TerrorismWhat exactly does terrorism mean? According to Oxford Dictionary, terrorism is the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims or the state of fear and submission produced by terrorization. The root of the word terrorism is taken from a Latin term meaning “to frighten”. It became part of the phrase “terror cimbricus”, which was used by ancient Romans in 105BC to describe the panic that ensued as they prepared for an attack by a fierce warrior tribe. The word was used a lot during the time of Robespierre and the Reign of Terror. This was a time period where Maximilien Robespierre used the guillotine to kill 30,000 people across France. Maximilien Robespierre was eventually overthrown and beheaded himself. Today the term terrorism has basically the same meaning, although it has become better defined over the years. Other words similar to terrorism include, chaos, lawlessness, trouble, disturbance and unrest. The antonyms of terrorism are calm, harmony and order.
An example of terrorism would be one that happened on September 11th, 2001. This marks the day The World Trade Center was struck by two planes killing three thousand american and international citizens. The terrorists flew American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m. Twenty minutes later at 9:03 a.m , another group of terrorists flew United Airlines Flight 175 into the south tower. Hundreds of special agents and professional workers joined together as a rescue force and barely escaped when the south tower collapsed in ten seconds at 9;59 a.m. With survivors still emerging from the debris, the north tower fell 29 minutes later. Ten terrorists had killed 2,752 people, hundreds of emergency responders and one current and one former FBI special agent all in less than two hours.
The spotlight that has been cast on the Islamic State terror group in Syria has also put a new focus on a Massachusetts man wanted for terrorism, who is believed to be living in that country and possibly supporting ISIS.