Gangs, Hate Groups, and Extremists. Why do we ignore home grown terror?

[Blue_Chill]

The US is running around the world "spreading democracy" to combat terror. We have flags waving and angry country music all over the place. Just about everyday we are bombarded with images of soldiers waving goodbye or greeting their familes upon thier return. Sometimes we even see coffins.

But why is so much attention being given to terrorists that in reality aren't the biggest organized threat to the people of this great nation of ours. How is it that so much evil goes on within our borders and no one seems to give a damn.

Hate groups are alive and well. They are all over the place exerting their influence where ever possible, making threats, scaring people, and making life horrible for too many. Anything that makes you different makes you a target.

If there ever was a group that terrorizes it would be the gangs that dominate this nations inner cities. The problem hasn't been given the attention it should have been and they are now growing out of the spray painted streets into suburbia.

Extremists: be they eviromentalists, animal rights, abortion, religious, or the growing nationalists. These groups unchecked can become a monster, all extremist no matter what issue they care for if left unchecked can do horrific things. Islamic extremists are only one type of these sickos, currently they are by far the most deadly but that could change.

So I ask you, am I the only one that wants a real war on terror? Am I the only one that is sick of turning on the TV and seeing gang shooting, abortion center bombings, gay people killed for no damn reason? THIS IS TERROR AND THIS MUST STOP! We will never get the people of the United States to embrace nonviolence if the enviroment we live in remains extremely violent.

[Systematic Chaos]

1. A coldly pragmatic and honest answer:

If we had safety and peace of mind, it would put an end to the "culture of fear" that the wingnuts depend on to get us to voluntarily piss away all our civil rights and freedoms.

I fully agree with you that these bottom feeding idiots need to be dealt with. Our underfunded law enforcement agencies try to do that, but obviously they aren't without numerous problems of their own.

[johnfunk]

2. Because it's so much easier to sow fear about swarthy skinned Mohammedans

It's about FEAR and CONTROL, not a real war against terrorism. Clark and Dean are right about Chimpy -- he's never been serious about a war against the most notorious terror thugs and groups.

[Fescue4u]

3. Because its not a serious (national) problem

Home grown terrorist are not hijacking airplanes, bombing barracks, destroying sky skyscrapers, etc.

While the Oklahoma city bombing is a notable (and horrible) exception to my statement, the reality is that your examples do not rise to the level of a national problem, but rather multiple local ones.

As for you gangs example, its only a problem in a few inner city (and curiously anti-gun) areas. The vast majority of American does not have a gang problem.

Is it a problem? Yep? A serious one? Yep..But its a local one, handled on a local basis.

[gristy]

4. You have made a good point, Blue Chill.

Fear of global terror distracts us from the local terror which is all too real for too many americans. There is a very good letter to the editor in your post, with some careful editing.