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Is the talking point in the US that disgruntled Americans are terrorists?! Really? Right, wrong, crazy ... however you see them. Kinda scary calling citizens te

Is the talking point in the US that disgruntled Americans are terrorists?! Really? Right, wrong, crazy ... however you see them. Kinda scary calling citizens terrorists, especially on a political basis. Protestors invading government buildings is quite common in the world, but calling citizens terrorists is usually something you see in non-democratic regimes.

bebopcowboy 6y ago
Especially after we just had widespread arson and looting in every American city all summer while these same people heaped praise on the perpetrators.
- paulryanrogers 6y ago
  AFAICT most protestors over the summer were peaceful. There didn't seem to be much sympathy for those destroying property or stealing merchandise. Regardless I'd agree that the Jan. 6 protestors weren't trying to incite terror so much as stop a process they've been convinced was flawed. Hopefully with a change of government the US political culture can mellow and maybe even reconcile a bit.
mch82 6y ago
No. The talking point is that the violent extremists who broke into the Capitol chanting “kill [Republican Vice President] Mike Pence”, wearing body armor, armed with guns, pipe bombs, and zip ties for taking hostages are terrorists. Do you disagree?
rsynnott 6y ago
> Kinda scary calling citizens terrorists Historically, most terrorists, most places in the world, are citizens of the countries they're doing the terrorism in. > especially on a political basis Terrorism is essentially always politically motivated. > but calling citizens terrorists is usually something you see in non-democratic regimes Eh? No it isn't. Here's a list for Germany, for instance; most are domestic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_Germany#List_of_significant_terrorist_incidents_in_Germany https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_Germany#List_of_s...
okamiueru 6y ago
Seems awfully disingenuous to call this "disgruntled Americans". Surely, out of all the possible traits to point out here, being "disgruntled" isn't the defining factor. So let's not mince words and false pretenses here. Here is a fair definition of terrorism: "the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims" Now, let's go through the list. Was there violence involved? Yes. Was there intimidation. Yes. Was this against civilians and politically motivated.. well yes. Then it begs the question, is this wilful ignorance, or is there some malice involved. I suppose that is for you to know. But I find it annoying that it's so prevalent. Whichever it is.

bebopcowboy 6y ago

Especially after we just had widespread arson and looting in every American city all summer while these same people heaped praise on the perpetrators.

paulryanrogers 6y ago
AFAICT most protestors over the summer were peaceful. There didn't seem to be much sympathy for those destroying property or stealing merchandise. Regardless I'd agree that the Jan. 6 protestors weren't trying to incite terror so much as stop a process they've been convinced was flawed. Hopefully with a change of government the US political culture can mellow and maybe even reconcile a bit.

mch82 6y ago

No. The talking point is that the violent extremists who broke into the Capitol chanting “kill [Republican Vice President] Mike Pence”, wearing body armor, armed with guns, pipe bombs, and zip ties for taking hostages are terrorists. Do you disagree?

rsynnott 6y ago

> Kinda scary calling citizens terrorists Historically, most terrorists, most places in the world, are citizens of the countries they're doing the terrorism in. > especially on a political basis Terrorism is essentially always politically motivated. > but calling citizens terrorists is usually something you see in non-democratic regimes Eh? No it isn't. Here's a list for Germany, for instance; most are domestic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_Germany#List_of_significant_terrorist_incidents_in_Germany https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_Germany#List_of_s...

okamiueru 6y ago

Seems awfully disingenuous to call this "disgruntled Americans". Surely, out of all the possible traits to point out here, being "disgruntled" isn't the defining factor. So let's not mince words and false pretenses here. Here is a fair definition of terrorism: "the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims" Now, let's go through the list. Was there violence involved? Yes. Was there intimidation. Yes. Was this against civilians and politically motivated.. well yes. Then it begs the question, is this wilful ignorance, or is there some malice involved. I suppose that is for you to know. But I find it annoying that it's so prevalent. Whichever it is.