who are the real terrorists?

I originally posted this on my blog but i felt it was worth sharing here, hopefully to get more insight or spark more discussion around this issue.

Since 9/11 there has been a lot of focus on “terrorists” (as we all know so very well).  Discussions around terrorism (specifically domestic terrorism) has increased lately and now there are bills (i believe more than one) to ban the practicing of parts of Sharia Law (which I wrote about here) and now I’ve read that there will be hearings by Homeland Security about the radicalization of Muslims.

When asked why he is singling out the Muslim American community and refusing to investigate other forms of terrorism, King has responded by saying that “it makes no sense to talk about other types of extremism, when the main threat to the United States today is talking about al Qaida.”

Who decides that the main threat to the US is al Qaida or any other external group or influence? Who gets the privilege of defining reality around what is more dangerous or more of a threat?  If you ask women activists today what is more threatening: al Qaida or neoconservatives attempting to strip them of bodily autonomy and safe access to sexual health resources, I wonder who they would choose.  If you asked union workers (esp. in Ohio/Wisconsin) which was more terrorizing and threatening to them, the GOP or the Muslim Brotherhood, I wonder who they’d choose.  If you ask most decently-informed citizens (watching Fox news doesn’t count – sorry) which is more of a threat to our constitution, other countries extremists or our own home-grown crazy fundamentalists… I wonder who they would choose… The article linked above breaks down the various types of terrorist attacks, showing that Islamic extremists are not who we should be focusing on. Rightwing extremists and white supremacists are where I would want to focus, especially since it is the neoconservatives who are trying to take rights away from every day people to suit their fundamental religious beliefs. Which is why all of this finger pointing is, as i said before, the pot calling the kettle black.

Since the attacks on the Twin Towers and Pentagon, Muslims have been involved in 45 domestic terrorist plots. Meanwhile, non-Muslims have been involved in 80 terrorist plots.

What about terrorism that happens around abortion clinics? What about the crazy guy who was enraged after watching Glenn Beck and was going to shoot up the Tides foundation?  Terrorism, as defined by wikipedia: Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for a religious, political or ideological goal, deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (civilians), and are committed by non-government agencies. How many american citizens are turning to these types of tactics to push their agendas forward? THAT is what we should be looking at, in my opinion.

In another article (from the Associated Press) hit the nail on the head:

Plans for the hearing touched off days of protests from critics who liken it toMcCarthyism and the era of communist witch hunts.

It’s ridiculous to be looking at external factors when those people who are charged with representing the people and upholding the laws are the ones deteriorating our rights.