The dictionary defines terrorism as The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons. Is terrorism an effective political medium for the advancement of a political minority or rather an act of defiance rendering a society into a state of ephemeral hysteria? It remains to be seen how this latest act of terrorism will unfold and what political awareness it may generate. Unfortunately, historically acts of violence have often proven themselves effective tactics in promoting significant political attention. In the next few paragraphs I will examine some examples of terrorism and make note of their political impactsOne of the nations first and most iniquitous terrorist groups is the Ku Klux Klan. What significance has their use of terrorist tactics had on our culture overall? While some would argue that the Klans tactics have been proven ineffective in that our culture has for the most part implemented civil rights, its my contention that the Klan has and probably will continue to be too influential in promoting its agenda. Some fairly recent examples would range from the bombings of African American churches over the last decade to the presidential nominations of Pat Buchanan and David Duke. I for one would be scared off my ass to drive through the south to visit my sister who lives in Kentucky, just from the urban legends Ive heard about what those crazy white boys do to punks like me. Its pretty apparent that for the KKK the use of terrorism over the last 130 years has been a very effective political means.Other (supposed) sole terrorist who come to mind are Theodore Kaczynski and good old Timothy McVeigh, our two most recent and most notorious conspirators. While the Unabomber seems almost benign given recent events, at a time he was the most want...
