Showing support for terrorism is illegal so why do people do it?

[Nowayyousure]

Well we all know it's illegal, don't we?

It happens though. The flags, the signs, the slogans, the chants, what is said etc.

Kneecap was charged on supporting terrorism. I understand that the charges relate to things like waving the Hezbollah flag and shouting in support of terrorist organisations.

He has been bailed pending trial.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4k4xnlj8qo

Because what is terrorism is in the eye of the beholder. You've never come back on the questions of whether you consider Mandela a terrorist and if not, why not.

uMkhonto we Sizwe was a terrorist organisation, set up specifically to organise violent protest by Mandela. They commited acts that Mandela was involved in organising that lead to civilian deaths (he would claim that civilian deaths were unfortunate accidents I think). Now many many people consider that uMkhonto we Sizwe's actions were justified for the greater good, and I'm not going to go into where I stand on that (except to say obviously apartheid was terrible and needed to end - this is a question of whether or not violent protest was required for regime change as Mandela believed and I'm simply not qualified to give my opinion in that space). The UK government at the time considered Mandela a terrorist. Plenty of people choose to publicly support him.

As a pure play matter of UK law on whether Hamas and Hezbollah are terrorist organisations, and whether Kneecap was allowed to wave the flag under UK law - yes they are and no he wasn't. But that's not what you asked.

On the question you actually asked of why someone would choose to show support even knowing it was illegal - people protest all the time for causes they believe in despite it being illegal. And why the would choose to do that is based on whether they agree with the law, and also whether they think that the law will be enforced.

Would you have supported Mandela?

This!!

You said it better than me.

I know. It's not as though there isn't an Irish embassy in London they could have contacted.

That's petty and immature.

Are you really that naive?

The very label terrorist is given by those who have power. Why were there all sorts of ‘Terrorists’ during the civil war in Syria, who now are on their way to being Statesmen (Don’t mention Nelson Mandela).

The reason some Terrorism is more equal than others is simply expediency. The acts of Allies and Partners are regrettable and/or ignorable , those committed by people who are (currently) out of favor- not so much.

Notwithstanding all that, the Manchester Arena Bombing, simply was not committed by any member of Kneecap. Trying to hold them responsible in some way is frankly, fucking bizarre.
If you are going to accuse them of (supporting) that act, why don’t you show something that indicates they have actually said that. Rather than stretching their actual words.
I mean no one has accused you of being responsible for the bombing of hospitals in Palestine.

Agree on concerning

So that includes IDF, British army, American army etc etc then?

I don't know the answer OP but you're certainly right. The number of people openly expressing support for the terrorist state of Israel is shocking. And they seem to just get away with it.

So what's your point?

Why is it concerning to ask the question? Is it because it challenges inherently racist and colonial ideals? Do as I say, not as I do?

So in order to be classed as a terrorist you need to rape, murder and kidnap over a thousand people? If that's the case, why were so many members of the IRA charged with terrorism offences?

There is a huge difference in being against the slaughter and starvation of trapped confined innocent people and being a terrorist supporter.
I do not understand why people can't see the difference.

But plenty of people like myself do acknowledge all the evil of the British Army, IDF, etc etc etc. I appreciate a lot don't but plenty do and when a thread is created discussing the issue of people publicly showing support for a terrorist group you decided to derail it with whataboutism about different types of terrorists and how we define what a terrorist is.

And why has the US and the British government not been charged with terrorism for their actions in Iraq? Are hundreds of thousands of civilian Iraqi deaths not important?

Because that lies at the crux of the OP’s original question does it not? If we do not have an internationally-agreed upon and implemented definition of what terrorism is, then how can we as a society be declaring that support for one group versus another is supporting terrorism? It makes no sense.

You’re interested in highlighting racism and I’m interested in calling out the oppression of women as those countries adopt such ways. They can’t go to school, can’t even leave the house without a male family member and o dread to think what would happen if they were caught.

The west certainly don’t have it all right but I’m sure the vast majority of women on here would chose to reside here instead of there.

A pp made a great point, ideally no country should hold nuclear weapons but such is the way of the world sadly they do. It’s not hypocritical to say no to a rogue state that has appalling human rights. They don’t value life in the same way and again, you just have to look at how they treat women to know that.

Not what I said...

What constitutes a rogue state? And to say that “they” do not value life in the same way as “us” is supremely racist.

Why did they and do they purposely aim for places full of young people having fun? Manchester, NY 911, Isreal with youngsters having fun? Those were terrorist attacks and targeted. How can anyone condone it?

You keep going on about racism but it’s nothing to do with their skin colour, as you keep referring back to.

Aside from the above, in what way do you justify such abhorrent behaviours and sanctions against women? No freedom, no education, no way of making a better life for themselves. In the meantime men can have several wives….

Do you think that oppression of these women shouldn’t be called out?

No but you do seem to have some form of categorisation system for terrorists. Your post certainly implied that @mathanxiety 's "terrorist" grandfather was somehow less terroristy than other terrorists.

Can you share your rating scale please? I would be interested to see it.

Good, I'm working as a volunteer at Glastonbury for the next 2 weeks they are on my list. West Holt's 4pm unless they are so rammed it would be uncomfortable- will be on BBC as well apparently. I think after last year where the Pilton Palais were strongarmed to pull the Big Lie Emily has grown a pair and is resisting calls to cancel them. Now where can I get my tricolor balaclava and Palestinian flag expect to see a huge amount of them in shot - there's a Palestinian DJ doing an ambient Gaza set.

I came to the thread late but I'm really glad Nelson Mandela was mentioned. He was imprisoned for terrorist offences. When asked why she did not support sanctions against South Africa to end apartheid Maggie Thatcher several times made her position clear that Nelson Mandela was a terrorist. Would you view supporting Nelson Mandela's anti-apartheid struggle as terrorism OP?
What about the actions of the IRA? Always terrorism? Any sympathy for the oppression of catholic people in Northern Ireland at that time (and for centuries prior)? Understanding that maybe some people felt they had been pushed to the brink.
What about the French resistance in World War 2?
The Scottish uprising led by William Wallace/Robert the Bruce? All technically terrorists - all committed terrible acts in the name of their cause - sometimes attacking innocents.
Who gets to be the arbiter of what is right and wrong here. Its not simple

Can you say why you’ve posted this? What is absurd re living in Iran v the UK

What differences do you see? Is it due to treatment of women for example

I don't know anything about mathanxiety's grandfather. I also didn't say I have a scale for terrorists. Not sure why people keep trying to put words in my mouth.