While I was surprised to learn that the lead Beltway
Sniper suspect is apparently a Muslim, I was not surprised that the
designation which is largely reserved for Muslims was waged against
him.
Before the suspects' names were known, there was
little talk of the possibility of the sniper shootings being acts of
terrorism. The suspicion was circulating, but there was not enough
evidence to assume anything but yet another serial killer, albeit
with a new twist.
The revelation that the last name of one of the
suspects is Muhammad erased any doubt in the minds of those who
equate Muslims with terrorists. All of a sudden, it's terrorism.
Case closed.
Besides his name and religious affiliation, both
items not being sufficient evidence to legally support allegations
of terrorism, there are accounts from third party individuals that
suggest John Allen Muhammad sympathized with the 9/11 terrorists.
Is sympathizing with international criminals
sufficient grounds for terrorism allegations? What constitutes
sympathy? Some may suggest that sharing the religion or religious
ideology justifies such designations, but is this dangerous ground
for America to step onto, or is there legitimate reason to label a
serial killer a terrorist?
Let's take 15 year old Charles Bishop of Palm
Harbor, Florida. On January 5, he stole and crashed a Cessna into a
Tampa high-rise, leaving behind a suicide note clearly expressing
sympathy for Osama bin Laden. His age, name, skin color and his
family's defensive description of him as a card-carrying member of
the Young Republicans Club and a Tom Clancy fan may have averted
this young copycat suicide pilot earning the label of terrorist.
And there is Ted Kaczynski, the infamous Unibomber.
In his manifesto, he clearly stated "the object will be to overthrow
not governments but the economic and technological basis of the
present society." In other words, as our President put it, Kaczynski
was "attacking our way of life." Kaczynski fit the serial killer
profile: white male with serious problems in his head. However, you
will not see the terrorist label being placed on the Unibomber.
On the other hand, the Beltway Snipers demands were
ten million dollars, not the destruction of America's way of life,
changes in foreign policy or other political motives normally
required for a legitimate terrorism designation.
The African-American community was shocked, not by
the Beltway Snipers names or religious affiliation, but by their
skin color. This may be a first for American serial killers who have
typically been white males, such as Ted Kaczynski, Jeffrey Damer,
David Berkowitz (Son of Sam), Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Charles
Manson, Albert Fish (the real-life Hannibal Lector) and a host of
others.
The fact that the police profile of the sniper was
that of a white male, possibly one with military experience, proves
that the authorities were looking for a serial killer and not a
terrorist.
Now, let's consider Jewish Defense League chief
Irving David Rubin and JDL member Earl Leslie Krugel, who were
arrested for allegedly plotting lethal bombings of a Los Angeles
mosque and the office of Congressman Darrel Issa, who is of Arab
descent.
Furthermore, Anti-Defamation League Regional
Director, David A. Lehrer, issued a statement which said the "ADL
abhors and condemns this potential terrorist plot to attack members
of the Los Angeles community." The ADL's Backgrounder on the JDL
contains a long list of criminal and terrorist acts committed by the
JDL covering a span of over 25 years. Yet, no charges of conspiring
to commit acts of terrorism have been filed against Rubin and Krugel.
Another plot to kill Arabs and Muslims in America
was unearthed in Florida when authorities discovered 37 bombs,
several guns and 25,000 rounds of ammunition throughout podiatrist
Robert J. Goldstein's town house. On October 18, dentist Michael W.
Hardee pleaded guilty to conspiring with Goldstein to target Arab
and Muslim buildings for destruction. His wife, who made the call
that lead to the discovery, was also arrested on October 24 and
charged with being an accomplice.
While authorities have a list of about 50 mosques
and schools the Goldstein group were planning to blow up in Florida,
no charges of conspiring to commit acts of terrorism have been filed
against them.
It seems that when violent acts are planned or
committed by Muslims, it is automatically considered terrorism while
the same types of crimes committed against Muslims or by non-Muslims
are not. And we wonder why our government has such an image problem
in the Muslim world. Maybe it's the bigotry, stupid!
