Rebels or Revolutionaries; Pirates or Privateers

“What's in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet” --William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

History—and the labels we use to describe it—often depends on who is telling the story and what narrative they are trying to promote. From rebels to revolutionaries, pirates to privateers, or reformers to radicalists, the same actions can be framed very differently depending on perspective and intent.

What Do I Think? 

Consider two examples:

The forces that fought the Syrian Government in late 2024, or the British in Boston in 1773 were rebels challenging established order. But to their supporters at the time, and to the world later on, they were revolutionaries acting against tyranny. In both cases, the distinction between "rebel" and "revolutionary" shifted depending on who was writing the history.

The line between piracy and privateering is equally malleable, only distinguished by the author’s perspective.

The famous pirate, Blackbeard, who plied the U.S. east coast, plundering ships, and taking hostages, actually began as a privateer sanctioned by the British Crown to attack Spanish ships in the West Indies. Same trade, different employer. 

Blackbeard. Image Designed by Freepik, www.freepik.com 

The Barbary pirates in North Africa attacked American and European merchant vessels, leading to the creation of the U.S. Navy. We built three ships, including the famous USS Constitution, or Old Ironsides, currently docked in Boston, to fight these pirates. Meanwhile, the Knights of Malta (Hospitallers) conducted similar raids in the same sea, but were celebrated as privateers under European banners. Same trade, different employer.

Legitimizing Labels

We apply positive labels to ourselves, or those on our side. And we apply dark, negative labels to the other. The U.S. Constitution itself (Article I, Section 8) enshrines this legitimization. While Congress condemned Barbary pirates for their attacks and funded a new navy, it simultaneously issued letters of marque to American privateers to legally raid British ships.

In other words, a pirate, rebel, or radicalist can be legitimized—or vilified—simply by cloaking them in a new name when it suits a government’s or society’s interests.

Why should you care

Labels are not neutral; they reveal biases, perspectives, and agendas. The way we name people or events can shape public perception, justify actions, and rewrite history. They can harm people too. 

• Be critical: Pay attention to how terms like "freedom fighter," "terrorist," or "activist" are used in the media and in conversation.
• Be intentional: Choose your own language carefully, understanding the power it wields.
• Be aware: Analyze how labels are used around you to frame historic facts, social issues, or current events.

The stories we record—and the labels we use—define how we understand the world.  Leave a comment letting me know of other polar opposite terms and their (mis)use.

References: Royal Museum Greenwich, UK. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/blackbeard-edward-teach-pirate