Daughter of the Texas plane crash Pilot says...

[jtrain609]

In the dude's eyes, the employees of the IRS are not innocent. I happen to disagree, but it's not like he's crazy, he's just wrong. Painting your opponents as crazed psychopaths is the surest way to lose perspective.

Do you know how often I get flamed for trying to make that argument about the dudes that killed some folks on 9/11? Or in Iraq? Or in Afghanistan? People are *generally* rational actors, it's just that they happen to do some really screwy things when they get pushed far enough.

It's interesting that some people are a-ok with a pissed off white, American citizen doing this, but if a person from another country does this, it's terrorism.

All three of these people are our enemy.

 

[JoelT]

OK, got it. If you agree with the motives then - not terrorism. If you don't agree - terrorism.

 

[Xiph]

Do you think anyone would complain if "some psycho" went out and shot all the board member of AIG or Enron? Theres a special place in Hell for people like that.

I'd sure as hell complain. I think those guys should be forced to give back the money they took, and if that leaves them impoverished so much the better. But I in no way want them dead.

 

[dbrault17]

OK, got it. If you agree with the motives then - not terrorism. If you don't agree - terrorism.

Now you're getting it. Remember, todays terrorists were yesterdays freedoms fighters. Its just a matter of prospective. You (and pretty much everyone else) have it in your head that when someone is labeled a terriosist, they are just evil instead of someone having a very different point of view.

 

[poser765]

It must have been "terrorists" that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima then; leaving thousands of civilians dead?

Just saying, everyone is "innocent" to someone.

Dropping the bomb is sort of a touchy subject, but many people would agree with your point.

 

[SurferLucas]

Dropping the bomb is sort of a touchy subject, but many people would agree with your point.

I have on good authority that "we" didn't drop the bomb...it was actually WHALE AND DOLPHIN! OMG!

 

[GlenA]

All I know is that TSA is going to use this as fodder to handcuff GA...

 

[JoelT]

Now you're getting it. Remember, todays terrorists were yesterdays freedoms fighters. Its just a matter of prospective. You (and pretty much everyone else) have it in your head that when someone is labeled a terriosist, they are just evil instead of someone having a very different point of view.

Not quite but, whatever. Either way the dude is a cold-blooded murderer.

 

[poser765]

Not quite but, whatever. Either way the dude is a cold-blooded murderer.

Aye. Kind of shocking all the people justifying or playing devils advocate. I don't recall many people who weren't loons saying 9/11 made a good point and that we should reflect on it.

 

[esa17]

One man's terrorist....

Is still a coward.

 

[JoelT]

Is still a coward.

:clap:

 

[Joe Gremlin]

Everyone in this country wants change, but nobody wants to even do so much as to go out and cast a ballot.

I kind of lost my faith in the whole cast a ballot BS after I watched a guy lose the election and take office anyway.

 

[tonyw]

There are actually lots of people who are really treating him like a martyr to their cause.

And yet, a lot of people say this guy's not a terrorist.

Just because he's not part of al Qaeda doesn't mean he's not a terrorist.

If he's not a terrorist, then neither was the Unabomber.

 

[MFT1Air]

A lot of people are very angry at the government right now. VERY angry. In no way are this man's actions justified, but it shows just how angry & frustrated people are getting.

Lot of people have been "angry" with the government for YEARS!
As the article said, his problem went as far back as 1986. No secret that as long as there is a "big brother" and the tax code, people will be upset with what they perceive as a violation of the civil liberties.

 

[JordanD]

Dude was a terrorist. Plain and simple. I see no difference between him an Atta.

Amen.

Aye. Kind of shocking all the people justifying or playing devils advocate. I don't recall many people who weren't loons saying 9/11 made a good point and that we should reflect on it.

Amen again.

The amount of defense I'm seeing this jackass get is downright disturbing. As for the guy they interviewed in the article; break the law, go to jail. Don't blame the government.

 

[MFT1Air]

And yet, a lot of people say this guy's not a terrorist.

Just because he's not part of al Qaeda doesn't mean he's not a terrorist.

If he's not a terrorist, then neither was the Unabomber.

Semantics wise, I really can't classify him as a terrorist. As you already know, terrorist "tend" to perform random/indiscriminate acts to strike fear in a nation or country. These guys strike fear in all, because you never really know where they'll strike.

I tend to liken him to the type of activist "terrorism" where it's focused on a specific cause to show their dislike. Yes, it's a game of words I'll agree, but for me. . .I'll not be too much concerned about being "terrorized" unless I have an appointment at the IRS building. OK, my blood pressure will become elevated. Similarly, for example, if I pass by or if I'm within close proximity to an abortion clinic, or target for animal rights activists, I'd move out of the area as quickly as possible.

 

[cmill]

Semantics wise, I really can't classify him as a terrorist. As you already know, terrorist "tend" to perform random/indiscriminate acts to strike fear in a nation or country. These guys strike fear in all, because you never really know where they'll strike.

I tend to liken him to the type of activist "terrorism" where it's focused on a specific cause to show their dislike. Yes, it's a game of words I'll agree, but for me. . .I'll not be too much concerned about being "terrorized" unless I have an appointment at the IRS building. OK, my blood pressure will become elevated. Similarly, for example, if I pass by or if I'm within close proximity to an abortion clinic, or target for animal rights activists, I'd move out of the area as quickly as possible.

This is completely off topic, but i remember seeing an ad on craig's list, it
said: "To all the abortion protester standing outside the clinic, thank you. You made the building much easier to find and I was able to make my appointment."


I LOL'd at that one.

As far as the original topic goes, you cant just go out and label every act of violence an act of terrorism. Call the guy what he is, a murderer. Because if you wanna call this guy a terrorist, then serial killers would be come terrorist, rapist would be come terrorist, bank robbers would become terrorist, hell someone spraying grafitti could be considered a terrorist. Today, "terrorist" is used for legal purposes more than anything else. Dont have enough evidence to arrest someone for that murder? Just call them a terrorist, and hold them indefinitely. The last thing this country needs are more "terrorist" running around giving our government an excuse to make us more "secure."

 

[JordanD]

A lot of this guy's problems he caused for himself by being stubborn and basically asking for it.

But the government always has to take the blame right?

I don't really agree on the whole "not a terrorist" thing. The guy blew up a building. I doubt his goal was to only kill one person. I'm sure he thought that the building would be full of people, and it's obvious his goal was to create as much carnage as possible.

 

[poser765]

atomic, I don't think this man was a terrorist. But to say the important thing to think about is anything political is asinine to me. What we should take away from it that this man was a killer, plain and simple.

If he wanted to make a political point there are other ways to do it that don't take someone else's life. I don't really care if he had valid political gripes.

 

[ppragman]

But the government always has to take the blame right?

I don't really agree on the whole "not a terrorist" thing. The guy blew up a building. I doubt his goal was to only kill one person. I'm sure he thought that the building would be full of people, and it's obvious his goal was to create as much carnage as possible.

The desire to create carnage does not make you a terrorist, its the explicit desire to make people afraid. Two different things.