Yes, terrorists have struck in Madison. Karl Armstrong and associates having nothing on the evil person or persons who broke a window at the Army Recruiting Station at University Square Mall.
This is horrible.
Ms. Pryor accuses the Stop the War! group of having committed an act of terrorism. Since when is throwing a brick through a window is on par with flying airplanes into buildings? Vandalism - yes. Terrorism - no. Secondly, the article she points to offers no proof of the identity of the perpetrator yet Ms. Pryor blares "Terrorism from Stop the War!". Read the article closely and you'll read this very important sentence: Authorities do not yet know who is to blame for the broken window.
Not letting the little formality of absence of facts stop her from jumping to conclusions, Ms. Pryor dons the robes of Torquemada and presupposes guilt, assigns blame, and recommends action:
This is, as well, yet another reason to vote NO on the Iraq referendum on the ballot next week (as if we needed another one). To approve this referendum would be to validate these actions, these actions by a group who spurred this referendum in Madison.
Is it possible that someone affiliated with Stop the War! broke the window? Yes. But how about a little innocence before being proven guilty? I too think that whoever broke the window ought to pay for the vandalism - whatever the law prescribes. But it's just that - vandalism. No patchouli-laced, tree-hugging, dope-smoking hippie did a MacGyver & made a bomb out of tofu, flax seed, and hummus and blew him- or herself up on a bus; no IED was detonated on University Avenue; and not even a Cessna was flown into any building. Conflating this act of vandalism and terrorism - the real stuff that kills - is ridiculous.
5 comments:
That particular vandalism can easily be called terrorism. It is vandalism, but since it is obviously politically motivated, it therefore can be described as terrorism.
Terrorism
The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.
Unless the police have found the perpetrator, I still stand by: "Authorities do not yet know who is to blame for the broken window." Thusly you have no idea whatsoever of the motivation of the person who broke the window. Perhaps you have proof of the identity of who did it and can thusly speak with authority about their motivation...?
Steven, I don't want to argue semantics with you, but legally, an act of domestic terrorism must involve "acts dangerous to human life." Obviously, breaking a window is not.
To classify the breaking of a window as terrorism minimizes the significance of every person who has suffered true terrorist acts. Are you really willing to insult people who have lost their lives to make a slur against anti war advocates?
The arguments that Steven and Jenna make are very good example of the logical fallacies "Guilt By Association" and "Ad Hominem"
Calling a group "terrorists" (based on the actions of one person), and saying things like, "isnt it amazing how the left thinks ok to resort to violence when it for a cause they support" creates the impression that it's ok to disregard the arguments of the offending group without examination. It is a time-tested way to avoid arguing on the merits.
I can understand why supporters of the war would not want to have a debate based on facts, since nearly every "fact" that they presented has been shown to be propaganda designed to ease the path to war, whatever the real reasons may have been.
I think it could be established that throwing a brink through a window of a building that people are in could endanger lives. I've never been hit in the head with a brick, but I know what it could do to a human skull.
Also it's not belittling to the victims of 9/11 to call this terrorism. 9/11 was a major terrorist act. This was a minor terrorist act. It's a difference in scale, but still terrorism.
keep on drinkin that cool aid, steven
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