Daniel J. Pipes

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Its murder, even if the motive is political.

Reader comment on item: [Beslan Atrocity:] They're Terrorists - Not Activists

Submitted by Lawrence M. Dubin (United States), Sep 8, 2004 at 11:57

"Murder" is defined (in the Online Dictionary) as "The unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by another human being."

Those who plant bombs, or strap bombs to themselves, or rig rooms with bombs with the goal of killing noncombatants are plain and simply murderers. Murder is generally is associated with a motive, e.g., personal enrichment, revenge, furtherance of a political agenda, etc., but is nevertheless outlawed in every civilized society, including Islamic societies.

Perhaps some of the romanticism associated with the killers would be stripped away if the press started eliminating its euphemisms, including even "terrorist" and "terrorism", which smack more of a political movement (an "ism") than criminality.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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