“ I’ll concede, you cannot meet with foreign leaders — with terrorists, rather, those that lead rogue nations — without some conditions”
Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr. (D-TN)
This is the problem with fiery rhetoric. When casually we throw around the “terrorist” label we categorize countries. We draw a line between us, the people, and the terrorists. Because “terrorists” are so different, people like Rep. Ford apparently assume they don’t react the same way people do. They treat them like animals who understand fear and hunger but have no consideration for anything less elemental.
You’d think we’d have realized hundreds of years ago that whatever our differences, we’re all essentially human. There are a few sociopaths and “terrorists” out there—but we should use these labels conservatively, lest they get in the way of useful communication.