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Israel-Palestine megathread for the remainder of the weekend (beehaw.org)

submitted 1 year ago by alyaza@beehaw.org to c/news@beehaw.org

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the front page is now like half articles on this currently, so it's probably time for a megathread because none of us want to keep track of 12 threads on this subject and all the resulting comments. only major subsequent developments (for example, boots on the ground; pronunciations by governments; that sort of stuff) will get their own thread. otherwise please post stuff in here for the time being. any threads not meeting this criteria will be locked and removed. thank you in advance for your cooperation.

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[–] jarfil@beehaw.org 0 points 1 year ago (3 children)

If it simply meant using fear as a weapon, then every state that has prisons and police would be terrorist.

Well... you said it 🙈

The Oxford definition adds "unlawful" as an extra requirement, but I'd readily call Iran's morality police "terrorist", despite being lawful and state sponsored.

[–] Five@slrpnk.net 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I agree Iran uses fear to control its citizens, but that's a pretty facile statement in an English speaking community. How do you feel about Anastasija Kukhta or Mikhail Lazakovich, both convicted of terrorism?

[–] jarfil@beehaw.org 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Russia and Belarus also use fear to control their citizens. Setting a place on fire to make the state fear you, definitely can be called terrorism. Asking for sanctions against a state... hm, kind of? Technically, many of the sanctions against Russia are also intended to instill fear, including amongst civilians so they stop supporting their state. Making the EU fear whether it will have enough fuel for the winter, is another case.

There's a lot of terrorising going around these days.

[–] Five@slrpnk.net 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The word is useless for describing violent acts in a meaningful way. It can mean making children traumatized with bombs, or making HOA members afraid their property value will decrease with graffiti, vastly different actions and outcomes.

Tellingly, none of the people who tried to overthrow the government and caused hundreds of senators and congresspeople to retreat in fear have been charged with terrorism.

Meanwhile, people who take videos of animal abuse on farms are terrorists. Eric King is housed at the infamous prison for terrorists ADX Florence, and is referred to the counterterrorism unit for passing out Union cards.

No one who wants to be taken seriously should use the word "terrorist" in a descriptive context. It is not a meaningful word, it's a noise people make when the word they actually mean is socially inappropriate or politically inopportune.