#WordsMatter: The Difference between a #Terrorist-Act & an #Extremist-Act @OKGazette @Cheddar (#Terrorism #Extremism #Terror #Extreme #Extremely)

George Lang alleges that 'whether it's reported as an extremist- or a terrorist-act' depends on (allegedly) the color of the violator's skin.

I'm not too clear on the difference between the two types of acts ... Mr. Lang tells us that Timothy McVeigh was a terrorist, but then he goes slightly off-track (or maybe that's just my disinterested reading of it)—commenting on how today's college-students think of McVeigh's bombing of the Murrah Federal Building as 'a historical anecdote,' while Lang–reporting live-on-the-scene for a few weeks–saw the trauma that makes that bombing 'a lasting wound that's still healing '—the loss of 168 souls (not to mention the property-destruction).

The difference Lang describes/hopes-we-understand would be 'action'—an extremist 'has extreme views or -extreme faith' (e.g. is willing to give his life to further his god's will), and might 'preach it' or maybe 'imply/say-out-loud that others should do the extermination they think is needed'; but a terrorist 'acts them out' (I don't even want to say what they do ... they "justify it" (to themselves) with their religion, but–in the real world–it's mass-murder🙍).

But I think 'terrorist' is something different—a terrorist's mission is to make you afraid ... Muslim terrorists want you to be afraid to deny their god; Christian terrorists want you to be afraid to deny their god; like Satanist terrorists, like Hindu terrorists, like Buddhist terrorists (though I'm sure followers of those religions will also tell you how terrorism is definitely against the will of their god);

Or racist-terrorists want you to be afraid to be any skin-color other than their own (whether white, red, yellow, black or tan). 

I don't encourage their actions, but they succeed if you limit yourself out of 'fear of being one their victims' (e.g. if you decide not to be Muslim because of the mass-shooting at the mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand).

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The word “Terrorism (and Terror itself)” is built on words that mean “|Tremble” (|Terrible, |Systematic Use of Terror as a Policy, certain kind of Mass-|Destruction). 

The word “Extremism” is built on words that mean “|Disposition to go to Extremes in Policy or Practice." 

The word “Extreme” is built on words that mean “|Outermost, |Utmost, |Farthest, the |Last |Part, |Boundary, |Highest or Greatest |Degree” (|Exterior).

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Call them 'terrorists' OR 'extremists,' city-design helps protect you against them without making you feel like you're in a "war-zone."