The real threat isn’t from Muslims

[n2doc]

By John Tirman
March 10, 2011

IS IT FAIR to investigate the sources of extremism that may pose a threat to US security? That’s what Republican Representative Peter King of New York is doing this week as he holds hearings to probe the “radicalization’’ of American Muslims.

The hearings are controversial, but the link between extremism and violence is worth exploring. The problem is that King has the spotlight fixed on only one group. There is a tangible threat of extremist terrorism in America, but it is not Muslims we need to wonder about.

The START database on terrorism in America, which tracks all incidents of political violence, shows that most attacks in the last two decades have been on black churches, reproductive rights facilities, government offices, and individual minorities. And those have been committed mainly by right-wing extremists. From 1990 to 2009, START identified 275 “homicide events’’ that killed 520 people and were committed by right-wing ideologues. There were many more incidents of destruction of property, nonfatal attacks, and other acts of thuggery by white supremacists, private militias, and the like.

The last two years have gotten worse, at least in hate speech. “For the second year in a row, the radical right in America expanded explosively in 2010,’’ notes the Southern Poverty Law Center in a just-released annual survey. Coupled with economic woes, this growth is “driven by resentment over the changing racial demographics . . . and the mainstreaming of conspiracy theories and other demonizing propaganda aimed at various minorities.’’
more
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/03/10/the_real_threat_isnt_from_muslims/

[NOLALady]

1. IOW,

The very real threat is from our home grown, gun toting, nutjobs and dittoheads.

[RKP5637]

2. Yep, and many of them get a free pass as the 'real' Americans. We need a

mirror held up to ourselves.

[Rebubula]

3. Just because...

...we have a threat from home grown terrorists does not mean we should ignore the other threats from people that have been rattling sabers and blowing up buildings\cars\people for 4 decades.

I will never understand the willing ignorance on this subject.

Please show me (other than McVeigh - and hearings were held for years after that concerning homegrown terrorism) where a dittohead (dickhead is more like it) has strapped bombs to a teenager\ walked into a hotel and shot everyone etc?

It is suicidal to ignore the obvious in order to appear 'tolerant' and more progressive than thou.

It is also anti-human to demonize and entire swath of people for the actions of a few - it is a very treacherous high wire act that requires tact and understanding.

Sadly - I do not trust King and his ilk - but to deny that it is not necessary to talk about it is shortsighted.

[atreides1]

4. But King is ignoring all other groups

So in your mind just one death isn't enough, it has to be multiple casualities? What about Eric Rudolph and the Atlanta bombings, or didn't enough people die in that attack to meet your criteria?

I guess the murder of Dr. Tiller doesn't count because Scott Roeder didn't use a bomb vest or only shot one person!

How about the nut bag in Pittsburg who killed 3 police officers, because he believed they were coming to take his guns away?

I think all terrorist groups should be investigated, not just one!

[Historic NY]

5. The real threat is from Radical Republicans who intentnionally fan the flames...

that inspire right wing terrorist attacks