Who is a terrorist?

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Do you remember the days after 9-11 (11 September 2001)?

When we were worried that terrorists would attack us again? When we worried that our water supplies would be tainted by poison dropped into our reservoirs?

When a small amount of a chemical could be dropped in and render the water unfit to drink.  Which would spread terror among the citizenry.  (I actually worked with more than a few purveyors to “shore up” their stocks.)

After all, terror is not just an act of aggression, it’s the fear and worry that spreads from the concept of the act.

So, tell me, why are Gary Southern and Carl Kennedy II not indicted right now under the so-called “Patriot Act”?  Why are these two individuals not considered to be personally responsible for the terror they wreaked in Charleston, West Virginia?  Instead, they have bankrupted their firm and slipped away from public view.

Consider what would happen if a poor schnook (stressing the word poor, here)  drove his car into a crowd.  You know he would be arrested.  Yet, when folks head up a business, no matter how poorly run or maintained, they are considered to be exempt from prosecution?

Or, what about James Irving, the president of JD Irving and the New Brunswick Southern Railway?  You know, the rail line that destroyed the town of Lac Megantic a few months ago.  (I bet you didn’t.  Because he, too, was not personally charged with the crime.)

Oh, the engineer of the train got punished.  (The engineer left the locomotive running, purportedly to insure that the brakes had active power.) But, why not prosecute the CEO who gave the instructions that truly caused the problem?   The policy he approved was to  ‘leave a train parked on the main railroad line, unattended, with an unlocked locomotive cab, alongside a public highway where it was accessible to the general public, with no additional protection’. Really?

If these executives looked Middle Eastern and had names like Habib el Habib, you can bet they would be pilloried all over the U.S.  Instead, we give these thugs a pass.   Blaming the carnage they caused on an ‘oversight’.

If we truly think corporations are people, then it’s time we prosecuted them as such.  And, the ringleader of a crime needs prosecution, as well.

Because a terrorist is a terrorist whether he wears a shirt and tie or an hijab.

 

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3 thoughts on “Who is a terrorist?”

    1. Well, David, a certain segment of the American populace thinks they are. I am with you- that they can be artificial constructs- but they lack the elements of the Bill of Rights- do you want a corporation to be able to bear arms? To vote (but letting them spend millions is almost the same thing…
      And, yes, the CEO’s must be personally responsible for some crimes- the railroad and the chemical firm CEO come to immediate focus.

      Thanks for the comment.

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