Politics Debate 2!

[hesaidhesaid]

Yes! We're back!
I thank you in advance for your wonderful contributions to the Communism debate. If you want to continue to contribute, please do so. Any views are welcome- and all are right...until proven wrong.

This edition features a new debate. And it's especially important I get some views on this one because I am writing a column on this and I am hoping it will get published...literally. Your usernames won't be mentioned explicitly but I may take some of your views and quote it.

Usual rules as always. Don't forget:
Country of birth, country of residence, Political leanings, Affirmation/Negation

*For those who don't know their political poll terms (e.g. Communist, Fascist etc.), please take the compass test before replying to the thread.

OKAY HERE WE GO!
Debating Topic
That the modern definition of terrorism has turned the Western world into a state of paranoia.

Discuss.

In your argument, I would also prefer if you gave us a definition of what you think "state of paranoia" counts as.

[Vlerchan]

Ireland, Ireland, Centrist [-0.25, -6.76], N/a

Would you mind describing how you believe the definition of terrorism has changed? Or perhaps expand on the 'modern' definition of terrorism. Thank you.

[sqishy]

Ireland, Ireland, [Economic Left/Right: -7.63 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -9.28], partial Affirmation, partial beyond the scale.

Taking the modern definition of terrorism being the usage western media uses, then yes, the western world is having an obsession with this enemy called terrorism. I go further to say that I personally don't see terrorism as being what is said to be at all, and the same goes by who perpetrates terrorism. My views on this are outlying.

[hesaidhesaid]

Ireland, Ireland, Centrist [-0.25, -6.76], N/a

Would you mind describing how you believe the definition of terrorism has changed? Or perhaps expand on the 'modern' definition of terrorism. Thank you.

"the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear"
'Modern' referring to terrorism as a force, including the work of Al Qaeda, Islamic State and other groups of this nature. 'Changing' refers to the changing face and nature of terrorist attacks and the groups who run them.

[Deactivated]

Canada, Canada, far left [-8.88, -6.36]

In my opinion, the fear that people have surrounding terrorism has not only created great paranoia, but it has also been used to GREATLY fuel racism against people who are middle eastern. This is especially true for the western world; I grew up in a rural part of Canada, and the area I was in was dominantly white, with virtually no other ethnicity. Trust me, racist is rampant there.

Lets just look at the fact that many people feel the most nervous and paranoid around people who are of a middle eastern background, as well as people who follow Islam. I see so many references to people who are Muslim 'being the ones doing acts of terrorism', and they tend to be the ones depicted as the ones doing such acts of terror. This is ignoring the fact that only a small percentage of all terrorists acts have been done by Muslims, and the amount of white people doing such acts outnumber them.

Also, let's take this into consideration; say you have a person who is of middle-eastern decent and Muslim do a terrorist act. Immediately, you'll see people express anger towards middle-eastern people, racist remarks will be shouted, you name it. I've surely seen this where I grew up, including people from my own family and friend circle (needless to say they're no longer my friends, or I've changed their views). However, nobody looks at people in the past such as Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin, and used their acts of terror and genocide to bash people of European descent. I wonder why....

[sqishy]

Canada, Canada, far left [-8.88, -6.36]

In my opinion, the fear that people have surrounding terrorism has not only created great paranoia, but it has also been used to GREATLY fuel racism against people who are middle eastern. This is especially true for the western world; I grew up in a rural part of Canada, and the area I was in was dominantly white, with virtually no other ethnicity. Trust me, racist is rampant there.

Lets just look at the fact that many people feel the most nervous and paranoid around people who are of a middle eastern background, as well as people who follow Islam. I see so many references to people who are Muslim 'being the ones doing acts of terrorism', and they tend to be the ones depicted as the ones doing such acts of terror. This is ignoring the fact that only a small percentage of all terrorists acts have been done by Muslims, and the amount of white people doing such acts outnumber them.

Also, let's take this into consideration; say you have a person who is of middle-eastern decent and Muslim do a terrorist act. Immediately, you'll see people express anger towards middle-eastern people, racist remarks will be shouted, you name it. I've surely seen this where I grew up, including people from my own family and friend circle (needless to say they're no longer my friends, or I've changed their views). However, nobody looks at people in the past such as Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin, and used their acts of terror and genocide to bash people of European descent. I wonder why....

I agree with the racism/xenophobia aspect

[hesaidhesaid]

bump

[Miserabilia]

socialist Netherlands here

I aggree but not fully. Terrorism is still an issue and the definition is often properly used, but I do think a lot of things that used to be called war are now called terrorism; it's war that has changed, not terrorism that has increased, if that makes any sense.