Hate-Go-Round
Jul. 29th, 2006 01:41 pmLast night, downtown Seattle became the scene of an apparent hate crime.
If we can believe what we're hearing about the assailant's statements at the scene, this incident represents yet another sickening example of how some people fail or refuse to make the rational distinction between governments or individuals they disagree with and the people those individuals or governments claim to represent.
But if the unbalanced mind of yesterday's killer couldn't or wouldn't distinguish between the Israeli government and Jews everywhere, and if the bin Ladens of this world refuse to distinguish between Westerners and our governments, we've unfortunately also seen examples of Westerners who can't or don't bother to distinguish between jihadi terrorists and Muslims, generally, either.
I'm sorry to say that I doubt that we've seen the last of this kind of group blame--or that we ever really will.
If we can believe what we're hearing about the assailant's statements at the scene, this incident represents yet another sickening example of how some people fail or refuse to make the rational distinction between governments or individuals they disagree with and the people those individuals or governments claim to represent.
But if the unbalanced mind of yesterday's killer couldn't or wouldn't distinguish between the Israeli government and Jews everywhere, and if the bin Ladens of this world refuse to distinguish between Westerners and our governments, we've unfortunately also seen examples of Westerners who can't or don't bother to distinguish between jihadi terrorists and Muslims, generally, either.
I'm sorry to say that I doubt that we've seen the last of this kind of group blame--or that we ever really will.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-30 07:26 am (UTC)Unfortunately, there's nothing new under the sun. As far as hate crimes go, it'd take a lot to surprise me.