SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Newsweek has this article on America's skewed definition of terrorism:
What is terrorism? According to the FBI, animal activists who stole two piglets from a farm were terrorists. As of now, Stephen Paddock, who killed 58 people at a country music concert in Las Vegas two weeks ago, has not been labeled a terrorist by the federal security organization.
In a viral story posted on The Intercept, journalist Glenn Greenwald details an account of federal agents investigating animal activists and scouring farm-animal sanctuaries to find two missing piglets that allegedly had been stolen from a farm. The FBI devoted such resources to finding these two piglets because their alleged theft and the capturing of undercover videos of the farm's conditions count as terrorism.
Why is the piglet theft classified as terrorism, but not the Las Vegas shooting? The distinction is rooted in the definition of the term. In spite of the emotions the word "terrorist" might elicit, the definition is not "mass killer" or "Muslim extremist" or "very bad person." The legal definition of terrorism is "the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property in order to coerce or intimidate a government or the civilian population in furtherance of political or social objectives."
(Score: 5, Insightful) by sjames on Thursday October 12 2017, @09:18AM (5 children)
Taking two piglets already left for dead (no commercial value) isn't terrorism either. Taking video isn't violence. Gaining employment under false pretenses and then taking video isn't violence. Thus, not terrorism.
The LV shooter is also not a terrorist. Plenty of violence but no discernable agenda and no attempt to cause political change.
Note that even if healthy, a piglet goes for $35 retail. Can you imagine someone stealing $70 worth of stuff from you and the FBI going on a multi-state hunt for your property? Can you imagine more than a very bored cop very reluctantly filling out a report to be filed and forgotten? Treating it as a felony and a terrorist act is itself an act of state terrorism.
(Score: 5, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 12 2017, @01:57PM (3 children)
It's obvious that all they heard was "these terrorists have kidnapped two pigs". Automatic reaction on the part of the cops when they thought two of their own were missing.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 12 2017, @04:30PM (1 child)
This is funny not informative... sometimes I really worry about the mental state of fellow lentils.
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Thursday October 12 2017, @07:54PM
This is why I have been advocating for an "insightfunny" mod forever now. Sometimes a post is both and needs to be recognized as such. In fact, all things insightfunny should be highlighted because humor when used to further truth, makes the truth go much farther and deeper.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 12 2017, @05:17PM
children of cops, or just freshly minted officers just off being called 'cadet'? :)
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday October 12 2017, @05:28PM
In the old days, son, they woulda hung you from a tall tree for stealing cattle.
Threatening Farm business, especially Big Farm Business, ain't no laughing matter around these parts, boy...