by Steve James on Fri Jun 19, 2015 9:13 am
I have to disagree with Jon on one point. This kid isn't typical. He's sick. Now, he's not less sick than the jihadists who commit the same type of crimes. Stewart's right about that. They are exactly the same. The only question is how we define the sickness and how we address it. Stewart's right that we have done a piss poor job.
It's not just murder; it's terrorism, and he should be tried as a terrorist. Though, I'm waiting to see whether, like the guy Brevik in Norway, he'll be found sane. If so, then perhaps his claims will be addressed. If he's found insane, even temporarily, it will be an easy way to ignore that his type of terrorism is not new at all in this country or even against this church.
Now, whether the beliefs and ideology that lead people to commit these type of attacks is crazy, psychopathic or pathological, they are clearly dangerous. Logically, they should be treated the same way we think IS and radical Islamists should be. That won't happen, and might not even be imagined, except by satirists.
Ironically, he murdered Christians, middle-aged Reverends, at a prayer meeting in their church. The congregants at that church are probably praying for his soul. And, it's more than likely that this will bring people of faith together in the nearby communities. It'd be great if there were an IamCharleston movement, but I think that type of identification only happens when people believe that an attack was against something they identify with. So, we'll see.
But, this guy? He was just sick enough to act on ideas that lots of people have but consider un-pc.
"A man is rich when he has time and freewill. How he chooses to invest both will determine the return on his investment."