.

DA
http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/main.htm

[ieoeja]

My Answers

1-A
2-B
3-B
4-A
5-A

[Stand and Fight]

4. I think you're missing the point of the post...

It's a form of political satire. Kind of like Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels or even better his "Modest Proposal." That is, the questions are rhetorical and meant to invoke thought in the reader.

[Village Idiot]

9. What do you mean SATIRE???

You mean I am NOT supposed to be eating.....aw, SHIT!!!

[DistressedAmerican]

10. I Don't Care What You've Heard, Eating The Poor?

still tasty. Especially their young.

[liberal N proud]

1. In this case, the root cause is bu$h

We need to end george w. bu$h.

[Bigmack]

2. Add this to the mix...

in the American Revolution, most historians agree that only 1/3 of the colonists supported the Revolution. (Another third opposed it, and another third didn't care.)

Using the Repub vernacular.. the American Revolutionaries would be a "minority... dead enders."

[Webster Green]

3. I hate to be picky, but I must....

Falluja was razed, not raised. Huge difference!

(1)A, (2)A, (3)A, (4)A, (5)A

Also: Dude, lose the animated background on your website! Visitors would be well advised to take Dramamine® before viewing. I'm serious! Use animation very sparingly, or nobody will hang out long enough to see what you have on your site.

[DistressedAmerican]

7. Not a problem.

Checked out your site. I'll add a link to you from mine in the next day or two.

The swimming background was a personal reaction to a previous layout that was VERY dry. I've been thinking about a change. Maybe now is the time. In my defense it is limited to a single page of the site. Thanks for the suggestion.

In the constructive spirit of your comments, you have a bit of light blue on medium blue (mainly the links) that could use a bit of work. Very hard to read. Overall, very nice work.

[Stand and Fight]

5. Great Quiz!

I love the rhetorical value contained within it! I've often thought of this myself, but I am not going to trumpet it here in Oklahoma. After all, this place and Texas gave Dubya some two-thirds of his "popular" vote! Nonetheless, you hit the nail right on the head in your denunciation of the War OF Terror.

[muffin_man]

6. Kill the animation!! Please?

Wow! That was a little painful. I was staring to see some of your site (dial-up) but man the "ocean" was really making my head hurt!

[DistressedAmerican]

8. Done and Done!

What do you think now? Better?