What is a freedom fighter? - Page 3

lavell12 · #21 (**permalink**) 07-15-2008, 10:15 AM

Freedom Fighter > Community Organizer

Quixote's Revenge · #22 (**permalink**) 07-15-2008, 10:30 AM

The Minute Men of the American Revolution were patriots.

Everyone else is a turrist

Daybreaker · #23 (**permalink**) 07-15-2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klipkap

So what is a freedom fighter (and is it a redundant term in 2008 - have such folk exited the planet)?

Broadly, it's someone who fights for the cause of freedom. More specifically, I think it refers to those who engage in violence (hence the term "fight") in the name of a political cause that is seen as less oppressive than whatever political cause it's opposing.

Quote:

And what is a terrorist, arguably the most overused word in modern debate that lacks a suitable universal definition imho?

A terrorist is someone who uses violent terror as a military or political (not too much difference these days -- was there ever?) tactic. "Terror," in this context, refers to tactics that are designed to frighten or intimidate someone into capitulation, surrender or acquiescence. It generally applies only to actions that are pretty much useless in a practical sense -- suicide bombing is a good example, and so is torture. Terrorism is distinguished in that it's a desperate act used almost exclusively by losers. It never works.

Quote:

What is anactivist and is it a useful term?

An activist is someone who acts in a political cause. This action doesn't need to be violent, and usually isn't. Activists are like the civil side of militants. They might share a cause, but one is using (ostensibly) peaceful tactics and the other one is using violence, or at least its threat.

Quote:

What is an insurgent and is the concept useful in international debate, if only for the undecided or mentally lazy?

I honestly don't know what an insurgent is. I've never looked up the word. I'm not sure it's real. I don't think I ever heard it before Bush started using it.

Tedminator · #24 (**permalink**) 07-15-2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotnat

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tedminator

here. try this crazyfook. he covered both.

...'course he got himself drawn and quartered for it

In view of your use of an image from the film Braveheart I thought that the following extract would be appropriate -

'The success of Braveheart, with its bedaubed hooligans and a simple, one-dimensional Wallace, tells us more about its audience than the nature of the patriot and his role. For the director and scriptwriter of the film, the concern was not liberty but the taking of liberties. Their Wallace was a noble savage, of the kind found in James Fenimore Cooper. The inaccuracies in the script are to be expected; Hollywood has in the past been free with the stories, among others, of Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Our knowledge of Wallace, if derived solely from the facts available to us, is more than adequate to provide a film with all the elements Hollywood seeks. An opportunity to portray Wallace as he was and, at the same time, to bring his story, unadulterated, to the audience, was spurned.'

SOURCE: 'WILLIAM WALLACE' by Andrew Fisher, page 279, ISBN 0 85976 557 1.

ooo goodie, a scot!

So what do you think, Scotnat.. William Wallace; freedom fighter? insurgent? terrorist? all of the above?

Scotnat · #25 (**permalink**) 07-15-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tedminator

So what do you think, Scotnat.. William Wallace; freedom fighter? insurgent? terrorist? all of the above?

A Freedom Fighter and a Patriot.

katiegrrl0 · #26 (**permalink**) 07-16-2008, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klipkap

Please excuse what is perhaps the flogging of a dead horse, but I for one am still confused by some critical terminology used in news broadcasts and political debate.

So what is a freedom fighter (and is it a redundant term in 2008 - have such folk exited the planet)?
And what is a terrorist, arguably the most overused word in modern debate that lacks a suitable universal definition imho?
What is anactivist and is it a useful term?
What is an insurgent and is the concept useful in international debate, if only for the undecided or mentally lazy?

Can we test any forthcoming definitions to highlight their possible strengths and weaknesses? For instance against:
# Nelson Mandela
# Lech Walesa
# George Washington

Seems to me they are all the same.

freedom fighter: fighting for freedom in a good way
terrorist: could be fighting for freedom in a bad way
activist: fighting for freedom by protesting
Insurgent: fighting for freedom by attacking the ruling class

HMMMMMM

I guess they are all all of the above.

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