is it ok to be luddite?

[Michael Baum]

On Thu, 8 Jun 2000 00:02:47 EDT, JBFRAME at aol.com wrote:

>Terrorism is a violent act, usually involving the killing of human beings, by 
>a person or persons who do not have the legitimacy of governments.  Of the 

Actually, that sounds more like a definition of assault and battery and/or murder, although I'll admit my law degree is somewhat, ummm, vaporous. I believe "terrorism" is closer to meaning the use of _terror_ as a means to coerce a (usually political) end, and the terror is usually accomplished by an emphasis on the maiming and killing of innocents, as opposed to clear military/political targets, the better to convey the message that your only salvation lies in whole-hearted support of the terrorist's creed, whatever it might be. That's why terrorist acts, with obvious exceptions, so often involving the bombing of school buses, passenger airliners, shopping marts, and that sort of thing.


Michael Baum <michael.baum at nist.gov>
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In their brief time together Slothrup forms the impression that this octopus is not in good mental health, though where's his basis for comparing?
    - Pynchon, _Gravity's Rainbow_