tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8446351548038522890.post26001109479599185..comments2024-03-28T16:15:19.319-04:00Comments on Saideman's Semi-Spew: The Tyranny of Terrible TermsSteve Saidemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881915512311951902noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8446351548038522890.post-5223576611762542512013-12-05T18:55:36.644-05:002013-12-05T18:55:36.644-05:00Great post, and something that I have been thinkin...Great post, and something that I have been thinking about lately in discussing terrorism. Given that 'terrorism' has never had an agreed-upon definition to start with, it may not be a cut-and-dry example of conceptual stretching, but I would argue that the past couple of decades have seen the term used more for political aims across the spectrum than for accurately describing crimes. I find that the US administration is becoming increasingly comfortable calling any foreign combatants who aren't wearing military uniforms, and even civilians who stand in the way, terrorists; and these same "terrorists" refer to many US military actions as acts of terrorism. I think we have become aware of a similar situation among Syrian rebel groups and the Assad regime in recent months, with all groups insisting that it is not them, but the other who is the terrorist. <br /><br />Putting all sides' rhetoric aside, the only obvious commonality is that the terrorist is the enemy, and the use of the 'terrorist' label seems aimed more at garnering support than defining particular traits of a person or group.Kay Metvinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14487463329696384510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8446351548038522890.post-6924764840840402042013-12-05T18:47:58.226-05:002013-12-05T18:47:58.226-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kay Metvinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14487463329696384510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8446351548038522890.post-72129468624183286052013-12-04T12:46:13.197-05:002013-12-04T12:46:13.197-05:00Great post, Steve! Here’s my entry for your Spew c...Great post, Steve! Here’s my entry for your Spew contest - Neoconservative!! Overused as an insult and void of ANY relevance in explaining Iraq or US foreign policy more generally. Want proof? Here’s my case.<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Explaining-Iraq-War-Counterfactual-Evidence/dp/1107676584Your poker buddy, Franknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8446351548038522890.post-30965430280999767672013-12-04T12:41:50.292-05:002013-12-04T12:41:50.292-05:00Though these concepts may never have been precise ...Though these concepts may never have been precise enough to be useful, I would add both "modernity" and "post-modernity" and their variations. Both originally referred to specific socio-historical developments, but they are now applied to nearly everything, from architecture to video games, and have used as a weapon slung around academic debates so much that they are quickly becoming meaningless.John O.noreply@blogger.com