“One person’s terrorist is another person’s freedom fighter (Barash 2014: 174). » This statement alone explains every war ever fought as well as the delicate subject of terrorism. The line between bad guy and good guy will always be difficult to draw because everyone fights for a different reason. In the same sense, each “terrorist” has his own story. Rarely can there be a single reason why attacks occur. Each soldier has a different reason to fight, regardless of which side of the front they are on. The same goes for terrorists. People who the Western world may view as heroes, whom Easterners may condemn as the worst kind of terrorist, we know the opposite is true. Many people in the West declare themselves terrorists. This word is one that many, myself included, have come to associate with terrorism, but that is not the correct connotation of the word. Jihad is a word that encompasses many meanings, which leaders are able to interpret to convince others to fight for their cause. “For Muslims, jihad is much more than an armed struggle against an external enemy, as it includes constant struggles both within oneself and within one's own society (Gomaa 2014: 197). » It is only for a just cause that Muslims will take up arms in the name of jihad. Meanings of jihad include, but are not limited to, "...the spiritual exercise of opposing the lower self...referring to the pilgrimage to Mecca...speaking the truth to those in power...the defense of a nation or a just cause (Gomaa 2014: 197). » No Muslim will start fighting according to jihad for anything other than a just cause. Does this mean that leaders cannot make a case simply to inspire recruits to fight? No, they can do it, but Western and Eastern leaders are omitting truths from their followers. If they didn't lie at some point, they would never have a following. It is irresponsible to blame jihad for terrorism. Soldiers may be fighting within this framework to protect their nation, but they are not doing so blindly. Western civilization has begun to associate jihad with terrorism, even though that is not the meaning of the word. Jihad is simply a struggle. An armed struggle must be just so that every Muslim can take up arms in the name of jihad. Second, suicide attacks cannot be seen as the act of isolated individuals making a bold statement. In most cases, suicide missions are part of a larger picture seeking freedom from oppression. Finally, America's response to terrorism is, in its own way, terrorism. Most U.S. responses to terrorism have resulted in more deaths than the terrorist groups themselves cause. In order to begin to repair the mess caused by terrorism around the world, we must accept our differences. Some states may not thrive under a democratic leader; the West must accept it. Likewise, Eastern leaders must understand that the West thrives on democracy and will protect its right to this form of leadership. As with all conflicts, there will never be an answer that everyone will like, but there are solutions that we could all live with. It's time for world leaders to agree to disagree and stop punishing innocent civilians who live where the fighting is happening.