The Evolution of Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Evolution of Terrorism - Essay Example This is partly because of the changing historical elements of terrorism, especially the exercise of terror by perpetrators within a certain political and social setting. This essay identifies the significant historical elements of terrorism and how they have evolved since the attacks of 2001. The 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center revealed that the historical elements of terrorism had drastically transformed. Nowadays, terrorists are involved in a spate of mass murder and suicide across the globe. In the past it had been reasonable to think that there were boundaries that terrorists would not dare go beyond. After the large number of casualties on the 11th of September 2001, it was clear that there are terrorist groups that would dare break boundaries. Terrorism in the past was different from that after 9/11. The history of terrorism is not only Middle Eastern but also European, and not only religious but also nonreligious. However, there are several common elements that can be identified in the evolution of the elements of terrorism. The 9/11 attacks were a threatening new turn in an ancient tale of obsession with political violence and terror. The term ‘terrorism’ became part of the European vocabulary after the 1789 French Revolution. In the initial revolutionary period, it was mainly through violence and terror that the French governments attempted to force their revolutionary new order onto the hesitant masses. Consequently, the original definition of ‘terrorism’ was ‘rule of terror’ (Coaty 9). Such definition works as a powerful message that terror is usually at its most violent when exercised by dictatorial regimes against their own citizenry. However, in the 19th century, terrorism went through a historic evolution, becoming linked, as it remains until now, to nongovernmental organizations.

Reaction Paper on the book The Souls of Black Folk Essay

Reaction Paper on the book The Souls of Black Folk - Essay Example The book portrays a new direction of his thinking. He writes passionately about the spirit of African-Americans and how they have succeeded in maintaining their humanity and strength in spite of centuries of oppression of the worst kind. According to Du Bois the best, and perhaps the only way, African Americans could rise above their situation was to understand their circumstances and embrace intellectualism and. Some critics felt that he should have advocated a more aggressive kind of social change but I believe that it was the right approach. Du Bois shows how a veil has been put over African-Americans and how others are unable to see them as they are. Race prejudice is the lens through which they are viewed. It is this veil that has created "double consciousness", a situation where the blacks see themselves in two ways, one what they think about themselves and the other how others view them. Du Bois’ feels that this veil on human beings divides the identity of the blacks. He describes this situation thus:† this twoness—an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings . . . in one dark body.† (Du Bois, 1903) This is wrong and must be condemned. He wants the reader to understand that the African-Americans have a cultural identity of their own and all Americans must acknowledge and respect this. Some scholars felt that his concept of double consciousness is a defining moment in the history of African-American thought. Here I have to say that Du Bois’ description of how an African American feels in America is excellent. The words â€Å"He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of Opportunity closed roughly in his face† are truly powerful. Du Bois through his essays wants us to realize that silent acceptance of racism