There's a discussion going on at reddit right now where a conservative is claiming that the mass shootings at places like Sandy Hook, Aurora Colorado, Las Vegas and so on are not terrorism because they are not politically motivated, and that Muslim terrorists can only be defined as terrorism because they are politically motivated.
I think he's full of shit, but what do we define as terrorism? The dictionary defines it as mainly politically motivated.
The right wants this big label of ISLAMIC TERRORISM to ring loud and clear across the country. What this accomplishes I don't know other then vilifying over a billion people in the world.
Is terrorism and death by a terrorist attack something that has to be politically motivated, or could any mass murderer be considered a terrorist even if they don't have some political motivation?
I would argue that not every murder is terrorism but nearly every mass murder is. Even Serial killers could be considered terrorist for creating fear and uncertainty in society. David Berkowitz created a slight panic where people were afraid to go out at night back in New York city in 1977. If the murders created a state of fear and confusion in society I would say that's terrorism no?
These mass murderers which have been on the rise have created a cohesive fear of death and uncertainty where more security is raised and people become more afraid of everyone else.
I feel the right doesn't want to label Stephen Paddock, James Eagan Holmes, Adam Lanza as terrorists to be able to move the goalposts and say no white people can be terrorists.
I wanted to see what your guys opinions on this is.