The terrorists have won
Encyclopedia
"...the terrorists have won", or "...then the terrorists win" are rhetoric
al phrases which were widely used in the United States
in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The phrase takes the form of "that if we pursue some particular course of action, why then, the terrorists have won" (as explained by Jeff Greenfield
of CNN
). In November 2001, the Los Angeles Times
reported:
The expression had been used before 2001. In 1995, an editorial about the response to the Oklahoma City bombing
in the Ocala Star-Banner, of Ocala, Florida
concluded: "Our response to terrorism should be carefully measured. If our First Amendment
rights suffer as a result of the awful domestic terrorist attack in Oklahoma City the terrorists have indeed, won.” At the same time, an editorial in the Victoria Advocate of Victoria, Texas
said: "If Americans begin to yield their own freedoms at home, the terrorists have won."
In the months after the September 11 attacks, the expression was often used. One of the most famous instances was on November 4, 2001 by Ellen DeGeneres
, who was hosting the Emmy Awards, which had been postponed twice that year for worries that a showy celebration would seem inappropriate in the wake of the attacks. To lighten the mood, she quipped: "We're told to go on living our lives as usual, because to do otherwise is to let the terrorists win, and really, what would upset the Taliban more than a gay woman wearing a suit in front of a room full of Jews?"
In December 2001, humorist Steve Symanovich commented on the overuse of the expression, writing in the Washington Business Journal:
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
al phrases which were widely used in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The phrase takes the form of "that if we pursue some particular course of action, why then, the terrorists have won" (as explained by Jeff Greenfield
Jeff Greenfield
Jeff Greenfield is an American television journalist and author.-Biography:He was born in New York City to parents Benjamin and Helen. He grew up in Manhattan and graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1960. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in...
of CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
). In November 2001, the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
reported:
- A database search for the phrase, "If we [blank], then the terrorists have won," turned up hundreds of hits in U.S. newspapers and magazines.
The expression had been used before 2001. In 1995, an editorial about the response to the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
in the Ocala Star-Banner, of Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
concluded: "Our response to terrorism should be carefully measured. If our First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
rights suffer as a result of the awful domestic terrorist attack in Oklahoma City the terrorists have indeed, won.” At the same time, an editorial in the Victoria Advocate of Victoria, Texas
Victoria, Texas
Victoria is a city in and the seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 60,603 at the 2000 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 at the 2000 census,...
said: "If Americans begin to yield their own freedoms at home, the terrorists have won."
In the months after the September 11 attacks, the expression was often used. One of the most famous instances was on November 4, 2001 by Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
, who was hosting the Emmy Awards, which had been postponed twice that year for worries that a showy celebration would seem inappropriate in the wake of the attacks. To lighten the mood, she quipped: "We're told to go on living our lives as usual, because to do otherwise is to let the terrorists win, and really, what would upset the Taliban more than a gay woman wearing a suit in front of a room full of Jews?"
In December 2001, humorist Steve Symanovich commented on the overuse of the expression, writing in the Washington Business Journal:
- In recent months I had heard about any number of things that would allow the terrorists to win. Early on, I learned that if America plays fast and loose with the Bill of RightsUnited States Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These limitations serve to protect the natural rights of liberty and property. They guarantee a number of personal freedoms, limit the government's power in judicial and other proceedings, and...
, the terrorists will have won. I couldn't agree more, but that was just the start. Later, I found out that if we stop working/shopping/eating out, the terrorists will have won. I took the message to heart. I'm not opposed to work; I don't mind shopping; and, although I'm on a diet, I can still eat out and order light. But there was more. Finally, I ran into this headline: "If you don't read this article, the terrorists will have won."