(ThyBlackMan.com) Orlando officials didn’t hesitate to brand the appalling and heinous massacre at a gay nightclub, domestic terrorism. The key word is domestic and using that word to describe the killing of at least 50 persons in the worst killing spree in American history as a home grown terror act is a huge departure from past practice. In almost all cases of mass shootings the last few years, officials have searched long and hard to ferret out any possible foreign ties by the shooter to “radical Islamic” groups. In the Orlando mass killing, Orlando officials and the FBI, even after branding the massacre “domestic terrorism,” didn’t depart from the scrip and quickly speculated that the alleged shooter, Omar Mateen, whose family is from Afghanistan, may have had “radical Islamic leanings.”
This may well prove to be the case as more details unfold about his life here. But no matter what influences drove him to his maddening act, Omar Mateen is not Afghani. He was born, raised and educated in America, and even worked in some capacity in a security job. This makes his bloody act yet another grim case of not simply an act of domestic terrorism, but made-in-America terrorism.
Despite the years of carnage from these type of shootings, it’s still hard for many to come to grips with this bitter truth. This was painfully evident following the mass killing of fourteen persons in San Bernardino last December. FBI officials were initially loath to call the killings domestic terrorism. When they did finally brand the killings, terrorism, they made it clear that the killings would be investigated as a terrorist act “inspired by foreign terrorist organizations.”
However, this still begged the question of calling the massacre exactly what it was, namely domestic terrorism. The main alleged shooter in San Bernardino, as Omar Mateen, was born, raised and studied in America. He was also a public employee. The still nagging reluctance to label these massacres “domestic terrorism” fits in with the by now well-established pattern of officials and virtually all GOP leaders to avoid at all costs using the term. The only exception is when those who commit mayhem and murder are Muslim. And according to numerous studies they are the rare exception since the overwhelming majority of those who commit targeted mayhem in this country are non-Muslim, invariably, white male, with a checkered history of crime, mental instability, and deeply influenced by right-wing rants. In Mateen’s case, there were reports that a possible motivation for his rampage was his offense at gays.
The refusal to consistently brand acts such as Mateen’s, “domestic terrorism,” strikes to the heart of how many Americans have been reflexively conditioned to regard terrorism. It’s almost always related to the Middle East and the perpetrators are presumed to be Muslim. The FBI’s working definition of what constitutes terrorism is: “Terrorism is an act done or threatened to in order to try to influence a public body or the citizenry, so it’s more of a political act.”
Even when South Carolina church shooter Dylann Roof plainly wrote that he had an animus toward blacks and acted out that insane animus by gunning down multiple black churchgoers, he still did not reach the elevated bar to rate being branded a “domestic terrorist.” The same held true for alleged Colorado Springs Planned parenthood clinic shooter Robert Lewis Dear who despite plainly targeting the clinic and giving the reason why, he also didn’t rate the label. Instead, the ritual was to officially whitewash, and air brush, the mass carnage they wreak with ritual condolences and prayers for the victims and their families.
The consequence of refusing to stray one jot from the textbook definition of who is a terrorist and what is terrorism on U.S. soil has consequences beyond disarming, confusing and in effect putting even more Americans in harm’s way from home-grown terrorists. It also is overloaded with a heavy mix of political calculation and cynical manipulation. A big part of which has been to take pot shots at President Obama for allegedly turning a blind eye toward the threat on America’s shores of radical Jihadist influenced groups. Obama is routinely denounced by GOP ultra-conservatives, and the Fox News scare machine, for supposedly refusing to use the term, “Jihadist terrorists,” for fear of offending Muslims.
Whether it’s shooting up a Planned Parenthood clinic, a center for the developmentally disabled, or any other domestic target, there’s simply no political incentive to call the shooters “domestic terrorists.” This crashes hard against the official narrative that made-in- America terrorists and terrorism constitute minimal or no real threat to life and property here. This danger supposedly only comes from a foreign group, Muslim of course.
Orlando officials departed from that script by calling the nightclub massacre exactly what it is, “domestic terrorism.” This departure is a much needed step toward coming to grips with the lethal threat of made-in-America terrorism.
Written By Earl Ofari Hutchinson
One can find more info about Mr. Hutchinson over at the following site; TheHutchinson ReportNews.
Also feel free to connect with him through twitter; http://twitter.com/earlhutchins
He is also an associate editor of New America Media. His forthcoming book is From King to Obama: Witness to a Turbulent History (Middle Passage Press).
Brother Earl: i have always respected you,and like me i consider you a “BLACK” Activist,writer,and someone who has mostly tried to “ENLIGHTEN” the community.So do yourself a favor,and stop covering up for Pres “OBAMA” and be clear,i”m not refferring to what the clowns,on Fox 5 say or any other Right wing,conservative white racists are saying.Because i don”t give a Shhh what they say,This is a “MESSAGE FROM A BLACK MAN”[Temptations song]Pres obama is playing his part well.Namely he is doing nothing,with regards to the incidents involving Black People.The Dylan Roof shooting was clearly,both a hate crime&Domestic terrorism.But Mr Obama”s Boy from Chicago,Mr Comer head of the “FBI” and his justice dept,refuse to call a “SPADE A SPADE” The police are “SLAUGHTERING” Black People,and Obama says little or nothing,and his justice dept does nothing,Starting with Holder,and now Ms Lynch.Black people happy because Pres Obama,sang “AMAZING GRACE” at the church,where that evil bum Roof,massacred 9 of our folks.
Take the Flint Michigan,”WATER POISONING” mr Obama comes 2 yrs after the fact.Than has the “AUDACITY” to drink a glass of water,to show black folks,that the water is good! are you kidding me? the “TRUTH”which all the “WHITE” Hypocrite,elites&politicians,most white people& sadly Pres obama,along with Hillary,Trump,and the rest of these impostors,won”t say is that America”s Foreign Policy,their support of Israel& their treatment of the Palestinians,coupled with white supremacy&Empire are akersthe “ROOT” of all the problems.Both Domestic&Foreign! they need to continue the “LIE,that “MUSLIM&JIHADIST” Threats,are the problem so that they can continue,to shut down our rights as Americans,to Protest and fight this Police State,and endless wars,and “NSA Surveillance.
Again Mr Obama is playing “HIGH POST” with his persecution,of whistleblowers like Edward Snowden&Julian Assange just to name a few.So Brother do yourself a favor,and keep it real.Don”t Sell out like the rest of these Fakers! when you compromise your Integrity& your Reputation,for a Dollar you will get what”s coming to you,at the end of the day.So Stay Up Mr Hutchinson! You”re better than that…….
…Right. The right wing white male is the biggest threat to this country. Dylann Roof seemed to me to be just a total dipshit with no ability to see beyond his tiny mental world. Muslims on the other hand are blowing up the planet with the backing of their god.
come oon, brother, the naming of domestic terrorists will further inflame and bring closer the day there is civil war.
why are guns always the issue?