"9/11 Changed everything" we were told, so many times it just had to be false.
But in one respect it almost seemed true. Under St. Ronnie, there were good terrorists and bad terrorists. It was the heyday of moral relativism when it came to blowing up or blowing away innocent civilians. Rape and murder some Maryknoll nuns? Assasinate El Salvador's Arhcbishop Oscar Romero? It's all good! "One man's terrorists is another man's freedom fighter!" was the Reaganite battle cry. First Terrorist George Washington was not amused.
But after 9/11, suddenly all terrorists were evil. In fact, they were "evildoers." That was their defining characteristic. It's what made them tick. They did evil because they were evildoers. End of story, end of explanation, end of discussion, when do we start bombing? Of course, it wasn't really that simple. When Cuban security agents came looking for anti-Castro terrorists in Florida, they were promptly arrested and jailed as if they themselves were terrorists. But this wasn't for public consumption outside of South Florida. It was an embarrassing contradiction, and not to be spoken of in polite company.
Now, however, the exceptional has abruptly shifted from margin to center: Bill Ayers, terrorist? You betcha! Abortion clinic bombers? Not so much, says Palin, as McCain looks on in zombie sleep:
This is, of course, the very essence of the "terrorist" narrative--it's entirely politicized. Words have no objective meaning. They mean whatever is needed at the time. We're all Through the Looking Glass now:
You're holding it upside down!' Alice interrupted.
`To be sure I was!' Humpty Dumpty said gaily as she turned it round for him. `I thought it looked a little queer. As I was saying, that seems to be done right -- though I haven't time to look it over thoroughly just now -- and that shows that there are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents --'
`Certainly,' said Alice.
`And only one for birthday presents, you know. There's glory for you!'
`I don't know what you mean by "glory",' Alice said.
Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. `Of course you don't -- till I tell you. I meant "there's a nice knock-down argument for you!"'
`But "glory" doesn't mean "a nice knock-down argument",' Alice objected.
`When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, `it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'
`The question is,' said Alice, `whether you can make words mean so many different things.'
`The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, `which is to be master -- that's all.'
Which is to be master? Indeed! And if it takes a little terrorism to settle that, we'll what's a little terrorism among friends?
Donald L. Catron
Claudia Gilmore Shot 12/28/91 at
Central Health Center for Women in Springfield, Missouri
Victims: Wounded
Dr. David Gunn Shot 3/10/93 at clinic in Pensacola, Florida
Victim: Murdered
Dr. George Tiller Shot 8/19/93 at clinic in Wichita, Kansas
Victim: Wounded
Dr. Wayne Patterson
Shot in Mobile, Alabama
Victim: Murdered
Dr. John Britton
James Barrett
June Barrett Shot 7/29/94 outside clinic in Pensacola, Florida
Victims: Murdered (John and James) and wounded (June)
Dr. Garson Romalis Shot 11/8/94 at home in Vancouver, British Columbia
Victim: Wounded
Terrorist: At large.
Shannon Lowney
Leanne Nichols
Shot 12/30/94 at clinics in Brookline, Massachusetts
Victims: Murdered
Terrorist: John Salvi.
Anjana Agrawal
Antonio Hernandez
Brian Murray
Jane Sauer
Richard J. Seron Shot 12/94 at clinics in Brookline, Massachusetts
Victims: Wounded
Dr. Hugh Short Shot 11/10/95 at home in Ancaster, Ontario
Victim: Wounded
Dr. Calvin Jackson Stabbed 12/96 outside the Orleans Women's Clinic in New Orleans, Louisiana
Victim: Wounded
Unidentified Victims 4-7 victims of 2 bombs 1/16/97 outside the Northside Family Planning Services clinic near Atlanta, Georgia
Victims: Wounded
Unidentified Doctor Shot 10/28/97 at home in Perinton, New York
Victim: Wounded
Dr. Jack Fainman Shot 11/11/97 at home in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Victim: Wounded
Officer Robert Sanderson
Bombed 1/29/98 outside New Woman, All Women Health Care Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama
Victim: Murdered
Emily Lyons Bombed 1/29/98 outside New Woman, All Women Health Care Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama
Victim: Wounded
Dr. Barnett Slepian Shot 10/23/98 at home in Amherst, New York
Victim: Murdered
Mike adds:
And here is where I got this list from -- an anti-abortion site. The title of this list over there is Aborted and Nearly Aborted Abortionists. If you scroll down that page you'll find a list of abortion providers' addresses, their spouse's names, police officers who are seen as hostile to demonstrations, judges and politicians who have ruled against them. In the context of a page that begins with a triumphant list of of aborted doctors, the intent is clear.
But this is not terrorism, according to Palin. This movement, which historically tracks nearly exactly with the Culture War rhetoric Palin embraces, which functions explicitly to scare doctors out of practice by killing and crippling them -- this is not terrorism.
Since 1993 there have been 7 assasinations of abortion clinic staff, 15 attempted assassinations, 14 successful bombings and 74 cases of arson committed by radical anti-abortionists, including a instance in 2000 in Concord, NH.
But this is not terrorism, according to Palin.
You betcha!
`When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, `it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'
STATE BLOGS
