Americans: when you think of terrorists, do you automatically think of Arabs?

I'm still waiting for someone to say, "Paciifc Islanders... then Inuits... then trout. These keep me up at night!" :P

Seriously though... Eskimos riding polar bears... it's coming.

It is definitely the first thing that pops into my head, but I'm not ignorant enough to believe that Arabs are the only terrorists. Technically by definition the U.S. troops are terrorists as they cause fear and terror in people. People seem to have morphed the word to mean something it doesn't. A terrorist is just someone or something that instills terror or fear in people.

Nope, I think of Columbus, George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and others like them.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]Honestly? I don't think that way so ever.. When I hear terrorist I just think of some extremist jackass that really can fit in any racial group or religion most times.DroidPhysX

All he did was answer the question and I agree with him.

Nope, I think of Columbus, George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and others like them.

theone86

When I think of terrorists I don't think of Arabs, but instead I think of followers of Islam. Which breeds terrorism in many countries and regions of the world, many non Arab.

Of course that's not to say that I automatically assume someone who follows Islam is a terrorist, but the vast majority of modern terrorism is carried out under Islam's banner. It's also not meant to imply that all terrorist follow Islam either...it's just the first thing that comes to mind.

As an American myself: No.

Do I think other Americans probably do? Yeah

Its kinda weird 30 years ago the irish we though of as terrorists.

However a lot of americans supported the IRA, its strange how opinions change. (Im irish btw so I remember ragan supporting the IRA)

[QUOTE="UniverseIX"]

I think they look something like this. and this

Neo-ganon

so respectuful! i like it

-sarcasm-

In all seriousness though, show some respect please. I dont give a crap on what your opinion of the war is, just show some respect for the people who die for your right to say stupid crap like that. God forbid something bad happens in an area where you live, and they end up digging you up and caring for you

Yes, the first image that comes to mind is an Arab. I know it's wrong for me to think like that, but it just happens :?

On the other hand, thinking of Islam doesn't bring terrorism to mind.

Its kinda weird 30 years ago the irish we though of as terrorists.

However a lot of americans supported the IRA, its strange how opinions change. (Im irish btw so I remember ragan supporting the IRA)

Yes, the first image that comes to mind is an Arab. I know it's wrong for me to think like that, but it just happens :?

On the other hand, thinking of Islam doesn't bring terrorism to mind.

Yes, because most of the reported terrorist attacks are committed by Islamic extremists from predominantly Arab nations.

Yes, because most of the reported terrorist attacks are committed by Islamic extremists from predominantly Arab nations.

phillo99

[QUOTE="V4LENT1NE"]Anyone one who says they dont is a liar.MushroomWig

Not really, I just think of someone blowing people and buildings, committing acts of terror...

Hmmm... I wonder if people remember 'The Red Brigade', and that whole branch of craziness. The sad reality is thatwhat people think of is probably based on which gruop of ******** hurt the people closest to them, and when. It can be pretty much any race or ethnicity AFAIK. People... we're weird animals.

[QUOTE="Neo-ganon"]

[QUOTE="UniverseIX"]

I think they look something like this. and this

Monkey_N1nga

so respectuful! i like it

-sarcasm-

In all seriousness though, show some respect please. I dont give a crap on what your opinion of the war is, just show some respect for the people who die for your right to say stupid crap like that. God forbid something bad happens in an area where you live, and they end up digging you up and caring for you

I call BS

I do welcome other peoples opinions, but thats just a blatant insult to me personally since i happen to have family members in the military who have served in iraq and Afghanastan.

Now, there is a huge difference between an army fighting for country purely for the ideals of their country against armed enemy combatants and TERRORists who exclusivley target civilians for the purpose of inciting terror and panic while hiding amongst them. Now, there are civilian casualties on our part, but thats called "collateral damage" and "friendly fire," meaning that civilian casualties are almost always accidental. Its not like our soldiers are ordered to purposefully target civilians for the sake of hurting enemy morale (thats what terrorists do)

know the difference

Yes. The very first image that pops in my head when i hear the word "terrorist" is Arabs or someone from that region. And in most cases it is true.

Yes, no hard feelings. I guess the media embed it in my head since their always portraying them as arabs

No. That is all.

Yes, yes I do, islamist extremists to be exact, though I don't particularly think of terrorist when I think of Arabs, for some reason fezes and turbans come to mind when I think of Arabs even though the fez is more of an ottoman empire thing.

It wasn't always like this though before the 9/11 tragedy. I used to think of terrorists as Die Hard's bad guys, as in predominately European mercenaries/ex-soldiers working together with a super villain type of guy for a cause, to me this says a lot about the influence of pop culture and the media can have on a person.

[QUOTE="Monkey_N1nga"]

[QUOTE="Neo-ganon"]

so respectuful! i like it

-sarcasm-

In all seriousness though, show some respect please. I dont give a crap on what your opinion of the war is, just show some respect for the people who die for your right to say stupid crap like that. God forbid something bad happens in an area where you live, and they end up digging you up and caring for you

Neo-ganon

I call BS

I do welcome other peoples opinions, but thats just a blatant insult to me personally since i happen to have family members in the military who have served in iraq and Afghanastan.

Now, there is a huge difference between an army fighting for country purely for the ideals of their country against armed enemy combatants and TERRORists who exclusivley target civilians for the purpose of inciting terror and panic while hiding amongst them. Now, there are civilian casualties on our part, but thats called "collateral damage" and "friendly fire," meaning that civilian casualties are almost always accidental. Its not like our soldiers are ordered to purposefully target civilians for the sake of hurting enemy morale (thats what terrorists do)

know the difference

[QUOTE="Neo-ganon"]

[QUOTE="Monkey_N1nga"] its just his opinion, like everyone elses. You should welcome everyones opinion. People think of muslims/arabs and if anything his opinion is probably not as bad as what other people say on this thread. Peace

I call BS

I do welcome other peoples opinions, but thats just a blatant insult to me personally since i happen to have family members in the military who have served in iraq and Afghanastan.

Now, there is a huge difference between an army fighting for country purely for the ideals of their country against armed enemy combatants and TERRORists who exclusivley target civilians for the purpose of inciting terror and panic while hiding amongst them. Now, there are civilian casualties on our part, but thats called "collateral damage" and "friendly fire," meaning that civilian casualties are almost always accidental. Its not like our soldiers are ordered to purposefully target civilians for the sake of hurting enemy morale (thats what terrorists do)

know the difference

I think that people are just full of hate and something needs to be done to fix that.

I think that people are just full of hate and something needs to be done to fix that.

I think that people are just full of hate and something needs to be done to fix that.

I think that people are just full of hate and something needs to be done to fix that.

Back when terrorists first became a "national threat" and the war in Iraq and just begun, yes. But now not so much.

when someone says terrorist the first thing that comes to mind is muslim.a muslimthat is wearing a cap ,has a beard and keeps his pants above his ankles (although thatfits the description of an arab) .

and why is this ?? well imo the media has successfully potrayed muslims as terrorist .they have taken the black sheeps of the muslim community and have potrayed them as they represent majority of the muslims .they have also attached another word with the muslims that is Jihad and again have potrayed muslims as "hungry for blood" type of people .

and just to be clear Jihad means to struggle .if i am studying hard to pass my exams i am doing Jihad.....

I think all Americans think of Arabs whether they admit it or not. It will always be in our minds. How could it not be?

I think of those funny models from Counter Strike 1.6.

When I hear about terrorists I don't SPECIFICALLY think of Arabs, I think mainly of those of Middle Eastern descent, but obviously only in certain contexts.

Yeah, but the majority are, so I feel less bad about my personal bigotry.

The word has taken on a far stronger meaning these days - pre 9/11 arguments could be made sympathising the roots of the plight of various terrorist factions, these days there is none - to be branded a terrorist is forever to carry an albatros around the neck. I actually interviewed a convicted terrorist for a job a while back who'd just come out of a high security prison for 4 years. He cut a pretty sad figure and having been the subject of much media coverage around the globe, the person depicted at the time of the trial shared little resembalence to the humble, somewhat shy person I met. What I took away from that is the imagery that the term evokes is quite seperate from the reality. Sure there are individuals fit the media depicted stereotype perfectly, but these days there is a fear of the word itself.

terrorists are 99 percent muslimsevilrobot1991

I would like to know what is considered a terrorist.. Because the United States and really any country out there has supported terrorist groups that they called "freedom fighters".

[QUOTE="Frame_Dragger"][QUOTE="Kcube"]

I think that people are just full of hate and something needs to be done to fix that.

Dystopian-X

I could do that.Killing everyone sounds fun.

[QUOTE="Monkey_N1nga"]

[QUOTE="Neo-ganon"]

so respectuful! i like it

-sarcasm-

In all seriousness though, show some respect please. I dont give a crap on what your opinion of the war is, just show some respect for the people who die for your right to say stupid crap like that. God forbid something bad happens in an area where you live, and they end up digging you up and caring for you

Neo-ganon

I call BS

I do welcome other peoples opinions, but thats just a blatant insult to me personally since i happen to have family members in the military who have served in iraq and Afghanastan.

Now, there is a huge difference between an army fighting for country purely for the ideals of their country against armed enemy combatants and TERRORists who exclusivley target civilians for the purpose of inciting terror and panic while hiding amongst them. Now, there are civilian casualties on our part, but thats called "collateral damage" and "friendly fire," meaning that civilian casualties are almost always accidental. Its not like our soldiers are ordered to purposefully target civilians for the sake of hurting enemy morale (thats what terrorists do)

know the difference

[QUOTE="Neo-ganon"]

[QUOTE="Monkey_N1nga"] its just his opinion, like everyone elses. You should welcome everyones opinion. People think of muslims/arabs and if anything his opinion is probably not as bad as what other people say on this thread. Peace

Nayef_shroof

I call BS

I do welcome other peoples opinions, but thats just a blatant insult to me personally since i happen to have family members in the military who have served in iraq and Afghanastan.

Now, there is a huge difference between an army fighting for country purely for the ideals of their country against armed enemy combatants and TERRORists who exclusivley target civilians for the purpose of inciting terror and panic while hiding amongst them. Now, there are civilian casualties on our part, but thats called "collateral damage" and "friendly fire," meaning that civilian casualties are almost always accidental. Its not like our soldiers are ordered to purposefully target civilians for the sake of hurting enemy morale (thats what terrorists do)

know the difference

Terrorism = Middle East + suspicious looking people with turbans

Arabs = Oil

[QUOTE="Nayef_shroof"][QUOTE="Neo-ganon"]

I call BS

I do welcome other peoples opinions, but thats just a blatant insult to me personally since i happen to have family members in the military who have served in iraq and Afghanastan.

Now, there is a huge difference between an army fighting for country purely for the ideals of their country against armed enemy combatants and TERRORists who exclusivley target civilians for the purpose of inciting terror and panic while hiding amongst them. Now, there are civilian casualties on our part, but thats called "collateral damage" and "friendly fire," meaning that civilian casualties are almost always accidental. Its not like our soldiers are ordered to purposefully target civilians for the sake of hurting enemy morale (thats what terrorists do)

know the difference

DroidPhysX

When I hear about terrorists I don't SPECIFICALLY think of Arabs, I think mainly of those of Middle Eastern descent, but obviously only in certain contexts.

airshocker

So when you think of terrorists, you think of anyone from the Middle East?

Just need clarification because your statement confused me a little, sorry.

I would like to know what is considered a terrorist.. Because the United States and really any country out there has supported terrorist groups that they called "freedom fighters".

sSubZerOo

There is basically no real definition.

One side's terrorists are the other sides heroes ... and vice versa.

[QUOTE="DroidPhysX"][QUOTE="Nayef_shroof"] Really? Collateral damage? Thats what people call it? There were approximately 3000 innocent civillians killed in 9/11, which is tragic, but in Iraq alone, there have been more than 1000000 (one million) civillian deaths caused by America, with the entire Iraqi populace being negatively affected. Dont think that just because they arent american that you could disregard other ethnincities and nationalities as collateral damage. You shouldn't be advising someone to respect anything TBHNayef_shroof