Which flavor of crazy?
The debate continues about whether the nut that flew a plane into the IRS building is a terrorist. And if he’s a right-wing or left-wing kook. Well, by definition, I would say this attack is terrorism since it was, based on his manifesto, designed to draw attention to political action. Him being left or right is a bit different. He was anti-tax, wanted free health care, hated the church, and had many other views that were left or right. But was upset that the .gov didn’t do much to help him personally. Seems like a moderate crazy to me.
And alert the media: terrorist killer whale seen at tea party!
February 25th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Terrorism has gotten to be such a garbage can term, with everything thrown at it, that now the word doesn’t mean much…though I gather it pretty much means you have to be a Muslim to be a terrorist anymore.
February 25th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Yeah, Terrorist != Murder + Gripe.
Terrorism requires the use of, well, terror, to effect political change. There were no threats made prior to the act and there can be no threats made afterword.
So what, exactly, were/are we supposed to be afraid of?
If he hadn’t killed himself, then yeah, there is the possibility of further retribution for our supposed sins and would therefor be terrorism.
But he did. And that places him in the same territory as every other mall/school/church shooter who was angry at the world over the wedgies they got in middle school.
February 25th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
“So what, exactly, were/are we supposed to be afraid of?”
Yu-Ain Gonnano: THANK GOD someone actually understands the definition and practice of terrorism.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Uncle by your definition “designed to draw attention to political action”, Luther, Penn, Thoreau, and Ghandi were terrorists.
Sorry, but “terrorism” is an attempt to sway public opinion by inducing widespread fear.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Uhm those guys weren’t out killing people.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
I thought we were talking about IRS agents.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
To be clear, what I mean is that this loser is not “out killing people.” He murdered exactly one IRS agent, with a clear revenge motive. There is no way that would ever be terrorism, because the general public would never see that as a threat to their safety.
The political demonstration aspect is irrelevant. This was a loser out for revenge.
February 26th, 2010 at 7:23 am
Don’t forget, the Original Terror was done by government agents of the French Revolution. Statist Terror was the original and genuine Terror. Accept no substitutes!