Unitarian Church Shooting is Terrorism

The shooting at the Unitarian Church in Knoxville, TN on Sunday that left two adults dead and seven wounded was an unequivocal act of terrorism.

Though the international community at the UN General Assembly has been unable to come up with a common definition of terrorism as it applies to existing groups there are broad elements of a definition that are widely held.

An act of terrorism is violence by a civilian or civilians against unarmed civilians for a political motive. Al-Qaeda attacking US servicemen in the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, or in the USS Cole, or in Iraq or even in Fort Dix, New Jersey is not terrorism. It is a guerilla attack. Al-Qaeda attacking civilians in US embassies in Africa or at the World Trade Center is indeed terrorism.

So is suspect Jim D. Adkisson's attack on civilians in the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. Police found a letter in Adkisson's car expressing his " hatred of the liberal movement."

Even if this man hopefully acted alone it is chilling to all progressive people and groups, like the Unitarians. Are we free to express our views, indeed to allow our children to perform in a church play?

Adkisson must be tried on terrorism charges and the White House and Congressional leaders must speak out against this form of domestic terrorism too, not just the inflated threat from Islamic extremists that threaten American political and economic interests abroad and help drum up defense contracts at home.

Comments

[darkmane]

The unfortunate thing is that this Justice Department is so politicized that it highly unlikely that this will be a federal case.

Mind you if it had been a Methodist Mega Church....

[Lee Stranahan - Huffpost Blogger]

I've been a member of a couple of different UU congregations in Los Angeles and Austin. My kids attended as well and enjoyed it. I can't imagine the shock of this attack on the type of good, loving, intelligent, and spiritually curious and open people that Unitarian Universalist churches attract.

[Scarllatti]

I sincerely share your sentiments.

[dissolvethecorporation]

Should just Adkisson be tried for terrorism charges? How about the right wing pundits, radio-show hosts and TV evangelist hate-mongers who encouraged his diseased outlook?

[Michale32086]

According to reports, Adkisson is anti-christian.

I doubt that he would get that from "right wing pundits, radio-show hosts and TV evangelist hate-mongers who encouraged his diseased outlook"

But, by all means..

Continue...

Far be it for me to interrupt your political bigotry in mid-tirade...

Michale.....

[several]

"According to reports, Adkisson is anti-christian. "

Which reports? Link to one for us?

[bigbingtheory]

Sorry to say all those folks do perpetuate the kind of hate we saw unfold with this guy. That not being a bigot, it's recognizing harmful speech for what it is.

[colleen2]

"According to reports, Adkisson is anti-christian."

According to reports he dislikes the fundamentalist church he was raised in and appears to hold decided opinions about how Christianity should be practiced. This does not = "anti-Christian"

[several]

Here's something to remove that doubt for you:

"Inside the house, officers found "Liberalism is a Mental Health Disorder" by radio talk show host Michael Savage, "Let Freedom Ring" by talk show host Sean Hannity, and "The O'Reilly Factor," by television talk show host Bill O'Reilly."

Source:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/28/church-shooting-police-find-manifesto-suspects-car/

[Michale32086]

Terrorism is defined as ongoing and systematic attacks of violence specifically targeted against innocent civilian persons for the purpose of furthering a political or ideological agenda.

What occurred is more of a hate crime than terrorism...

While they share similarities, they are not the same thing.

Michale.....

[JustAProgressive]

So by this logic, the female suicide bombers in Iraq who only blew themselves up once, and who did not participate in other acts, are just engaged in a hate crime, and not terrorism?

You can't just talk this stuff away, Michale.

[Michale32086]

Yer kidding, right???

They are part of an terrorist orgainization..

What orgainization was Adkisson a part of??

I'll ask you the same question I asked the girl above..

What training, experience or expertise allows you to make the determination??

Michale....

[bigbingtheory]

Terrorism is defined by the terrorized. This guy had no personal beef. He wanted to send a message to those he hated. That's terrorism no matter how you look at it. Perhaps I'm being too emotional, we liberals tend to do that I'm told.

[Michale32086]

}}}}}}}}}Terrorism is defined by the terrorized.

Bull... Complete and utter BULL...

}}}}}}}}}}
He wanted to send a message to those he hated. That's terrorism no matter how you look at it.
}}}}}}}}}

Matthew Shepard, Wyoming... Gay man beaten and brutally murdered because he was gay..

Terrorism?? Of course not. Hate crime..

Both are brutal and perverted and inhumane...

That is where the similarity ends..

What qualifications do you have that allows you to label this as "terrorism"???

Michale.....

[cynicalgirl]

This is the third church shooting this year. We've had at least 5 mall shootings. And remember that guy who walked into a town meeting and shot several attendees?

Why are wing-nuts so afraid of Islamic terrorists when we have so many domestic terrorists right here?

[Michale32086]

This was not terrorism.

This was a hate crime.

Michale.....

[Boris]

Oh, come on, Mickey. Let's call it Terrorism. It fits the American dialogue so much better.

[bigbingtheory]

There is no difference. The goal is the same. Besides wouldn't a hate crime be against an individual and not an institution or belief?