July 06, 2002

I think the right wing is making a big mistake in labeling every incident of violence by Arabs as "terrorism". The LAX incident on the 4th is probably the latest example in politicizing what should be correctly labeled as a "hate crime", no doubt in an effort to gain public support for the detention of all Arab-Americans. Let's give "terrorists" a little credit here; they usually have some political or religious motive for doing what they do, and as such, can be dealt with (and fought) in a rational manner. Wack jobs who go out and kill people simply because they hate Jews, or blacks, or gays, can't be dealt with; you don't go to war with Charles Manson (who as far as I can tell, was never labeled a "terrorist", even though the broadest definition of the word would apply), you arrest and convict him. At some point, when any act of violence is given that label, the public will quit caring.

No comments: