Texas church shooting leaves many dead (atleast 27).

[Jumpin]

Ka-pi96 said:

Jumpin said:

Nope, I am using the  Merriam-Webster English Legal Dictionary definition.

I am also not claiming that terrorism is a well defined term. It is silly sounding, poorly defined, and poorly used. You may as well call it Evilism.

Well that's your issue. American isn't really English...

And it is well defined, as shown by proper English dictionaries which list it's origin as well: "Late 18th century (in reference to the rule of the Jacobin faction during the the period of the French Revolution known as the Terror): from French terrorisme, from Latin terror (see terror).."

 

 

Touche! I was probably being overly difficult.

Although I think the French term might be understood differently, considering they were the founders of the current nation. Terrorism in late-18th century France was a populist movement. They had taken power in the name of democracy and freedom while committing acts of terror against the ancient regime. Like ISIS, they did a lot of bombings and beheadings.

I think the term has been ressurected and popularized today not for any objective purpose, but only to make things sound more terrifying. It might just be me, but it is kind of a funny word... not that terrorism/murder/bombs/beheadings/extreminism are funny things, just the word "terror!" is kind of funny.