"Every time the Constitution is undermined, a terrorist gets his wings"

[WilliamPitt]

A line from a reader email I just got.

Spread it around. It's good.

[hopeisaplace]

1. here's a line for the people: I wanna live again. Please let me live again

:)

It's a Wonderful Strife.

[redqueen]

2. haha... that IS good!

:D

Thanks Will, and anonymous reader too. :)

[mike_c]

3. it perpetuates the "terrorist" meme....

Don't forget that we have always been at war with Eastasia....

[emulatorloo]

4. So terrorists don't exist?

or is this a grammar post?

[mike_c]

15. that's not really the point....

Terrorism is a tactic used by the powerless to fight the powerful, usually against overwhelming odds. Objectifying people as "terrorists" quite handily makes them our enemies and ignores their complaints. I would argue that the vast majority of people who engage in terror tactics would much rather be doing something else with their lives than dying for a cause, even one they see as just. So sure, "terrorists" exist, but I say that there are very few of them in any real sense, i.e. people who are really psychopathic mass murderers simply looking for justification to kill. Let me reverse the question-- does anyone really "hate us for our freedom?" Some likely do. Enough to constitute a genuine threat? I doubt it.

Note that all this talk about terrorism really began after 9/11. But what really changed on 9/11? Nothing. A ravenous horde of terrorist bogeymen did not suddenly arise on 9/11. A small group of dedicated men took advantage of openness in American society to mount a novel attack and they succeeded. End of event. We are not at war with a bunch of "terrorists" and we never have been-- the "war on terror" is a scam. I think we should stop talking about "terrorism" and start talking about what the US does to piss people off sufficiently that they're willing to give up their lives fighting us and our interests.

[EFerrari]

18. Well said. And, a side note to this argument that may be useful,

most every statement that the kleptocracy makes about "terrorists" is noticeably self-referential.

[emulatorloo]

21. well, I disagree w you -- I was well aware of terrorists and terrorism

before 9/11, as no doubt you were and many who post regularly on DU are.

I agree w you that bushco twists everything to its own ends.

However I don't believe targeting civilians is ever justified. It is an issue, it has to be dealt with, and Bushco is not equipped to deal with it.

[radio4progressives]

24. "terrorism" has existed for over 2000 years...

It's been in the american military lexicon at least since the american civil war, was used to identify the "enemy" in Viet Nam. But it was widely used to idenitify "domestic enemies of the state", in the 60's and seventies as well, which did not limit itself to the Black Panthers, and the Weather Underground, but anti-war activists/groups like the War Resisters League, Quakers groups and so on.

On the other hand, the word was also flipped to suggest (a rare moment of intellectual honesty from any president) that "one's man's terrorist was another man's freedom fighter" ..

The term is so incredibly misused as the propaganda tool to justify endless wars, and the right to invade and occupy other nations, it deeply offends me to see progressives legitimize Orwellian Double-Think on any level.

I just ask the people think about this, because we (actually our illigitimate "commander in chief") is saber rattling to launch offensive attacks Iran, using the "terra'ists" to smear Hugo Chavez with and so.

I am frankly stunned to see the term used on DU in this context (apart from quoting) at all.

[iconoclastNYC]

6. It's here to stay.

We have to go jujitsu on thier asses. Use it agains them.

[WilliamPitt]

10. There are no terrorists

I just made it up. Me.

[mike_c]

17. you want to mock me or discuss the issue...?

See my response up thread. I think there are in fact very few genuine "terrorists" in any real sense. Perpetuating memes from the WOT does little good for anyone other than the imperialists who benefit from it.

[WilliamPitt]

19. Can't I do both?

:P

[mike_c]

20. LOL-- ok....

eom

[Joe Fields]

25. Aren't you being rather flippant today, Will?

I've noticed over the past two years Will, that you just throw things out around here, kind of like verbal hand grenades. You never get involved in discussing anything. Does that reflect a superior attitude? Or do you just not have the time?

I understand you've been fighting the fight for a long time. You have a rather successful online magazine, and you are used as reference from time to time for University research projects. You are invited to get-togethers that include top ranking Democratic politicians. You are invited to speak on political talk shows. And I am sure I am missing a few other things.

And you have earned every bit of our respect. You have done a lot for our causes, and have done much more than many or most of us will on the political front. But don't act so freaking high and mighty with us. Talk to us, not down to us.

[WilliamPitt]

26. Geez, sorry

I work 18 hours a day, more or less. Sometimes a one-liner is what I have time for.

That having been said, I think your perception is off. It's a little tough to toss 36,414 one-liners.

[annabanana]

28. I figure, if you can't, metaphorically speaking,

kick off your shoes here at DU, where can you? As far as I'm concerned, you can throw just about anything you want around here. It's not like you're afraid to duck any returning fire...

[Joe Fields]

29. My perception may be off, and I apologize.

Sorry, I'm feeling a little red today.

Probably has something to do with MY economy. Some of us writers have to be waiters, and are Damned lucky if we can do that.

[WilliamPitt]

30. Been there, done that, got the butter-stained t-shirt

:toast:

[sybylla]

5. Very nice!

Kicking to spread the word.

[wicket]

7. I love it!

K & R

:kick:

[myrna minx]

8. That is brilliant.

:applause:

[radio4progressives]

12. i disagree that it is brilliant, i think it is regressive as hell..

we need to get at what's happened to our constitution and the bill of rights, by sleight of hand, by despotism, by a whole panoply of machinations perpetrated by the fascists and their enablers.

[WilliamPitt]

14. You need to stop hanging out with people who agree with you

and start listening to the millions who don't.

'despotism,' 'fascist enablers,' all sounds great on DU. Spill that on the street, in a bar, a barbershop or at the grocer, you'll get confused looks.

[radio4progressives]

23. Maybe you should hang out with Cindy a bit more... she's got no problem

with speaking truth to power on the streets wherever she goes..

imagine if we had more people with her courage, her fortitude on the streets, in the bars, in the barbershops and in the grocers - then maybe "millions of people" won't be so confused.

[WilliamPitt]

27. I've spent days and days with Cindy

so spare me.

[radio4progressives]

31. I know you have. that's exactly why i mentioned it.

It's like, damn... what is it that don't you get?

[radio4progressives]

9. spread these ideas around (link)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=478858&mesg_id=478858

[radio4progressives]

11. The Constitution: The REAL Contract with America - that's the Slogan

that should be said, i'd like to dump the Orwellian use of the word "terra'st" and the political gaming that that feeds off of it.

even using the word "terrorist" in any poliitcal sloganeering is legitimizing the idea that we need to be at war with the "terra'ist" and thereby enabling the entire canard that is what are involved with in the first place.

i expect enlightened vision from progressives..

[lapislzi]

13. You need a spit-take warning in the header

Now wiping up coffee from desk.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

16. Good one!

:thumbsup:

[spuddonna]

22. Ok, Zuzu! lol n/t