'''Terrorism''' is defined by the U.S. [[Department of Defense]] as "''the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives.''" According to the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|U.S. Department of Homeland Security]] in 2018, seven potential terrorists try to enter the U.S. every day.<ref>Dinan, Stephen (January 29, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/29/7-potential-terrorists-day-try-enter-us-dhs-chief/ Seven potential terrorists a day try to enter the U.S.: DHS chief]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 30, 2018.</ref>Statistically, all seven are [[Muslims]]. This begs the question of why [[racial profiling]] is considered unacceptable by the [[liberal media]].
The government definition, however, is too narrow. Other than the main form of [[Islamic terrorism]], [[Atheism|Atheistatheist]]ic terrorism consists of publicity-seeking acts of murder, such as that at [[Columbine High School]], consistent with [[existentialism]] or [[nihilism]], which do not necessarily seek to intimidate or coerce government. [[Environmentalist]] terrorism consists of the destruction of property in a manner designed to bring free publicity to the movement.
The term itself was coined as a result of the [[French Revolution]], referring in particular to [[Maximilien de Robespierre]]'s [[Reign of Terror]], although it was closer to state-sponsored terrorism.