The Word 'Terrorism' and the Impact on Modern Culture

The word 'terrorism' has been used so frequently in the past decade, particularly with reference to the September 11th 2001 attacks on the US that few people question whether the word adequately and accurately describes what happened on the day in New York and Washington. The word has been used by the media, by politicians, by artists, by economists, and by the public, so often that few have stopped to truly analyse what the word means and whether it is in fact being misused. The modern world is so dependant upon the word 'terrorism', in fact, that it can be startling when someone says something like "9-11 was not a terrorist attack" even if they are simply attempting to create debate.