Saturday, September 05, 2009
Extremism?
The term extremism is currently in vogue to describe hate groups and other malcontents listed as such by knowledgeable monitors like Southern Poverty Law Center and others, but while we all know what a bigot is, the standard for extremist is vague.
Pressing public opinion or the Department of Justice to adopt the term for creating lists is a mistake. If organizations or individuals advocate violence to deprive others of full and equal protection of the law, I think we can come up with a better, more accurate term.
Extremism, as I say, is an extremely imprecise term. Who gets to decide who is extreme? Homeland Security? That's reassuring. FBI agents and former CIA spooks turned extremist experts? Why not, they did so well as terrorism experts.
Misbehavior is misbehavior and should be dealt with accordingly. If crimes are committed, they should be prosecuted. But demonizing those disillusioned with the American government cuts a wide swath.
The extent of our misrule is so entrenched and pervasive, that handing wiretap and detention powers to secret agencies -- to harass anyone who is fed up with government corruption -- will only help the American aristocracy in keeping democracy down. The fact of the matter is that we have been abandoned, and no amount of state idolatry can change that.
Pressing public opinion or the Department of Justice to adopt the term for creating lists is a mistake. If organizations or individuals advocate violence to deprive others of full and equal protection of the law, I think we can come up with a better, more accurate term.
Extremism, as I say, is an extremely imprecise term. Who gets to decide who is extreme? Homeland Security? That's reassuring. FBI agents and former CIA spooks turned extremist experts? Why not, they did so well as terrorism experts.
Misbehavior is misbehavior and should be dealt with accordingly. If crimes are committed, they should be prosecuted. But demonizing those disillusioned with the American government cuts a wide swath.
The extent of our misrule is so entrenched and pervasive, that handing wiretap and detention powers to secret agencies -- to harass anyone who is fed up with government corruption -- will only help the American aristocracy in keeping democracy down. The fact of the matter is that we have been abandoned, and no amount of state idolatry can change that.
