Free-Floating Anger
It has been more than a day since the horrific act of terror at the Boston Marathon happened. Nobody knows much of anything, at this point, but it certainly hasn't stopped some from taking their free-floating anger and directing it at their own particular "usual suspects." This is pointless, but it is also hard to ignore, as we all wait for actual proof, real data, and the identification of any possible perpetrator of such a tragedy.
Even my use of the word "terror," to begin with, is political to some. The words "terror" and "terrorism" are defined in different ways by many, and have become a somewhat ridiculous bugaboo for some. President Obama said today that of course it's an act of terrorism, because what the heck else would you call two bombs set off to kill and maim innocent spectators of a sporting event? That seems like a reasonable way to put it, but he apparently annoyed some by not saying the word before.
I call this argument ridiculous, because the only place it makes the slightest bit of difference is in the world of politics. Whether, by your own personal definition, exploding two bombs is "terrorism" or "not terrorism" is meaningless, because it will be treated in exactly the same fashion by the law enforcement officials who are investigating it. Something this horrific is going to get every resource known to mankind thrown at it -- from the local cop on the beat to every lab test the F.B.I. can use, and everything in between -- and it matters not one whit what label is being used by politicians and the media in the meantime. The whole history of the "War On Global Terrorism" from the Bush years and the annoyance from the Right about the non-use of the term by the Left is all wrapped up in the decision to call something terrorism these days, but it won't matter who calls it what because solving the crime will be top priority for every cop (of any sort or jurisdiction) from Maine to the F.B.I. building -- who will all be working overtime no matter what the crime is called.
Semantics aside, the wider problem is what every American feels right now -- sadness and anger. Sadness at the lives lost and otherwise impacted, and anger at whomever would do such an unthinkable thing. The problem is, nobody knows where to direct this anger, as no perpetrator has been identified.
Waiting to find out is excruciating for everyone. Not everyone can manage to retain objectivity. Rumors abound -- some printed or broadcast by otherwise-reputable news organizations who really should know better by now. "I heard..." and "some guy said that..." currently rule the American consciousness. So far -- as is usual in such chaotic situations -- most of the rumors have already proven to be wrong. We don't know. Anyone who says they do know, at this point, is wrong.
Which doesn't stop people from saying so, of course. Some will come right out and say it, and some will merely insinuate it (by using as a subject for such statements the nebulous word "some"... um, wait a minute...), but already there are public figures willing to offer up rampant speculation on their part as some sort of serious analysis. This is now happening left, right, and center. Or should I say "Left, Right, and center," perhaps?
Some on the Left are openly wondering whether the bomber was some right-wing nutjob with some sort of extremist axe to grind. Some on the Right have jumped to the conclusion that it's an Islamic fanatic plot. Both point to examples in the past to justify their speculation. Perhaps one side will turn out to be right. Perhaps it was an Islamic terrorist. Perhaps it was a domestic right-wing terrorist. Perhaps it was a domestic left-wing terrorist. Perhaps, though, it was just a literal "mad bomber" -- someone motivated by sheer murderous insanity.
We may find this out soon, and we may never find this out. On television and in the movies, some brilliant cop or lab tech figures some cunning bit of misdirection which leads directly to a killer. It doesn't always work out this way in real life, though. If this truly was a politically-motivated attack (fulfilling one definition of "terrorism"), then whatever group or person was responsible may eventually want to take credit for the attack, although even that's an unfounded assumption on my part. If it was some sort of "lone wolf" working alone, he or she may decide that laying low and disappearing is the best bet right now.
My only point today is similar to the one I made yesterday, when I stated that I had nothing to add to the debate. We don't know. We're all waiting to find out, and we're all way too willing to grasp any shred of evidence (or rumor) and build all sorts of logical castles in the air based upon what we think we know. It's hard to carry free-floating anger around and not have a target for it. But until some actual facts come in, that's what we all face for the immediate future.
I leave you with the following to ponder, as we all wait. The next time you hear some bit of evidence "which explains everything" reported in the news -- think of how many of them have already been proven wrong. Think of how many things were reported yesterday which have already been debunked by officials. Consider how the earlier the report, the more likely it is to be flat-out wrong -- no matter how respected the journalist that you hear it from happens to be. Have a healthy amount of skepticism for anything you hear, unless it comes from the mouth of someone actually in charge of the investigation in some way. It doesn't help with the free-floating anger, but it will allow you to retain some perspective in the meantime.
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
NOTE: This comment contains quotes from the previous commentary as it is more germane to this commentary...
"Oh no, I've gone cross-eyed"
-Austin Powers, AUSTIN POWERS II
Oh, I disagree. Remember OK City? Early reports were it was a Middle Eastern terrorist... turned out to be wrong, though.
Does the general public get it wrong sometimes?
Absolutely..
Does the MSM get it wrong most of the time??
Again, absolutely..
But I don't think this is one of those times..
The type of device used is a very telling clue...
But the public getting it right or the MSM getting it wrong is not my point.
My point is the desire around here to immediately blame the Right when things like this happen is completely inconsistent with the desire to "wait for evidence". A desire that is expressed once evidence starts turning towards a cause that doesn't fit the agenda...
But, credit where credit is due. At least we all agree that it was an act of terrorism..
It took ya'all almost a week to concede that with the Benghazi debacle..
So, we're making progress.. :D
ALL early reports should be taken with a grain of salt. Especially those by the media, without an LEO source to back them up.
Agreed. That is why I am saying that the evidence here points to a Muslim terrorist attack.. Because the evidence I am referring to DOES come from LEO sources..
But I have a question for you. Since, as I posit in my Tues. article (why are we still commenting here and not on today's article? Just wondering...), "terrorism" is defined differently by different people, what is your definition?
It HAS been a while since I posted my definition, eh? :D During the Bush years, I posted it at least once a week.. :D
Terrorism is defined as ongoing and systematic attacks of violence specifically targeted against innocent civilian persons or property for the purpose of furthering a political, economical or ideological agenda.
That's kind of a trick question, so I'll let you see behind the curtain of my thinking: is a US Embassy or Consulate or other diplomatic entity a valid military target? Or is an attack upon it an act of terrorism? What is your definition, precisely?
That's actually a very good question and gives me pause... I have no off the cuff answer for you, other than to say that it puts then entire "terrorist attack" at Benghazi in a whole new light..
I'll have to rethink my thinking. Thanx a lot! :D
I mean, it's cut and dried in the case of the Fort Hood shooting. Many on the Right labeled that as a terrorist attack when it doesn't really qualify as such.. To be fair, the Left wanted to label it as "Workplace Violence" which is even MORE moronic...
But an attack on a country's Embassy in ( I am assuming ) peace time?? My gut says (as it did in Benghazi) it is a terrorist attack..
But if one looks at an Embassy as a "military headquarters", which in could be construed as such, then the definition of terrorism would not apply. As in the case of the King David Bombing in 1946. An act which MANY Israel bashers mistakenly label as an act of terrorism which it clearly is not..
Bottom line, I have no good answer for you in that..
That seems like a reasonable way to put it, but he apparently annoyed some by not saying the word before.
With good reason....
Have a healthy amount of skepticism for anything you hear, unless it comes from the mouth of someone actually in charge of the investigation in some way.
As I mentioned in the previous commentary, I completely and unequivocally agree with that sentiment..
I would only add to it to be CONSISTENT in that healthy dose of skepticism.. If one is going to question the evidence, then question ALL the evidence.. And not just the evidence that one doesn't like, evidence that doesn't fit one's particular agenda..
That's all I am saying...
Michale
My point is the desire around here to immediately blame the Right
No one here immediately blamed the right for anything.
Thank you.
-David
My point is the desire around here to immediately blame the Right
Completely false.
There is only one person around here who is completely obsessed with Right v Left and we all know who he is. It has become old, tired and completely boring.
No one here immediately blamed the right for anything.
Thank you.
You're saying that no one around here has ANY desire to blame the Right??
Com'on.. I may have been born at night, but it wasn't LAST night... :D
One only has to see the comments around here in the immediate aftermath of the Tuscon shooting to know that the desire to blame the Right is palatable..
Further, I am constrained to point out that, in the aftermath of several high profile shootings and bombings, that the Left in general moved to immediately try to pin blame on the Right. While that may (or may not) have been echoed specifically here in Weigantia, it was NEVER refuted by rank and file Weigantians.
And, as you know, Silence Gives Assent... :D
In other words, ya'all sure jump on the Right lickety split if they make a bonehead accusation.. Is it too much to ask for ya'all to be consistent and do the same to the Left, just as lickety split-edly?? :D
There is only one person around here who is completely obsessed with Right v Left and we all know who he is.
Anyway as with any of these attacks we can only just sit and wait until the facts become clear (unless you're the right wing media and it's election season).
-Michty6, Comment #8
Yea, but Michty hasn't chimed in yet, so it's not fair to jump on him until he is here to defend himself. :D
Michale
There is only one person around here who is completely obsessed with Right v Left and we all know who he is.
I am also constrained to point out that the first one to go to the Right v Left meme was CongressCritter Barney Frank and his "Tax Cuts Won't Help Incidents Like The Patriot Day bombing" moronic-ness...
If ya'all truly don't want any Right v Left battles here, the solution is simple..
Quit bashing the Right. :D
Then I won't feel the need to, in the interests of fairness, point out that the Left is just as bad, if not worse...
Then we can all hold hands and sing, "Koom Bye Ya" together in a bed of rosy pedals.. And spokes.. :D
Michale
CW,
Good column, echoes much of the MJ article David linked to in yesterdays column.
I would add that no matter what the officials find out there will be some whack-job conspiracy nuts out there who will disagree and consider it some underlying plot by someone to undermine something. Watch this space.
Michale,
Lol ok Michale because I made a joke about how insane the right-wing media was after the last terrorist attack to happen in Benghazi (which is crystal clear, they were absolutely nuts) I am obsessed with right vs left.
And David/Liz are correct - nobody on here blamed anybody for the attacks yet... except you. You are the only one who jumped to conclusions about a Saudi man who had been 'brought in for questioning' (even this is unknown, by all accounts he may have just been a victim). In light of CW's article perhaps you might want to consider which of your own frames and biases (as well as the media you follow) led you into being so horribly wrong and accusatory with so little evidence?
And David/Liz are correct - nobody on here blamed anybody for the attacks yet... except you.
I didn't "blame" anyone. I simply commented on the evidence..And that evidence points to a Muslim Terrorist..
In light of CW's article perhaps you might want to consider which of your own frames and biases (as well as the media you follow) led you into being so horribly wrong and accusatory with so little evidence?
Yet, YOU are jumping to the conclusion that I am "horribly wrong"...
"Mr Pot, meet Mr Kettle"....
Based on the weapon used, the chances are VERY high that it was a Muslim terrorist..
But, because you are so enslaved by political ideology, you cannot even CONSIDER the possibility..
Just like ya'all couldn't even CONSIDER the possibility that Benghazi was anything more than a protest gone bad, even though *I* called it dead on ballz accurate within 12 hours...
Face it.. Ya'all LOVE the Right v Left meme..
What ya'all DON'T like is some arrogant prick who won't let you bash the Right in peace. An arrogant prick who is always pointing out that, based on the FACTS, the Left is no better than the Right..
"One is happy to be of service."
-Robin Williams, BICENTENNIAL MAN
:D
http://dailycaller.com/2013/04/16/actor-blames-boston-attack-on-gun-culture-2nd-amendment-must-go/
There's ANOTHER whack-job Leftie who blames the 2nd Amendment for the Patriot Day bombing..
And no one here condemns such rampant and ignorant statements.. Ya'all only condemn such moronic statements when they come from the Right..
Michale
Michale,
At no point ever anywhere have I or anyone else said this is not a Muslim terrorist. Open your eyes man. You're seeing things that aren't there. You seem to equate the phrase 'let's see what the evidence brings/there is no evidence of anything yet' with 'I don't think it's a Muslim terrorist'.
I love how you're telling US to have an open mind when you are the one jumping to conclusions (again). Hypocrisy at it's finest.
And it's blatantly obvious who loves right vs left. Go and look at over your posts again from yesterdays thread. I'm pretty sure almost every sentence you wrote was a right vs left sentence, it was getting ridiculous...
Michty,
Michale because I made a joke about how insane the right-wing media was after the last terrorist attack to happen in Benghazi
I am also constrained to point out that you didn't even AGREE that it was a terrorist attack until 7 days AFTER the attack..
And you can't claim, "I was waiting for all the evidence" because all the relevant evidence was known within 12 hours of the attack..
That's my point..
You are very selective as to when you claim you don't have enough evidence vs when you know enough to condemn..
Ironically enough, that decision is based solely and completely on political ideology rather than on the facts themselves...
Michale
At no point ever anywhere have I or anyone else said this is not a Muslim terrorist.
Naw, ya'all just pooh pooh'ed the evidence when I pointed out that the evidence points to a Muslim terrorist...
And it's blatantly obvious who loves right vs left. Go and look at over your posts again from yesterdays thread. I'm pretty sure almost every sentence you wrote was a right vs left sentence, it was getting ridiculous...
This, coming from the guy who FIRST mentioned "Right Wing"...
Like I said, if ya don't want any Right v Left talk, then quit bashing the Right...
But, as I pointed out, ya'all LOVE bashing the Right.. You just get pissy when you can't dispute the fact that the Left is just as bad...
Michale
Whoa, CW!!!??
Do you have a new corporate sponsor????
http://sjfm.us/temp/cw3.jpg
Michale
And you can't claim, "I was waiting for all the evidence" because all the relevant evidence was known within 12 hours of the attack..
Absolute nonsense. In Michale-world the evidence was available 12 hours after because in Michale-world Obama went in and orchestrated the attack himself... The rest of the world - not so much. As was the case yesterday between real-world and Michale-world.
Naw, ya'all just pooh pooh'ed the evidence when I pointed out that the evidence points to a Muslim terrorist...
Nope I said jumping to conclusions based on your own frames and biases and media circles is stupid. And I stand by this. My point was proven exactly correct when they released the guy and declared him innocent. So much for your theories/media accusations. This is what happens when you jump to conclusions without knowing the full facts and based on media nonsense.
Like I said, if ya don't want any Right v Left talk, then quit bashing the Right...
But, as I pointed out, ya'all LOVE bashing the Right..
Nope I did not bash the right. I bashed the right wing media. And will continue to do so at will (mainly the US nut-job right wing media that somehow is 'mainstream').
If you want to have a sensible discussion with me from a right wing point of view I am happy to do so and have many friends I entertain in this manner. I certainly won't bash their perfectly valid, logical and rational (albeit imo flawed) arguments. But I am never going to give any credibility whatsoever to right wing media nonsense like Fox or stop bashing their absolute nonsense hysteria.
To be honest with you if you actually did believe in right-wing ideology you'd be better off bashing the right wing media too as they shame your entire argument in the US with their pathetic nonsense. They drag the debate down so badly you end up with lunatic perspectives becoming mainstream.
Absolute nonsense.
And yet.. I called it dead on ballz accurate.. And I did so almost a WEEK before ya'all even conceded that it was a terrorist attack..
These are the facts..
My point was proven exactly correct when they released the guy and declared him innocent
Yet you STILL can't prove that this happened..
Why? Because it never did..
NO ONE is *EVER* declared "innocent"... NEVER...
Nope I did not bash the right. I bashed the right wing media. And will continue to do so at will (mainly the US nut-job right wing media that somehow is 'mainstream').
You can argue semantics all you want..
It doesn't change that fact that it was YOU that first brought up "Right Wing"...
As you are wont to do, you try to rewrite recent history when your claims are proven false...
Michale
Lol sometimes talking to you is like dealing with a kid. 'But you said it first!'
'Right-wing' and 'right-wing media' are 2 different things and 2 concepts that can vary DRASTICALLY.
For example, comparing the "right-wing" in Canada to the "right-wing media" in the US is like comparing a smart-adult to a crazed-drugged-up-alcohol-driven-socio-path. Read my last few paragraphs in [12] again.
Michale,
Do you have a new corporate sponsor????
http://sjfm.us/temp/cw3.jpg
Close down Drudge and start reading sensible non-lunatic media... ;)
Michty,
You brought up Right Wing...
So it was you who introduced the Right v Left context in this thread...
You can argue semantics all ya want..
But that doesn't change the facts..
Close down Drudge and start reading sensible non-lunatic media... ;)
I saw it on CW.COM... Barring a few exceptions, that as "non lunatic" as it gets.. :D
Michale
On another note...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/us/politics/senate-sets-flurry-of-crucial-votes-on-gun-measures.html?partner=MYWAY&ei=5065&_r=1&
Looks like Obama's signature Anti-Gun legislation (so named by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid) is going down in flames... :D
Michale
Wow even the FBI had to slap down the media and their nonsense today: http://www.businessinsider.com/boston-marathon-arrest-bombing-reports-fbi-2013-4
Wow even the FBI had to slap down the media and their nonsense today: http://www.businessinsider.com/boston-marathon-arrest-bombing-reports-fbi-2013-4
What do ya expect from a Left Wing Mouthpiece media organization who doesn't know the difference between a Sheik and a condom....
Michale...
http://cdn.rollcall.com/news/senate_torpedoes_background_check_deal-224103-1.html?popular=true&zkPrintable=true&cdn_load=true&zkPrintable=1&nopagination=1
No Anti-Gun legislation.....
Sometimes Congress DOES do the right thing....
Who woulda thunked it....
Michale