"The difference between political terror and ordinary crime becomes clear during the change of regimes, in which former terrorists become well-regarded representatives of their country"
- Jurgen Habermas
About this Quote
This quote by Jurgen Habermas talks to the power of political context in determining how we view specific actions. It suggests that the distinction between political terror and regular criminal offense is not constantly clear-cut, but rather is dependent on the political environment. When a program changes, those who were when considered terrorists can end up being highly regarded members of society. This highlights the significance of understanding the political context in which particular actions occur, as it can significantly alter how we perceive them. It likewise acts as a suggestion that our views of particular actions can be formed by our political environment, and that we must be mindful of this when forming our viewpoints. Eventually, this quote functions as a suggestion that our views of certain actions can be formed by our political environment, and that we ought to bear in mind this when forming our viewpoints.