My Word: From 9/11 to October 7, the dates that changed the world – opinion

The article reflects on the enduring impact of significant dates, particularly September 11, 2001, and October 7, 2023, highlighting them as pivotal moments that reshaped global perceptions of terrorism. It criticizes media organizations, such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the BBC, for their reluctance to unequivocally label these events and perpetrators as terrorism. The CBC initially instructed journalists not to refer to the 9/11 attacks as "terrorist attacks" without attribution, a policy later adjusted after backlash. Similarly, the BBC's John Simpson stated, "Terrorism is a loaded word, which people use about an outfit they disapprove of morally. It's simply not the BBC's job to tell people who to support and who to condemn." The piece draws parallels between 9/11 and October 7, describing the latter as Israel's "own 9/11," perpetrated by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Gazan civilians, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. It also references the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre as an early warning of international terrorism and discusses the ongoing threat of global jihad, supported by entities like Iran, and the rise of antisemitism. The author argues that failing to name and confront terrorism directly is a dangerous appeasement that emboldens extremists and ignores a growing global threat.