Spot the difference
By Robin Lamb
@troyburns (1405)
New Zealand
December 6, 2015 4:49am CST
I'l keep this brief because it's the weekend and I'm tired and just a wee bit emotionally drained. Two things, and then a joke:
1. I note there has been a stabbing incident on the London Tube. A man who reportedly shouted "This is for Syria" seriously wounded one person and inflicted minor injuries on two others. Met Police have tasered and arrested a suspect who may soon be able to shed some light on why the hell he did something so hateful and pointless.
With the recent San Bernardino attack still fresh in people's minds, authorities have been quick to label the attack "an act of terrorism." Fair enough: that Syria comment is a dead giveaway. If only Syed Farook or his missus had yelled something similar, the Feds would probably have been just as quick to do so.
So, in the space of a couple of days we have had two qualitatively similar incidents. In one, three people were injured, and in the other 14 people died and 20 others received a variety of wounds, many of them serious. Can you spot the difference or suggest why this may be so?
2. Stop calling it terrorism if you really mean Islamic extremism. Whatever you think about Islam or Muslims in general, call it what it is. Furthermore, when white supremacists attack a black church, synagogue or mosque, or when fundamental Christians shoot up an abortion clinic, be honest enough to recognize and name their specific brand of extremism.
Yes, these are all examples of terrorism, but right now that word is little more than shorthand for "bad things that Muslims do to us." It's time to be honest about all forms of extremism, or there really is no hope for any of us.
A joke: I've been reading a book about Stockholm Syndrome. It was terrible at first but by the end I loved it.
14 people like this
8 responses
@Namelesss (3365)
• United States
6 Dec 15
Haha, I got the joke so my brain must be functioning a little bit.
To my mind a terrorist is anyone who terrorizes another. Of course I know you are referring to the state of affairs across the globe right now. Maybe I'm not as awake as I should be. I don't care what they call it.
Go relax and let your emotional well fill back up with warm hugs and love. I'll get you started with a ((hug)). 
6 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
7 Dec 15
@Namelesss - Thanks for the hug - I feel much better now :) I can't think of a definition of terrorism that works for me - US drone attacks terrify thousands of innocent people every year, but they aren't the same as what we currently think of as terrorism. I much prefer "extremism" because it focuses on what these loonies believe as much as what they do.
3 people like this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
6 Dec 15
In order to be terrorism, it must have a political goal in mind and generally there is an organization behind it. Terrorist groups - IRA, KKK, ISIS, Al Qaeda, etc. There is a difference between a lone gunman or bomber with a political agenda or religious agenda but is not affiliated with a group that is encouraging these acts, because terrorism must be sustained in order to be terrorism. One crazy guy who gets violent ideas in support of a political idea or religious idea is not organized terrorism. I don't consider Ted Kaczinski to be a terrorist, just a lone crazy guy with a political agenda. I will call it terrorism if it is part of a systematic, organized movement to achieve an ideological goal through the means of terror and violence. We don't know if the tube slasher was part of a terror cell or not, but he was carrying out the agenda of Islamic terror groups.
5 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
7 Dec 15
@Rollo1 - I don't think group affiliation is as necessary as it once was,thanks mainly to the Internet. ISIS is as much an ideology as it is an organization and I think the same goes for some other types of extremism. (Civil Rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson has labeled the lynching of almost 4,000 Southern blacks a systemic act of "racial terrorism" but he's not having much luck finding official support for this idea.) I'd agree that the Unabomber wasn't a terrorist - he was an anarchist - and neither are sociopaths like James Holmes and Elliot Rodger. But I'd argue that Chris Harper-Mercer, Dylann Roof, Wade Page and Robert Dear almost certainly are.
3 people like this
@slund2041 (3314)
• United States
6 Dec 15
Glad you enjoyed your book about Stockholm Syndrome. I do not think it would be a book I would chose to read, because of the subject matter. 
I am sorry to hear of all the attacks that are happening. I wished people would live and let live. It seems like everyone is not happy to their are wars happening and such. I am a peaceful person by nature, and wished we could all live in peace.
I am sorry to hear of all the attacks that are happening. I wished people would live and let live. It seems like everyone is not happy to their are wars happening and such. I am a peaceful person by nature, and wished we could all live in peace.4 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
7 Dec 15
@slund2041 - I think there is more kindness in the world than hatred, but the haters can have such an impact these days. Peace will never be possible as long as we have people who believe that violence is a way to get what you want.
3 people like this
@slund2041 (3314)
• United States
8 Dec 15
@troyburns I do not think we will ever see peace. It is truly sad though, that innocent people have to die.
3 people like this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
8 Dec 15
@troyburns You should! btw, agreed terrorists come in all shapes, forms, backgrounds, and causes. most of them chose to call themselves freedom fighters.
2 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
8 Dec 15
@Drosophila - Glad you liked the joke. They are pretty popular so it may be time for a special joke post!
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 15
@troyburns I'm positive! Yes, it is. The faster than light one is excellent. I've heard it before. And it still takes me a second to "get it" again. And then there's A neutron walks into a bar.
3 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
7 Dec 15
@TheHorse - No charge! What about the photon that walked into a hotel. The bellhop says "Can I take your bags?" And the photon says...
1 person likes this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
7 Dec 15
@TheHorse - That's right, you're a muso, aren't you? Is your joke the one that goes "I've lost my electron." My favorite is: The bartender says, "We don't serve faster-than-light particles here." A tachyon walks into a bar.
3 people like this
@shellyjaneo (1081)
• United Kingdom
7 Dec 15
This is a good point and also highlights that there are extremists in all religions x
3 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
7 Dec 15
@shellyjaneo - Thanks Shelly. I think all powerful ideas can corrupt weak hearts. A little less belief and a little more thinking would help the world right now.
3 people like this
@shellyjaneo (1081)
• United Kingdom
8 Dec 15
@troyburns This is definitely true, I have no problem with any religion as I know how happy it can make people but when it is used for evil nobody wins it just breeds hatred and there is already enough of that in the world x
2 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
10 Dec 15
@jstory07 - Unfortunately, once they are killing it is already too late. We need to be able to detect them earlier,but that is an almost impossible task.
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23672)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
11 Dec 15
The syndrome or the book??? 
I don't discuss religion and/or politics!
I don't discuss religion and/or politics!