“Dramatic violence choreographed to create an atmosphere of fear and alarm, which causes people to exaggerate the threat.” That’s the definition of terrorism coined by Brian Jenkins, one of America’s foremost experts on the subject. Jenkins goes on to define another term, one we should become more familiar with: self-terrorism.
He writes that government officials, journalists, networks, talking heads, and believers in doom “all collaborate in creating a fission of fear.” They are self-terrorists. They terrorize us and themselves, like children telling horror stories after the lights go out
There ARE terrorists out there, and our government and allies of all faiths and many nations are searching it out and fighting it. So what are we to make of politicians who blast the President for avoiding the words “terrorism” and “war”?
Dick Cheney says the President’s pretending we’re not at war. Congressman Peter King (R-NY) says the one most important thing could do now is “to use the word terrorism more often.” Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), Virginia Fox (R-NC), Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, and others are all piling on in enthusiastic agreement.
They are amplifying the efforts of Al Qaeda and its collaborators to spread terror. They are self-terrorists. They are helping the enemies of civilization. They need to be repudiated.
4 comments:
Bob - I utterly think that what this kid did was completely reprehensible and he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But I must admit to feeling some sympathy for him. It's just so utterly sad that any young person feels so compelled to do such a horrendous act. My sympathy probably has to do with my mentoring of young people for many years. His youthful pictures hurt my heart. I'm sure others will hammer me for this. Oh, well.
Oh, this is a great statement:
"They are amplifying the efforts of Al Qaeda and its collaborators to spread terror. They are self-terrorists. They are helping the enemies of civilization. They need to be repudiated."
Thank you.
He does look like an innocent kid, but let's not slip into judging people by their appearance. He may have BEEN an innocent, but now he's a would-be mass murderer. Good though, to shed a tear for what he might have been.
Bob - I cry for what he has become and the helpless miserable words he wrote about himself. Yes, he is most certainly a would-be mass murderer. The fact that these people are willing to blow themselves up is way beyond me.
Post a Comment