They’ve been dubbed ‘Y’all Qaeda’
Posted by The Independent on Monday, January 4, 2016
So a bunch of armed ranchers have “occupied” a building at a wildlife refuge in Oregon, ostensibly to protest Federal Government land-use regulations. Some, including the Washington Post, are wondering if we shouldn’t be calling these people “terrorists.”
No.
The mere fact of being armed while being involved in criminal activities doesn’t make one a terrorist. It makes one an armed criminal. We don’t need to expand the scope of “terrorist” to include everyone who uses guns in a threatening manner.
Besides, these guys fail to meet one of the primary considerations in being a terrorist—instilling fear in the community.
Becoming the butt of late-night talks show monologues doesn’t cut it.
Being referred to as “Y’all Queda” and part of a “Yee-had” suggests that you’re lacking in effectiveness in getting your message out. People are too busy laughing to listen.
Terrorists have hostages and victims. These guys have an empty refrigerator.
Seriously. They’re actually asking people to MAIL them supplies. That’s right, they’re looking to the U.S. Federal Government to deliver the supplies they neglected to consider packing in pursuit of their protest of the Federal Government.
No, these guys aren’t terrorists.
But neither are they activists, engaging in civil disobedience. Yes, it’s true they have a disagreement with the Government on issues that directly affect them. (I happen to think they’re wrong—unfettered, unregulated use of public lands results in a situation famously referred to as “The Tragedy of the Commons.”) And yes, they’re using their actions to call attention to their issue. But it ceases to be civil disobedience when the explicit threat of gun violence is made toward anybody who attempts to end their “occupation.”
What they are is criminals. Stupid criminals, who seem to think this is 1886 rather than 2016, when you can ride to town with your guns in your belt to take on the sheriff if you don’t like how they’re running things. What they’re doing is “taking up arms against the government,” and I do believe there’s a word for that.
Besides stupid, that is.