Defining terrorism

"The unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims"  

- Oxford Dictionary.

People so easily throw around the word terrorism without really thinking about what it REALLY means and who that could apply to. Most will think of bearded men when thinking about terrorists & when asked about terrorism they'll probably think of bearded men blowing shit up in the US/UK.

Here's the thing, by reading the definition that I've pasted above, does that not apply to the US government? The Iraq war was an unauthorized war (war = violence!) in the pursuit of political aims. Again, the same can be said for the tragedy that is Guantanamo Bay prison. The men in that prison will no doubt say that the American government is the biggest terrorist of all, especially when you look at the fact that human rights are blatantly being ignored there. 

Terrorism is defined by an individuals perspective, don't let the government decide for you! Lets just think about this for a second, please make an effort to be objective. 

A man living in the country you live in, so for me that would be the UK, decides that he's going to commit a crime. This man is not from the UK but he resides in it, so he commits this awful crime and goes into hiding. You offer to hunt this man and hand him over to those whom he has committed this crime against, yet they decline. (On a side note, it is a well known fact that the Taliban did offer to hand Bin Laden to the US yet this offer was declined, even though it could have saved millions of lives - blood hungry much?) This nation has decided they will invade your country over a man that you have just offered to hand over!! So, now your a farmer listening to all this over the radio, you hear that the invading nation has now begun ground operations your instinct is to protect all that you have. YOU have not committed a crime yet YOU are the one being punished for it! How is this justice!? 

I have been born and raised in the UK, within my own country I am still an outsider, yet if any country was to unjustly invade mine I would defend it - because this is all I have. Everything and everyone I love is here, so forgetting about whether the country / leader has done right by me, I will defend it! Yet I am now being labelled the terrorist - this is justice? 

Going back to the definition of terrorism, were the rioters not using violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims? Why have they not been charged and sentenced under the Terrorism Act? The governments of the western world wish to define terrorism for us, let us not be blinded by their propaganda. George Bush is as much of a terrorist as Bin Laden (if in fact he did commit the awful crime which has yet to be proven beyond all doubt), Obama is as much of a terrorist as George Bush and the cycle will go on. 

Our governments applaud the Arab people for standing up against their oppressive and tyrannical leaders, all the while they are blinded by their arrogance. Obama has and will forever be held as a liar because he has YET to fulfil his promise to close down the illegal prison in Cuba that violates all the laws he wishes to impose in the Middle East - hypocritical much!! 

Terrorism is committed by our nations yet we ignore it and put it under the banner of "War against terrorism", does that now mean there are two definitions of terrorism - one for arabs and the other for the rest of the world. 

It's time we start start thinking for ourselves rather than blindly following the crowd. Our countries and principles are in ruins, surely we are in need of change. This change will only come about when we begin to realise that we can think for ourselves and we can make ourselves heard. Enough of sitting quietly and listening to ignorant people spewing hate. Let your view be heard, because it's only once people see you have the courage to voice your opinion that they too will have the courage to think outside the box - start setting the example!