Why is it in this country we always have to over exaggerate things? Take for example this clip from Towleroad regarding a hate crime.
The home of two gay men living in Aldie, Virginia, just west of Washington, DC was the target of homophobic vandals over the weekend. The vandals spray-painted “FAG” and other homophobic remarks on the lawn, driveway, mailbox, and street in front of their property. They also uprooted over 170 trees and shrubs and poured gasoline on the lawn before fleeing the area. (photos)
Said Equality Loudoun (Aldie is in Loudon County) President David Weintraub: “I am disgusted and saddened. The good news is that the homeowners do feel that this crime is being taken seriously and being investigated by law enforcement as what it is: a hate crime and act of terrorism.”
Webster’s defines terrorism as “..threat of force or violence by an organized group..against person(s) or property w/the intent to intimidate or coerce a soceity or government for ideological or political reasons”.
Someone please explain to me how a hate crime involving graffiti and vandalism of trees reaches the level of “government intimidation”? I’m not trying to belittle the event as it is a serious offense. The perps. caused significant property damage and who knows how much emotional turmoil. But come on folks, let’s keep things in perspective. This is NOT terrorism.
I’m probably overly sensitive to this issue. In my line of work, I hear people throw around the word terrorism all the time. I’m just sick and tired of the “ignunce”.
I think perhaps living in such a “gay friendly” city we might look at this differently.
Like that quote from Pricilla, Queen of the Desert, referring to living in the city and are the “walls” there to keep “them” out or “us” in.
But what about those people that don’t live in a big city, they don’t have a pride week, a “gay-village” of some sort, they live surrounded by homophobic ignunt rednecks?
Terrorism uses “terror” as a tool. I am sure if I was one of these two gentlemen I would have been terrified!
I’m one of those people who lives surrounded by homophobic ignunt rednecks…but even so, I have trouble calling this terrorism.
No question what the vandals did is wrong, hateful, unacceptable and should be severly punished. I think putting this on the level if terrorism gives hate criminals way too much power.
What’s the saying? Sticks and stones may break my bones, but spray-painted words will never terrorize me.
Loudon is hardly THAT far from DC that is is somehow a rural wonderland. Most people in Loudon commute to places inside the Beltway, so it’s not as if the county is all trailers and dental care challenged. In fact, Loudon county is one of the fastest growing counties in the US and a veritable home to the mega-mansion aesthetic.
The question is the scale and intent for the term terrorism to be applied. I’m not sure it necessarily meets that threshold, however if there is organization behind the attack, if it is intended to send a political or ideological message and if there is the intent of destruction of property or life, it does meet that standard. The root of terrorism is the word terror.
Hate crime, yes. Terrorism, I have a hard time with that. Would a cross burning on the front lawn of a black person’s home be considered terrorism? Would swastikas spray painted on a synagogue be considered terrorism? Intimidation, yes. Terrorism…? I agree with you.
I think people just love using the term terrorism these days to refer to any kind of hate crime that instills a feeling of fear and terror. Hmmm maybe we should thank the media and the White House for burning that word into our brains over the last few years.