Aren't the Alabama church burnings = terrorism on U.S. soil?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

[havocmom]

1. Not unless it is shown to be the work of a person who fits their profile

And we know that profile leaves out white Christian males, so don't hole your breath hoping they call it what it is.

[Warpy]

2. Church burnings years ago didn't fit the profile

They were done for insurance profit and didn't cross racial lines.

The current crop sounds like a gang of dumb teenagers, or they'd do a better job of it. Too many churches were left with mild to moderate damage, not destroyed. Whether or not it's a gang of punks crossing racial lines (and someone from Alabama told me those churches were integrated) or it's a result of the schism within the SBC, that remains to be seen.

If it's bored, angry teenagers or arson for profit, it won't qualify as terrorism.

[ToolTex]

4. I think it's the SBC eating their own.

Or maybe, more constructively, it is the start of a revolution to return the separation of religion from politics. I guess we will learn more if it spreads outside of Alabama to the other red states.

[glitch]

3. Only if SUVs were damaged.

then they can tie the arsons to "eco-terrorists".

[mykpart]

5. Weren't there several church burnings back in the 80s?

I think then they were all Black churches. Anyone remember?

[ToolTex]

6. Maybe it is just retaliation for those cute Danish cartoons.

Are there many Southern Baptists cartoonists in Denmark? (Or Muslims in Alabama)?

[Wilber_Stool]

7. No you silly Democrat.

It's only terrorism if it's your church.

[ToolTex]

8. Maybe it is right wing corporafascists retaliating against the right wing

christofundamentalists for getting in bed with the left wing environmentalist tree-huggers on the global warming issue. Hope those righty fundy jerks are using condoms 'cause I love our Greenies.

(((((Greenies)))))

Like my ole Daddy told me in the 80's; "I heard it on the 700 Club so it must be true."

[xultar]

9. Not terra. Two white men were seen @ the fires.

[Ian David]

10. Terrorism or the begining of a Civil War or just random nastiness

Remember, George W. Bush is a Uniter, not a Divider...

Churches from across the political spectrum are being hit.

Here's a new one today:

Police say communion grape juice tainted (at anti-gay baptist church)

By John Christoffersen, Associated Press Writer | February 9, 2006

NEW HAVEN, Conn. --Grape juice that sickened 40 people during a church communion service was tainted, prompting authorities to launch a criminal investigation, police said Thursday.

No one was seriously injured after drinking the liquid Sunday, but five people were taken to hospitals with nausea and parishioners reported a burning sensation in their throats.

"Somebody placed this substance into the grape juice," Capt. Fred Komm said. "We are considering this a crime and investigating it as such."

Komm said authorities had not conclusively identified the substance but had ruled out arsenic and other common poisons.

The parishioners became sick after drinking the juice Sunday at Calvary Baptist Church in Darien. Pastor Anthony Gibson said the juice tasted like soap.

More:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/02/09/police_say_communion_grape_juice_tainted/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News

That would be THIS Church...

Churches take stand on banner vandalism
By E.B. Solomont, Special Correspondent
Connecticut clergy are saying enough is enough to a wave of vandalism that has targeted churches advocating for a federal marriage amendment.

<snip>

"We tend to interpret the Bible literally and therefore we do not believe that same-sex relationships are appropriate or in any way even helpful to the individual or to society," said the Rev. Dr. Tony Gibson of Calgary Baptist Church, where a "Defend Marriage Now" banner was displayed prominently and later stolen.

Gibson said he received e-mails accusing him of hate mongering and homophobia. "We are not homophobic and don't believe in any way that violence should be committed against people because of their sexual behavior," he said. "But we don't believe that the definition of marriage should be changed to accommodate same-sex relationships."


More:
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-banner4jul08,0,6845738.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines




Five Santa Cruz churches target of 'hate crime'


Five Santa Cruz churches target of 'hate crime'
By Cathy Smith
sentinel staff writer

SANTA CRUZ — Vandals struck five Santa Cruz churches, a Christian bookstore and the historic Santa Cruz Mission Adobe on Saturday night in what police are calling a hate crime.

The vandals used a stencil to leave specially crafted messages and images about a half-foot across. One depicted a cross with an equal sign followed by a swastika. Church leaders said another stated "Abort Christ," a message one minister called "stunning and distressing."

The targeted churches included Holy Cross, Messiah Lutheran, High Street Community, First Congregational and Calvary Episcopalian. Also struck was the Agnus Dei Christian bookstore on Cedar Street and the Santa Cruz Mission Adobe park, which is near Holy Cross.

The Rev. Mark Stetz of Holy Cross said the messages seemed so general that it is not clear what the person or people were upset about. He said the church reaches out to all members of the community and tries to promote social justice.

More:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2006/February/07/local/stories/03local.htm


Police Believe Hate Group Vandalized Churches

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) - Montgomery County (website - news) police believe a white separatist group was behind racist graffiti spray-painted on five schools and churches this week.

Police Chief Tom Manger says the graffiti discovered Tuesday at Ridgeview Middle School and Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg included the initials "W-A-R." Police believe that stands for White Aryan Resistance, a California-based group.

Saint Mark's United Methodist Church in Boyds and the Seneca Community Church in Germantown, both with predominantly black congregations, and the historic Boyds Negro School were also vandalized.

The graffiti also included swastikas and racial slurs.

More:
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0106/293717.html

And hate crimes in Montgomery County are on the increase
http://www.bwcumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=1895

Two Churches Marred With Racist Graffiti

Montgomery County Activates Its Hate Crime Tip Line

POSTED: 12:40 am EST January 11, 2006
UPDATED: 9:35 am EST January 11, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Investigators in Montgomery County, Md., are trying to find out if there are links between five vandalism incidents involving racist graffiti.

Police said the buildings are in the Gaithersburg and Germantown areas.

The daughter of a church member, who lives near the Seneca Community Church, found the graffiti Tuesday.
"She said someone has spray-painted vulgar messages and it's all over the side of the church," said the girl's mother, Sally Emboye.
More graffiti was found on the historic St. Marks United Methodist in Boyd's, Md. Members said the descendants of slaves built the church.
And even more graffiti was found at the nearby Boyd Negro School, a part of Montgomery County's pre-civil rights history...

More:
http://www.nbc4.com/news/5990704/detail.html


Md. News Briefs - Police investigate possible hate crimes

Published: Sunday, January 8, 2006 10:40 PM EST

"Montgomery County police and the FBI are investigating recent acts of vandalism against a synagogue's Hanukkah decorations as possible hate crimes.

"An inflatable menorah at 118 Market St. in the Kentlands community of Gaithersburg provided by the Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue at 11520 Darnestown Road was slashed on Dec. 30. Another menorah outside in a shopping center at 5546 Randolph Road in Rockville was attacked as well, and a sign was vandalized at the Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue."

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20375-2005Apr2.html



Police Search For Person Who Vandalized Buses

Jewish Council For Aging Buses Vandalized

POSTED: 7:00 pm EST January 9, 2006
UPDATED: 7:22 am EST January 10, 2006

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Police in Rockville are searching for the person who vandalized several buses at the Jewish Council for Aging.

Authorities believe the six buses were vandalized sometime on Sunday.

The Jewish Council for Aging said it has been renting the parking lot the buses were parked on for about a year without any problems.

The last bus was parked at the parking lot, which is located off of Route 355 in Rockville, at about 1 p.m. Sunday.
At 8 a.m. on Monday, a bus driver arrived at the parking lot to find that a total of 20 windows had been broken on the buses.
Police suspect that someone who had been walking along the train tracks spotted the buses and began throwing rocks.

Montgomery County police said they are not investigating the incident as a hate crime.

Council officials tell News4's Tony Dorsey dozens of wheelchair bound elderly are now left without transportation....

More:
http://www.nbc4.com/news/5960055/detail.html