What do think of the Bajoran Resistance, were they Freedom Fighters or Terrorists?
Bajoran Resistance, Freedom Fighters or Terrorists?
- Thread starter The Overlord
- Start date
What's wrong with calling them resistance movements? It works for the French Resistance, the Polish Resistance, the Czech Resistance, the Dutche Resistance, and numerous other movements to resist occupation by Germany.
Because that's no fun and there would be no thread then.
Seriously I think its interesting to explore the morality of the Bajoran resistence and terms like terrorist and freedom fighter stir more debate then other more neutral terms and it is fair because the resistance had called both labels during the series.
The members of the Resistance would see themselves as Freedom Fighters. The Cardassians would judge them as Terrorists.
Its all a matter of perspective.
Its all a matter of perspective.
Both.
Terrorism is a tactic, not an ideology (in spite of its usage in post-9/11 America as a generic term for "bad thing"). It is the use of violence for political purposes, usually (but not exclusively) directed against non-combatants or third parties, in order to induce into the enemy and/or the enemy's populace a sense of fear and despair.
Terrorism may be used for libertarian ends, or it may be used for oppressive ends. The Bajoran Resistance was clearly a liberation movement, but it also clearly engaged in acts of terrorism. The two are not mutually exclusive.
Terrorism is a tactic, not an ideology (in spite of its usage in post-9/11 America as a generic term for "bad thing"). It is the use of violence for political purposes, usually (but not exclusively) directed against non-combatants or third parties, in order to induce into the enemy and/or the enemy's populace a sense of fear and despair.
Terrorism may be used for libertarian ends, or it may be used for oppressive ends. The Bajoran Resistance was clearly a liberation movement, but it also clearly engaged in acts of terrorism. The two are not mutually exclusive.
Were they terrorists at all then? Did the Bajorans ever direct their attacks at non-combatants and/or third parties? I know they didn't avoid them, but directed towards? And were their attacks ever to induce fear and despair? I thought their attacks were almost always to key facilities?
They were freedom fighters. They may also have been terrorists, but they were not exclusively terrorists.
They were freedom fighters. They may also have been terrorists, but they were not exclusively terrorists.
Yeah, I know that they definitely hit targets that killed civilians and or collaborators, but I don't recall them ever hitting purely civilians targets. The motives for their attacks were never just to instill fear, I only recall them targeting installations or Cardassians of some importance.
^ You're right. I don't recall them ever explicitly admitting to attacking Cardassian civilians.
I just finished a rewatched the episode. Here is an excerpt of Kira's conversation with Silarain Prin.
"None of you belonged on Bajor. It wasn't your world. For fifty years you raped our planet, and you killed our people. You lived on our land and you took the food out of our mouths, and I don't care whether you held a phaser in your hand or you ironed shirts for a living. You were all guilty and you were all legitimate targets!"
I just finished a rewatched the episode. Here is an excerpt of Kira's conversation with Silarain Prin.
"None of you belonged on Bajor. It wasn't your world. For fifty years you raped our planet, and you killed our people. You lived on our land and you took the food out of our mouths, and I don't care whether you held a phaser in your hand or you ironed shirts for a living. You were all guilty and you were all legitimate targets!"
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From dictionary.com:
terrorism
the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.
freedom fighter
a fighter for freedom, especially a person who battles against established forces of tyranny and dictatorship.
I would say between the two "freedom fighter" is a better fit.
terrorism
the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.
freedom fighter
a fighter for freedom, especially a person who battles against established forces of tyranny and dictatorship.
I would say between the two "freedom fighter" is a better fit.
The definitions illustrate the problematic nature of the question. Although often presented as an either/or, terrorist, freedom fighter, and indeed, resistance are not mutually exclusive. Terrorism reflects methods. Freedom fighter reflects depth of involvement. Resistance reflects broad social phenomena. Aspects of the Bajoran Resistance could have employed terrorist methods. The Shakaar resistance cell was undoubtedly part of the resistance. OTOH, resistance was likely a broad phenomena, sometimes passively aggressive, sometimes violent. Winn's activities could easily be described as resistance, though they might not rise to the level of being actively involved in trying to free Bajor.
They're classified as freedom fighters ... because they won. If the Cardassians had crushed them, they'd just be some terrorist group. (History is written by the victors.)
YMMV ... depending on whose side you're on.
YMMV ... depending on whose side you're on.
Kira referred to herself as a terrorist in multiple episodes, though. The one I can recall right off the bat is "Defiant" from Season Three.
According to the scripts, "Defiant" was the only episode in which she described herself as a terrorist. There were plenty of times that she was called a terrorist and she didn't dispute it. Moreover, looking at what she, as "a terrorist," would have done with the Defiant, I would not myself think the label would necessarily apply: she's complaining about Tom Riker being too tactical, too surgical in his approach, when she would be more aggressive.
Looking over the scripts, I doubt that the word terrorist would have been used if the show were produced after 2001.
Probably not, but that has more to do with the fact that the word terrorism has been used for political purposes to mean any generically bad thing, rather than having anything to do with the word itself.
Both.
Not all terrorists are freedom fighters, but the Bajorans clearly were. They did target military installations and Cardassian officials, but it's pretty clear they didn't call off the attack because there were civilians on the base.
Not all terrorists are freedom fighters, but the Bajorans clearly were. They did target military installations and Cardassian officials, but it's pretty clear they didn't call off the attack because there were civilians on the base.
No one is disputing this. What I am arguing is that the term has since 2001 been abused, applied in cases where it is inappropriate and ignored in cases where it is appropriate.
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