The Face of Terrorism...

11/29/2015

The FBI defines terrorism as,

“the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives."

By this definition it is easy to label the attacks in Paris as terrorism, but what of the dozens of mass shootings each year in schools and other public places? And what of the shooting this weekend in Colorado at a Planned Parenthood Clinic? It seemed that some of our political leaders hesitate to use the term terrorism with regards to these domestic crimes committed by United States Citizens.

Robert Dear, the suspect in the Colorado shooting, launched his attack due to his feelings against the actions of Planned Parenthood... a hugely politically charged issue. He use violence in order to intimidate people to change behavior or take a certain action... this seems to fit nicely into to definition of terrorism. Why then did it take two days for some of our leaders to label it an act of terror?

Are these types of shootings terrorism, or do we now only label violent acts committed by religious extremists, specifically Muslims, as terrorism? And if so, why?

Mikaela Becker

11/30/2015 05:05:44 am

The deffinition of terroism is "the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government." Robert Dear was involved in a shooting in Colorado at a Planned Parenthood Clinic. His attack affected property and people, which is part of the definition of terroism. I believe these shootings should be an act of terroism. The violent acts mad eby muslims should also be a type of terroism. I believe it took two days to label it an act of terroism because many people believe that terroism is only an act commited by religious people. Before I saw the definition I thought the same thing. A lot of people probably agreed so they thought this shooting should not be linked to any sort of terroism.

Sarah Genuario P2

11/30/2015 06:31:24 am

Shootings like this are definitely acts of terrorism. Many people label Muslims as terrorists even though there has only been two Muslim terrorist attacks in the US in the past 15 years. But, in that same time, there have been hundreds of terrorist attacks done by Christians. It took them two days to label this as a terrorist attack because the shooter attacked a womens' health clinic (Planned Parenthood). Many people are pro-life, so there were a lot of tweets about how he was a "hero". Also, he had the advantage of being a white Christian and not a Muslim. If he were anything but white, especially if he were Muslim, it would automatically be counted as a terrorist attack.

Grace O'Donnell (period 2)

11/30/2015 08:44:39 am

I agree with Sarah on many things she addressed. It took some politicians two days to address what happened because it happened at Planned Parenthood. Because it was done by a white Christian was also part of the reason that it took them so long to classify this as a terrorist act. If a Muslim person were to do the same thing people would have spoken out about it right away, and it would have been counted as a terrorist act. Because people are pro-life, they're calling him a hero. His political views do not justify that fact that he killed innocent people.

Savannah Carey

11/30/2015 07:09:32 am

Honestly this guy is so dumb. He wants people to live so he kills people. I mean I understand hes killing these people who work at the abortion clinics because he doesn't agree with them, I get thats why hes doing it but for all he knows those lives he so sure "he saved" could grow up and worked at planned parenthood. Like honestly. Im on the pro choice side of this so it just completely drives me crazy.

Savannah Carey

11/30/2015 07:12:20 am

Also too lets not forget that fact that it took time to identify his crime as a terrorist attack but if he was muslin all of a sudden its terrorism without a doubt, race or religion doesn't matter. Acts like this ARE TERRORISM no matter who did it.

Eva Silva P2

11/30/2015 10:24:06 am

I definitely feel that this crime along with all other crimes similar to it should definitely be classified as a terrorist attack, and that the shooter should be classified as a terrorist. This criminal and his criminal act is the exact definition of terrorism, so there is no reason for it to be disregarded or ignored. Us Americans should not have a certain mindset where we think that Muslims are the face of terrorism and is the only religion that commits these extreme acts of violence. Yes, a few Muslim extremists have committed some of the most deadly terrorist attacks in the USA, but there has only been a total of two in the last fifteen years. What shouldn't be ignored is the fact that hundreds of public shootings by mainly Christian extremists have occurred in the last fifteen years, compared to the two committed by Muslim extremists. Just like the ones in the past, this shooting should not be ignored and sugarcoated, it should, for every reason, be labeled as an act of terrorism.

Koby Stamper

11/30/2015 02:48:55 pm

The thought that terrorism is solely race based is idiotic. It seems as though the government only defines an act of terrorism, an act of terrorism, when there is religion involved. Although there are many deranged white people, such as Robert Dear and many other shooters around the United States, when a person of Islamic descent is to do the same, it is a unjustified act of terrorism and the whole race is blamed for an individual's actions.

Brianna Messier-Period 2

12/2/2015 05:57:15 am

Terrorism is defined as "the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objections". The reason behind why it took two days for some of our leaders to have it labeled as terrorism is because Robert Dear is a white Christian. If he was Muslim, it would be labeled as a terrorist attack quicker than ever. No matter what race you are, if you do something like he did or something like 9/11, the Paris attack, or the Boston bombing it should be called as an act of terrorism. This shooting should not be ignored just because he wasn't Muslim. You did something illegal, and just like every other law, it shouldn't be passed by especially because of the race of a person.

Kristina Boiano Period 1

12/2/2015 08:14:04 am

I think this is terrorism. I also believe that it is extremely wrong of people to not call it terrorism just because it is an American man. I think the reason people act like this is because people were so traumatized by the 9-11 attacks that were committed by those two Muslims that now all people see is that all Muslims are terrorists which is not rue at all. And the only reason that nobody is calling this man a terrorist is because, to these people, the definition of a terrorist is anybody associated with Muslims. I think people need to realize that not just Muslims can be terrorists, a terrorist could be anybody from Europe to America.

Ryan Agnew Period 5

12/2/2015 01:40:45 pm

By textbook definition this is terrorism. Why we are hesitant to define this as such is very puzzling. In the post-9/11 America that we live in today we are too quick to associate terrorism with extremist groups such as ISIS. As great of a threat that ISIS poses on our safety, such a threat that can not be ignored, they are not the only terrorists threatening our safety. However, I do not believe that the issue should revolve on whether or not a violent act is classified as terrorism or not. We need to put an end to these violent acts altogether. As I am writing this I am listening to the news report regarding the shooting in San Bernardino. 20 people were shot at a center to aid the developmentally disabled. Do I care if this was an act of terrorism or not? Not particularly. My main concern is the ending of these horrific events that are occurring all too often in our nation.

Kevin Ford-P1

12/2/2015 01:59:12 pm

Honestly this whole terrorism thing is actually kinda dumb, I mean if u don't really think of it, it's like it's not even happening but with all the mass shootings and bombings around the world it's hard not to ignore it anymore but Robert Dear in Colorado probably just did this shooting to get acknowledged by the Muslims even though he wanted people to live, he kills anyway, but I guess there's no way to stop people from doing this in the world even though they're all just killing for no reason and I'm sure that no matter what happens they know that they're all just going to get caught

Hannah Johnson

12/4/2015 06:45:23 am

Yes I think that people now look at terrorism as Muslims, or extremists who are doing it for their religion. We now look at attacks such as the one in Colorado just as 'shootings'. Even so, I personally think that both acts are terrorism. The definition of it fits both of the cases.

Ian Vincent P2

12/4/2015 05:00:15 pm

I think that after the 9/11 attack people started changing the definition of terrorism. We look at terrorism as Muslims or religious extremists. I think that even "shootings" are considered forms of terrorism.

Kalum Alldredge per. 5

12/4/2015 05:05:38 pm

This guy is a "textbook" terrorist, and it is appalling that it took so long for people to define him as such. Just because someone is not Islamic, or is white, does not mean that they are automatically not a terrorist. The stereotypes that are evident in modern society are utterly blasphemous, and I personally blame the news and social media for most of it. If something is said enough, or shared enough it somehow become truth in today's society, and it is quite ridiculous.

Jeremiah Mullane Per. 2

12/4/2015 05:07:01 pm

I think that people look at terrorism as Muslims. I think that we fear them more because they are united, and they aren't just one person shooting or with bombs. But with Isis and other terrorism, we think of them as much more threatening because of there size and insane ideas.

Ryan Corrigan

12/5/2015 03:48:31 pm

i think that any one who commits harm to other people to scare others is a terrorist. I think that the only reason we consider Muslim Extremism the only form of terrorism is because they are well planed and on the largest scale. there were so many people killed on 9/11 that we think if there are 10 people killed at a movie theater is different. it isnt and people need to realize that

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