Why are some labelled terrorists and others heroes?

Warper

Scenario

Invaders come and take your land using violence. No one will help you. What do you do? Do you do whatever is necessary to protect you and your loved ones or do you let the invaders stay on your land indefinitely. Why are some revolutions acts of heroism and others acts of terrorism? Were the soldiers in the World War terrorists? It confuses me

Doyler92

Bias and propaganda.

landsleaving

Some are terrorists, some are heroes, I'd wager.

Bloody Nipples

It all depends on where you're standing.

Guill

Winner = Hero
Loser = terrorist.

TheIrishGrover

Depends on if they win or lose: They win then they are heroes overthrowing a tyrannical dictatorship. If they lose they are terrorists trying to oust a benevolent leader

digme

Warper wrote: »

Scenario

Invaders come and take your land using violence. No one will help you. What do you do? Do you do whatever is necessary to protect you and your loved ones or do you let the invaders stay on your land indefinitely. Why are some revolutions acts of heroism and others acts of terrorism? Were the soldiers in the World War terrorists? It confuses me

Depends who wins. "Terrorists" don't have the resources otherwise they would be an army using army tactics. Using guerrilla warfare is their only choice. People demonize them and call them terrorists,it's a herd mentality. If the media glorified them, you would too.

Ghandee

All depends on what side of the fence your on I suppose.


For example, your mate and a random stranger get into a fight in a pub.
That random is the baddy in your eyes, your mates the baddy in the strangers friends eyes.



(hope this made sense)

4zn76tysfajdxp

Warper wrote: »

Scenario

Invaders come and take your land using violence. No one will help you. What do you do? Do you do whatever is necessary to protect you and your loved ones or do you let the invaders stay on your land indefinitely. Why are some revolutions acts of heroism and others acts of terrorism? Were the soldiers in the World War terrorists? It confuses me

You're talking about the 'RA, aren't you?

fontanalis

If you agree with them they're freedom fighters, if you disagree with them they're terrorists and if you don't know what they're fighting about they're guerillas.

Liber8or

Heroes, Freedom Fighters, Terrorists, Insurgents.

It all depends on purpose and politics. Are they legitimate? Who makes them legitimate? One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist, depending where you as an individual stand politically.

You could argue Michael Collins was a terrorist... Yes, I went there. Then again, he may have been a freedom fighter.

I could go into a lot more detail about this issue, but I won't. I am sure AH will now commence with another "one of those" threads. :P

chin_grin

I love this image.

One photo, three views.

StudentDad

fontanalis wrote: »

If you agree with them they're freedom fighters, if you disagree with them they're terrorists and if you don't know what they're fighting about they're guerillas.

One mans hero is another mans murdering bastard. All depends on your point of view.

SD

Soulja boy

A side of a fence.

fontanalis

Zaniyah Weak Hangar wrote: »

You're talking about the 'RA, aren't you?

No, he's talking about the attack on the death star. But there are many questions over the official story on that so best not to open that can of worms.

alchemist33

it depends on methods. Some target combatants. Some target civilians. Killing innocents is not the work of a hero, and before somebody says it, there are innocents.

4zn76tysfajdxp

fontanalis wrote: »

No, he's talking about the attack on the death star. But there are many questions over the official story on that so best not to open that can of worms.

Lot of innocent stormtroopers died that day.

Soulja boy

The taliban were freedom fighters once.

Gadaffi led a rebellion once.

The IRA were heroes once.

fontanalis

Soulja boy wrote: »

The taliban were freedom fighters once.

Gadaffi led a rebellion once.

The IRA were heroes once.

Wasn't Winston Churchill involved in the killing of Iraqis at one point aswell?

Dudess

Self defence by catholics in NI/Palestinians I wholeheartedly understand - I'm fully of the opinion they were/are repressed. But self defence doesn't require launching rockets at innocent people or blowing up shopping centres on another island.

LH Pathe

Must I roll out the old adage it's because one mans terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. indeed around here one brother's terrorist is another brother's freedom fighter. And vice-versa but where families disagree we at least learn to never seek solace in numbers.

Soulja boy

fontanalis wrote: »

Wasn't Winston Churchill involved in the killing of Iraqis at one point aswell?

Winston Churchill was no hero, though Britain would like to remember him as such.

He was involved in the shooting of the communist party in my parents country that led to a 50 year junta that they put in place.

good logs...

if you cant be bought over with money then your a terrorist, if you dont follow the flow then your a trouble maker.

Bobby Baccala

well i think the empire where fighting for a good cause and luke skywalker was the terrorist

harney

I believe the expression that best sums it up is ...History is written by the victors.

guitarzero

Moral stance. You could be one of those people who say "I dont believe in violence" which means everyone is a villain in your eyes. You could be one of those people who think that a sheer minority are enough to tarnish a mass movement of justice. You could be one of those people who got their info through propaganda and accept it as such. You could have a very core, rigid view of right and wrong based on a background thats very dissimilar to the one you judge. Essentially, most people find it easier to just go with a hype or version of such hero/terrorist instead of researching and studying to find out what is going/went on. Sadly, most people base their truths on the words/info of some authority figure be it their parents, teachers, politicians and media. This is an act of laziness.

The answer is laziness.

Fratton Fred

fontanalis wrote: »

Wasn't Winston Churchill involved in the killing of Iraqis at one point aswell?

No he wasn't.

Why can't one man's freedom fighter be no ones terrorist?

gcgirl

Dudess wrote: »

Self defence by catholics in NI/Palestinians I wholeheartedly understand - I'm fully of the opinion they were/are repressed. But self defence doesn't require launching rockets at innocent people or blowing up shopping centres on another island.

Spot on

Dionysus

fontanalis wrote: »

Wasn't Winston Churchill involved in the killing of Iraqis at one point aswell?

"I do not understand this squeamishness about the use of gas.... I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes...."

- Winston Churchill, Colonial Secretary, to Hugh Trenchard, 19 February 1920. More on this here (p.213)

Overheal

Zaniyah Weak Hangar wrote: »

Lot of innocent stormtroopers died that day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFKhV_X6-cg

Dionysus

Warper wrote: »

Why are some labelled terrorists and others heroes?

Your tribe = terrorists; my tribe = heroes.


Simple as.

Fratton Fred

Dionysus wrote: »

"I do not understand this squeamishness about the use of gas.... I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes...."

- Winston Churchill, Colonial Secretary, to Hugh Trenchard, 19 February 1920. More on this here (p.213)

why did you not quote the whole thing? Omitting the word "lachrymatory" makes a big difference.

SV

One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter.

Frank Black

Because most conflicts are far more politically complex than the scenario you've outlined.

Son Of A Vidic

Dudess wrote: »

But self defence doesn't require launching rockets at innocent people or blowing up shopping centres on another island.

Nor should it be reciprocated by a savage and barbaric response. The brutal and horrific IDF operation 'Cast Lead', being a prime example.

skregs

They're only terrorists if they're Muslims

orourkeda

Dudess wrote: »

Self defence by catholics in NI/Palestinians I wholeheartedly understand - I'm fully of the opinion they were/are repressed. But self defence doesn't require launching rockets at innocent people or blowing up shopping centres on another island.

Nobody in that conflict was above killing innocent civilians

orourkeda

Dionysus wrote: »

Your tribe = terrorists; my tribe = heroes.


Simple as.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTOQUnvI3CA

KeithAFC

Depends what side of the fence you are on.