Have you ever wondered, who exactly is a “terrorist”? Or what does it mean to be an “extremist”?

This is a very difficult question to answer precisely because these terms mean many different things across contexts, perspectives, and timeframes. As pointed out in the articles below, there are over 100 different national and multilateral legal definitions of terrorism, and the United Nations itself hasn’t been able to agree on one to adopt. For this activity, please read the following two articles and reflect on your reactions using the prompts below.

• Who is a terrorist, actually?
• One Man’s Terrorist is Another Man’s Freedom Fighter: Penn State

Personal Reflection Activity: What is your general reaction to the articles above? Did they change the way you think about defining “terrorism” or a “terrorist”? How have you used the terms “terrorist” or “extremist” in your own context? Has your perspective evolved after reading these articles, why or why not?