Tax Terrorism

[LPC]

An interesting column at Salon.com comments on the media reports of Stack's airplane attack and notes that "the media's reluctance to describe IRS attacker Joe Stack as a 'terrorist' reveals that this term has little to do with the act itself and everything to do with the demographic attributes of the actor: namely, in the American political lexicon, 'Terrorists' are Muslims who dislike the U.S., while Americans -- especially ones who are white and non-Muslim -- cannot, by definition, qualify."

By accepted the semantic convention that American citizens are not "terrorists," we seem to be buying into the same racism/xenophobia that fuels much of the tax denier movement.

We need to start calling violent tax deniers what they are, terrorists, if for no other reason than that it might help them to see what they are: not "patriots" or "heroes" but terrorists just like the 9/11 attackers.

[bmielke]

"Contemptible, cheap-jack murdering thug(s)" should cover it for Anglos and non-Anglos that commit terrorist style attacks. Also, it is gender neutral and oh so uber-PC.

Feel free to substitute punk(s) for thug(s) if the perpetrator is 24 and under.

I agree, but think the age should be 21 and under are punks. (I just turned 24 I don't think I would ever be described as a punk)

[Brandybuck]

We need to start calling violent tax deniers what they are, terrorists, if for no other reason than that it might help them to see what they are: not "patriots" or "heroes" but terrorists just like the 9/11 attackers.

On the other hand, overlax use of the word "terrorist" cheapens it. I don't think Stack's goal was terror, and thus he wasn't a terrorist. He is not like a suicide bomber because he wasn't seeking martyrdom, just some spiteful revenge.

He's a different classification from McVeigh, the Unitard, clinic bombers, etc.

If you want a catchy pejorative, how about "deluded nutbag"?

[Thule]

On the other hand, overlax use of the word "terrorist" cheapens it. I don't think Stack's goal was terror, and thus he wasn't a terrorist. He is not like a suicide bomber because he wasn't seeking martyrdom, just some spiteful revenge.

Martyrdom is not the goal of terrorist movements. It works as a recruitment tool, but there is always a greater political and/or religious goal behind it. As for Stack, his last words contains this statement which shows that he envisions his "sacrifice" as a political statement.

I can only hope that the numbers quickly get too big to be white washed and ignored that the American zombies wake up and revolt; it will take nothing less. I would only hope that by striking a nerve that stimulates the inevitable double standard, knee-jerk government reaction that results in more stupid draconian restrictions people wake up and begin to see the pompous political thugs and their mindless minions for what they are.

I see nothing wrong in calling him a terrorist, although "whiny murderous b**tard" works well enough.

[Number Six]

I stopped at the local IRS office yesterday to ask a question about my taxes. A Homeland Security officer was in the office to screen all customers.

A preparer is working on my filing who was in Oklahoma when the attack occured. The cloud of trouble and misery generated by McVeigh's attack took a long, long time to dissipate. I feel sorry for those sick puppies who think that the Stack attack will empower their cause.

[Joe Dirt]

I'm pretty sure that this isn't new, but it was sent to me today by a friend who is a 68 year old 'Nam vet who served two tours...



Subject: Fw: Remember the SHOE BOMBER ??
>>
>> Read my lips. We need more judges like Judge William Young.
>>
>>
>> Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his
>> shoe and tried to light it?
>>
>> Did you know his trial is over?
>> Did you know he was sentenced?
>> Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio?
>>
>> Didn't think so.!!! Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.
>>
>> ____________________________
>>
>> Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.
>>
>> Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had
>> anything to say. His response: After admitting his guilt to the court
>> for the record, Reid also admitted his 'allegiance to Osama bin Laden,
>> to Islam, and to the religion of Allah,' defiantly stating, 'I think I
>> will not apologize for my actions,' and told the court 'I am at war with
>> your country.'
>>
>> Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:
>>
>> January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid.
>>
>> Judge Young: 'Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence
>> the Court imposes upon you.
>>
>> On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison
>> in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4
>> and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the
>> sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)
>>
>> On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years
>> again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The
>> Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000
>> that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the
>> government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders
>> restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to
>> American Airlines.
>>
>> The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court
>> imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law
>> requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go
>> no further.
>>
>> This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It
>> is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.
>>
>> Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or
>> any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We
>> have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and
>> I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we
>> deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as
>> individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.
>>
>> You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are
>> not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that
>> reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature.
>> Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if
>> you think you are a soldier, you are not----- you are a terrorist. And
>> we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists.
>> We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one
>> and bring them to justice.
>>
>> So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big
>> fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known
>> warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of
>> multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper
>> Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into
>> custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he
>> said: 'You're no big deal.'
>>
>> You are no big deal
>>
>> What your able counsel and what the equally able United States
>> attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how
>> tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was
>> it that led you here to this courtroom today?
>>
>> I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask
>> you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate
>> led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing?
>> And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search
>> this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.
>>
>> It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most
>> precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual
>> freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or
>> not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very
>> wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea.
>> It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in
>> this beautiful courtroom, so that everyone can see, truly see, that
>> justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for
>> freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your
>> behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you
>> before other judges.
>>
>> We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the
>> way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties.
>> Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden;
>> pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom.
>> Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say
>> here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however,
>> will long endure.
>>
>> Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America , the
>> American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice,
>> justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very
>> President of the United States through his officers will have to come
>> into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be
>> judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence
>> democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.
>>
>> See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States
>> of America . That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten.
>> That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.
>>
>> Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.
>>

Here's a suggestion for any further actors...Try a HUNGER STRIKE...

[Demosthenes]

The shoe bomber was sentenced seven years ago, and the judge's commentary got considerable press at the time.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/30/shoeb ... entencing/

[The Observer]

I have no problem in describing Stack as a terrorist. He focused on attacking innocent people, he had a political axe to grind and he conducted this attack in order to gain publicity as well as to leave a message that reached a large public audience. There is not much left to show that he was not a terrorist.

[fortinbras]

Stack's internet manifesto expressly said that he hoped others would follow his example. I think very definitely a terrorist.

The teabaggers are already describing him, not as a lone psychopath but as a "false flag". This is a recognition that they were inciting this sort of violence against the IRS - but they don't want to be held complicit for Stack.

[Brandybuck]

The teabaggers are already describing him, not as a lone psychopath but as a "false flag".

Don't confuse conspiracists with tea partiers. Some of the former do show up at tea parties, but they are in no way representative. Tea parties also take on different characteristsics in different areas. In some places they are almost entirely pro-war Palin supporters, while in others they are very libertarian, and still others have sizable union Democrat attendance. In my local area a lot of Birchers and 9/11 Troofers showed up for the first party, but they were ridiculed and booed out, and haven't shown their faces again.

[wserra]

I split off DMVP's thread hijack here.

[LPC]

I split off DMVP's thread hijack here.

Thank you. Wading through TNJFKADMVP's crap is not just messy, but also smelly.

[Evil Squirrel Overlord]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=9856060&hpt=T2

Possibly a TT incident in Utah.

[bmielke]

TNJFKADMVP's

Ok this is a new one what is TNJFKA stand for?

[LPC]

TNJFKADMVP's

Ok this is a new one what is TNJFKA stand for?

The nut job formerly known as...

[bmielke]

TNJFKADMVP's

Ok this is a new one what is TNJFKA stand for?

The nut job formerly known as...

I like that better then SFBFKA, thanks.