Scumbag Republican Terrorist Arrested

“No tap-backs!”

“While Spock's Alaska's title for this thread is perhaps a little inaccurate, why is Eric Rudolph never referred to as a Christian Terrorist?


Accused bomber sparks debate about Christian terrorist

By LEONARD PITTS JR.

Knight Ridder Newspapers

The story is almost certainly apocryphal, but here it is for what it's worth.

Soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Muhammad Ali was supposedly visiting Ground Zero when someone asked a barbed question: How did Ali, the most famous Muslim in the world who is not a terrorist, feel about sharing his religion with Osama bin Laden? The champ shot back, "How does it feel to share yours with Hitler?"

As I said, the story -- it began circulating soon after the attacks -- is probably not true, but it ought to be. It's valuable for what it says about our tendency to demonize the unfamiliar and overlook the obvious.

Which brings us to Eric Rudolph, alleged Christian terrorist.

And, to this question: Is that a fair term to describe the accused serial bomber? Some observers have begun debating that since Rudolph's recent arrest in North Carolina. Among them, the Washington Post, which raised the issue in a story last week. And Arsalan Tariq Iftikhar, Midwest communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who tackled it a few days ago in the Miami Herald.

The question is, to say the least, provocative. The crimes of which Rudolph stands accused -- the bombings of a gay nightclub, two abortion clinics and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics -- can fairly be described as terrorism. And he is indeed thought to have been motivated by Christianity, albeit that perversion of it found on the extreme right end of the political spectrum. In that perversion, love of Jesus somehow translates to the conviction that Jews are diabolical, blacks subhuman, and explosive devices a valid expression of faith.

So does that make him a Christian terrorist? And if not, why? What is the substantive difference between him and all the "Muslim terrorists" who plant bombs out of their supposed devotion to Islam?

If you're a Christian, as I am, your reflexive response is likely to resent being lumped with this guy whose beliefs reflect no Christianity you've ever known or practiced. Perhaps you're self-aware enough to realize that this is the argument moderate Muslims have been making for years, to limited effect.

Granted, the comparison is inexact. For one thing, Christianity is, by a sizable margin, the largest religion in America. Its ubiquity makes it unlikely that Rudolph could ever be seen as "representative" of the followers of Christ. So it's difficult for most Christians to appreciate fully how the term "Muslim terrorist" must resonate with Muslims who are not.

There's another reason the comparison is flawed. Namely, that fundamentalist extremists have managed to hijack Islam to a degree most of us find unfathomable.

In this country, it's considered newsworthy and a cause for concern that a few people in North Carolina have expressed sympathy for Rudolph. But in the Middle East, "sympathy" for terrorism is general, often taking the form of government support, institutional anti-Semitism, and the lionization of suicide bombers. Fairly or unfairly, the damage that behavior has done to Islam in the eyes of the world is incalculable.

And the comparison is a valuable one. It requires the majority to walk in the minority's shoes, demands that we grapple with issues of fairness and sensitivity we might otherwise never consider. It serves to the goose the sauce prepared for the gander.

Is Rudolph a Christian terrorist? If bin Laden is a Muslim terrorist, then isn't the answer yes?

Not that we'll ever call him that. As history is written by the winners, so perception is shaped by the majority. And I doubt that any mainstream news outlet will ever use "Christian terrorist" to describe Rudolph. People will say it's provocative and unsettling, and it is. I'm just not convinced that's a bad thing.”

“Whackos come in all religions, races and nationalities.”

“Good article, Violin. Thanks.”

“Yes. I'd say his actions make him a terrorist who is trying to use Christianity to excuse his actions. Very thought provoking. Thanks.”

“i guess it's as fair as calling osama a muslum terrorist.

but i say he's just a psycho...and any religion that condones violence(which Christianity does not) is evil, not good”

“Timothy McVeigh was no religious terrorist: he was a right wing anti-government terrorist.

Ted Unibomber was no religious terrorist: he was conservative living in rural republican Montana.

DC snipers were no religious terrorists. They were gun-toting pro-gun typical of conservatives.

Eric Rudolph was no religious terrorist because of the Olympic Park bombing. He was motivated by conservative convictions.”

“true christianity does not condone violence. however, there are passages in the bible when taken out of context, are used to legitimize violence. the heart of christianity is the gospels, where the life of christ is documented. i cant think of anything christ said as being anything but loving and forgiveness. the rest however, is a different story. some really beautiful passages, some really bizarre stuff, some incredibly bloody stuff, and some rantings and ravings of lunatics. stick to the gospels and the words in red and youll come out just fine.”

“Ted Unibomber was no religious terrorist: he was conservative living in rural republican Montana.

DC snipers were no religious terrorists. They were gun-toting pro-gun typical of conservatives.



kazinsky a conservative? OMG dood, you are an idiot.

and the snipers were muslams, moron.”

“All religions have their zealots that break away from the church in pursuit of their own will. I think it’s sad that we hear day in and day out about how many people organized religion has killed through war but we will never know how many were not killed because of organized religion.”

“good point, nige. hell, the pope even tried to stop megablast in the sand part deux, to no avail.”

“How many Christian leaders have declared a Fatwa to kill muslims?”

“Ever hear of the Crusades? The Spanish Inquisition?”

“So, is Rudolph to the right of Attila The Hun?”

“violin

Yes, of course. That was how long ago? Come on, this is 2003 and the Pope was actively against the war in Iraq and for a Palastinian State. Bacpac has a point, admit it.”

“I admit bacpac has a pointy head.”

“how can you tell with that hat on?”

“bacapc got two big horns and a wooly jaw”

“Ted Unibomber was no religious terrorist: he was conservative living in rural republican Montana.

Alaska
10:43:50 PM
06/10/03

Is that what people mean by "revisionist history"?”

“Definition of a conservative is someone who likes things the way they were...in other words, no changes to the status quo. His whole idealogy was anti-technology and the problems associated with technology. Seems he turned against his liberal college background to become a conservative.

DC snipers were pro-gun... the republican party is the preferred party of the NRA.”

“alaska, you are a liar.............


"There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and
pursue it steadily." --George Washington


"Man has no nobler function than to defend the truth." --Ruth
McKenney


"Never give in! Never give in! Never, Never, Never -- in
nothing great or small, large or petty -- never give in except
to convictions of honor and good sense." --Winston Churchill”

“DC snipers were pro-gun... the republican party is the preferred party of the NRA."
Alaska
11:19:10 PM
06/11/03
Classic example of a hasty generalization. Your whole premise is flawed in that correlation does not equal causation. The fact that they used guns does not make them either conservative, Republican, or members of the NRA, and none of those three factors can be pointed to as a cause for their actions.”

“stickman don't bother. this person has no ability or desire to think reasonably.”

“I stated two facts.

You made the generalization yourself.

You made the correlation because you saw some connection. Good boy.”

“whatevah mang. you're waaaaaay out there. like EXREME whacko looniebin out there.

other than that, i'm sure you're a nice person......”

“Alaska you have no clue about debate, do you? Do you even know how to pronounce hasty generalization, much less recognize one?”

“The fact that they used guns made them pro-gun.



criminals love guns.

terrorists love guns.

nuts love guns.

the NRA love guns.”

“You drive a car. Your car uses oil. George Bush made millions in the oil business. You are a George Bush supporter.

Gee this is fun!”

“Alaska does not drive, he does the knuckle drag shuffle. He lives in a small one room cabin with his subscription to farm animals monthly.”

“Alaska is an asset to conservatives.

I love dudes like Alaska and phaedy.”

“Well, I can see where trying to argue logically with him gets me. Can't have a battle of wits with an unarmed man.”

“There are a lot of Alaska's on this board.”

“"nuts love guns"
I can see it now, Mr. peanut wielding an Ak-47......”

“Alaska is an asset to conservatives


notice how they all piped down alla sudden?”

“Owning more than one bowling ball doubles your chances of having a hamburger overdose.”

“Alaska has way overstepped what can be logically proven or even implied.

That being said, though, Strat does it all the time, and it's neither a conservative nor a liberal trait.”

“The Liberals have Alaska, while the Conservatives have Strat, bacpac, upurs, and 4 or 5 others, LOL

Strat and Co. are actually plants from the DNC sent here to discredit the neocons.”

“ok you two, very original.....”

“Excuse me, morons, but I have never voted for a democrat in my life. I have only voted for independents. The problem with you morons from the left and you morons from the right seems to be you are simply stupid making assumptions about others.

George W. Bush has been a windfall for me. The worse the economy gets, the more secure my job gets. I make more money now under W. than I ever have in my life. I help the unemployed. Thank you George W. Bush and republicans everywhere.”

“[CLICK]”

“Alaska, you're not a moron from the left, nor a moron from the right?

Are you a moron from above?”

“What's the matter? Feel stupid, don't you? Or then again maybe not, because ignorance is bliss. I even got old Tilt on this one.”

“Alaska, most of what you post has been left-leaning, whether you vote democratic, republican, or martian. If you read back through the thread, you'll see that you're the first to bring up the political parties, and that the rest of us were talking about political leanings -- Conservative or Liberal.

Considering the political history of the united states over the past 250 years, the very action of voting independent is a liberal act.

All that aside, we were all dogging you because you failed to provide any logic behind your arguments, if you want to call them that.

If anyone had to be labelled a moron on this thread, I think most critically thinking, impartial observers would point at you.”

“Crap, I meant to say: past 150 years...”

“For once I agree with phadey.”

“but do they like Jello in Alaska?”

“Wow someone did not take their pills!”

“Everyone who has posted on a thread titled "Scumbag Republican Terrorist Arrested" thereby keeping it near the top of the list for more than 17 days has been more than helpful...

... 'specially republican types. And you too, Phaedrus. If you were thinking critically you wouldn't have posted on a thread designed to mess with the heads of republicans. LMAO.”

“smile”