[Rictor]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21598697.htm

She nailed it right on the head.

[Ford Prefect]

Wow, someone still knows what "terrorism" means. Italy wins the prize. Of course I would make the argument that war is terrorism, but that's an ideological issue.

[Zarax]

Yep, but that's old news.
The judge had the visit of government discipline inspectors and the ruling has been passed to another court.
The xenophobe dictatorship is not out (yet... We're going to get rid of berlusconi in 2006!)

EDIT: BTW, the reuters article is quite precise except for the date, must learn to read before posting

[Rictor]

Yeah, I know that it's an old ruling, but as I understand it its making headlines now because the reason for her ruling was just released recently.

[Corsair]

Very interesting. But will it really affect anything?

[Zarax]

Not with the current italian government.

[Ford Prefect]

From what I've heard, the Italian government is somewhat like New England weather-- if you don't like it, just wait a minute.

[Fineus]

Italy... home of the Mafia... and they get it right. Nice.

[Zarax]

Thanks for your prejudice.
The current government lasted over 4 years for your information...

[Ford Prefect]

Geez, that was barely even a negative remark....

I'll insult my government if it will make you feel better. I'm good at that.

[Zarax]

It wasn't the insult at the government, since i quite oppose the current one but the referral to the supposed instability of the previous ones...

[Black Wolf]

Originally posted by Zarax
Thanks for your prejudice.
The current government lasted over 4 years for your information...

Yeah, but wasn't there something in the region of 50 or so in the time since WW2 before it?

[Zarax]

So what?
We had an highly democratic, pro minority proportional system.
It required several political adjustments but wasn't so bad, at least compared to the damage done since we reverted it...

[WMCoolmon]

The judge makes a good point.

[Grey Wolf]

The judge was quite right. Shame her career may be ended due to it.

[Sandwich]

Wait a sec, I'm confused (or just underinformed). Hasn't this always been the definition of terror? Violent acts against those unable and unequipped to officially (Uncle John's shotgun on the top shelf doesn't really count) defend themselves?

Close to home examples would be that any Palestinian violence against civilians we consider terrorism. However, Palestinian violence against military targets is... well, not terrorism, that's for sure. A skirmish? Freedom fighting? Whatever.

We've never had a problem with that kind of distinction in Hebrew simply because the word most commonly translated as "terrorist" by those who don't know better is "mechabel", from the same root (and thus the same basic meaning) as the word "chabala". "Chabala" is a term one would use to describe, say, a head injury (concussion, etc). "He has chabala to his head." Simply means "damage".

Hmm, now that I think of it, I don't know if we have a proper word for terrorism - just like we don't have a proper word for assasination.

[WMCoolmon]

In the US, "terrorists" are those people out to destroy the US for its basic freedoms, civil liberties, goodwill towards other nations, economic prosperity, and way of life. That's apparently why the US administration has been taking away and tearing down the first four.

Edit: And for anyone prone to jumping to conclusions, I'm not saying that members of the US administration are terrorists or accusing them of being part of some 9/11 conspiracy.

[Zarax]

Nah, Bush reduced the vocabulary a bit...
Dissent = Terrorism.
Learn the neolanguage citizen, you are ungood.

[vyper]

doubleplus ungood I'd say

Anyway, Sarnie, the problem is in the West we're constantly bombarded by the media with what "terrorism" is and unfortunately thanks to the current administration on both sides of the pond, that definition is anyone who opposes us.

[Rictor]

For example, the guys who attacked the USS Cole are almost always reffered to as terrorists. Even groups like FARC are often branded that. It's very dangerous, because it threatens to completely politicize the language, which is exactly the sort of thing that best serves to limit the scope of discourse.

Hell, even protestors and journalists are being called terrorist with increasing regularity, albiet only in some circles..