One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter

Just discovered this article from about five months ago, analyzing Dr. Al-Arian's situation and critiquing the somewhat arbitrary designation of who a "terrorist" is. Unfortunately, often "terrorist" is used so loosly in the media/politics that we don't really know what it means. Its interesting to look up the word in the dictionary (an actual, physical disctionary) and then to look at it online ... a small project for anyone interested in the evolution of the meaning of words, and the influence of the current political climate on language.

The word is used in many different ways - and this article aptly discusses the reaction to activities by known members/supporters of the IRA within the United States versus those supporting Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

"[Richard English, author of Armed Struggle: The history of the IRA] says there are "many similarities" between the kinds of violence used by the IRA and Palestinian groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Yet even at its bloodiest, the IRA was tolerated, even openly supported, by many in the United States.

Jonathan Turley, now a professor at the George Washington University Law School, recalls meeting a known IRA member while serving as young page in Congress in the mid '70s.

"He would openly discuss his connection with the IRA and actively sought to raise money," Turley says. "I remember him sitting with members of Congress and drinking coffee and Drambuie.

"I often think back to that - can you imagine members of Congress introducing pages to members of Hamas who have access to the House floor?""

Unfathomable!

Anyhoo, it's an article that lends alot of perspective to the situation - a perspective that I wish more people would consider when throwing out terms that they don't completely understand.

Great article: What's a Terrorist, what's a Freedom Fighter?