Revolutionaries and terrorists

Interesting interview on NPR this morning with the author of a John Brown bio (the abolitionist of Harper's Ferry fame). The author of the book, although he praised John Brown's motives, referred to John Brown as a "terrorist". Some callers to the show objected to the label, calling him a "revolutionary", like George Washington. I'm not weighing in on either side of this argument, but it's interesting to consider that one person's terrorist is another person's revolutionary, and vice versa. Also thought it interesting that Timothy McVeigh looked to John Brown as one of his heroes.