Only Muslims can be terrorists?

[plurality]

Robert Jay Goldstein is not a "Jewish terrorist." After all neither God nor His prophets ever condoned the murder of innocent human beings. If a Jew engages in terrorism, the blame falls on him, not on his religion. That much we can all agree on. But that is where our paths diverge.

In August 2002 Goldstein was arrested near his home in St. Petersburg, Florida. In his possession were forty weapons, thirty explosive devices, a list of fifty mosques and a detailed plan to bomb an Islamic school.

snip

Clearly Goldstein, a terrorist, was capable of inflicting unimaginable harm. In chilling details, his mission plan stated his desire to "open fire on all 'rags' and then bolt out and let the devices do the rest." His motive was "to do something for 'his' people," in retaliation for 9/11 and the ongoing Israeli-Arab conflict. His goal was to "kill all rags" with "zero residual presence."

Despite Goldstein's impressive arsenal and obvious intent, federal prosecutors say he is no terrorist, as his actions were not aimed at altering government policy.

snip

Federal prosecutors ultimately charged Goldstein with lesser offenses of violating civil rights, attempting to damage religious property, obstructing people in the free exercise of religious beliefs, and possessing unregistered firearms. Based on the evidence, there is no doubt that Goldstein would have received life in prison had he been charged as a terrorist.

Goldstein will not spend his life in prison and that worries many Muslim Americans. When he is released, after serving his sentence of twelve and a half years, he will be only fifty years old, still capable of inflicting potential harm.

more

http://www.yellowtimes.org/article.php?sid=1470&mode=thread&order=0

Mods- I know this will probably get moved to FA, but for the record, this has nothing to do with Israel/Palestine but with how the US Gov. treats 'terrorists' of varying stripes.

[davidinalameda]

1. tell that to Timothy McVeigh's victims

that they weren't the victims of a terrorist

and the victims of the Klan!

a terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist no matter what faith they follow, what color they are, etc etc etc

[plurality]

2. true, but to this administration

the definition of 'terrorist' seems to only include Muslims, or liberals (ie 'eco-terrorists') Here's another example of their blatant bias.

Federal authorities Wednesday charged two leaders of the Jewish Defense League with conspiring to blow up Arab and Muslim institutions in southern California, including the offices of Arab-American congressman Rep. Darrell Issa.

snip

Both men were charged with conspiring to destroy a building with an explosive device and possessing a destructive device in connection with a violent crime, Gordon said. The first charge carries a prison sentence of up to five years, the second a mandatory 30-year sentence.

The Jewish Defense League is a militant Los Angeles-based group that advocates the return of all Jews to Israel and the use of "all necessary means -- even strength, force and violence" -- to defend the interests of Jews, according to its Web site. Its logo contains a silhouette of a clenched fist over the Star of David.

Notice the lack of terrorism charges against these men, and no trip to Guantanamo. Is the JDL on the list of terrorist orgs?

edit forgot link to that story here it is

http://www.cnn.com/2001/LAW/12/12/jdl.arrests/

[Allah Akbar]

3. Conspiring to kill a Congressman

should get you a one way ticket to the death chamber at Gitmo, I would think.

We're getting ready to kill arabs down there for one hell of a lot less than that.

[schnellfeuer]

4. the definition of 'terrorist' seems to only include Muslims...

I think the problem now with terrorism charges is, its something that can be applied to whoever or whatever they deem necessary, at their discretion. Kind of like conspiracy charges. Just another charge to pump up their case, or give them more power. Seems to me, anyone who makes a victim of anyone else, be it one person or a whole country, can be called a terrorist.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi schnellfeuer!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[southernfried]

10. Islamic Jihad has been declared

its holy war and while there are others out to do harm they are nowhere near as well armed, equipped and motivated nor do they have the numbers.

To ignore this is simply foolish.

But we all know that they are not alone and there are people plotting ddeath and destruction as this post goes out.

[Blue_Chill]

5. That person is NOT a terrorist

federal prosecutors say he is no terrorist, as his actions were not aimed at altering government policy.

I agree with this line in your post.

A person being a terrorist has nothing to do with their background and everything to do with what they hope to accomplish. Killing people because you hate their race/religion/choice of pet is not terrorism. Commiting crimes in hopes of damaging or communicating with the goverment is terrorism.

The problem is that post 9/11 we started using the term incorrectly. Anybody that did anything that scared anyone with violence was labeled a terrorist.

As for this line...
Robert Jay Goldstein is not a "Jewish terrorist." After all neither God nor His prophets ever condoned the murder of innocent human beings. If a Jew engages in terrorism, the blame falls on him, not on his religion. That much we can all agree on. But that is where our paths diverge.

That is complete bull shit. Any religion or lack of religion can lead to acts of terror. A atheist with a grudge against prayer in schools could blow up a school to teach the goeverment a lesson and be an atheist terrorist. A Christian with a extreme pro-life view could decide to blame the goverment and set off explosives in a Pro-Choice politicians district and become a Christian terroist.

[plurality]

6. I think their point here with this passage

Robert Jay Goldstein is not a "Jewish terrorist." After all neither God nor His prophets ever condoned the murder of innocent human beings. If a Jew engages in terrorism, the blame falls on him, not on his religion. That much we can all agree on. But that is where our paths diverge.

Is that even though Goldstein is a terroris,t his actions should not be used to paint Jews as 'terrorists', yet many allow the fact that there are Muslims who are 'terrorists' to convince themselves that all Muslims are terrorists.

[plurality]

7. and I'd say he qualifies as a terrorist

Because he was making a political statement to Muslims through his attack. He was saying to them 'You did 9/11 and are fighting the Israelis, this is what you will get if it continues.' Conveying a political statement through violence, that's terrorism.

[Blue_Chill]

8. Terrorism as I understand it is an act against goverment

not race/culture/religion. The man is a bigot that should be dragged in the street and beaten.....but I wouldn't consider him a terrorist.

[plurality]

9. the technical definition of terrorism

is a violent act meant to convey a political message. that's why there can be state sponsored terrorism. ie, government death squads going into a troubling village and slaughtering everyone. sending the political message that other people should think twice before causing the government any trouble. terrorism has many forms and is not limited to acts directed against governments. in fact most acts of terrorism are the state-sponsored kind.

[Blue_Chill]

11. You have a point

But I still say no because I'm a sore loser :D