Posted on 03/08/2006 6:57:44 PM PST by southernnorthcarolina
It seems the hallmark of academia is to make the patently obvious excruciatingly complex.
But make no mistake about it. Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar's Friday rampage through the UNC campus "pit" with a rented SUV during a time when a bustling crowd was a guaranteed lock was an obvious act of terror.
That makes Taheri-azar a terrorist.
Yet the reluctance of UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser to call the act and the man what they are is either political cowardice or yet another disturbing display of the special politically correct protection the Muslim faith enjoys at his campus.
There's no confusion here. First, there is the common-sense judgment based on Taheri-azar's own admissions and statements that he intended to kill UNC students at random in order to avenge the deaths of Muslims worldwide and get back at the U.S. government. Beyond that, Moeser should call one of his law professors and ask him or her to pull out a copy of the United States code.
Right there in Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 113B, Section 2331 is the definition of domestic terrorism. In part, the law states the act must be dangerous to human life. Running over people with the intent to kill them qualifies in my book. The act must violate either U.S. or state law. Nine counts of attempted murder and nine more of assault are slam-dunks on those criteria. The action must also be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population. I think most folks would find a speeding SUV randomly mowing down people at the most crowded spot on campus during lunch time on a sun-drenched day the ultimate in intimidation.
The code also says the act must be intended to influence government policy. Taheri-azar has stated his goal was to punish the U.S. government. And lastly, the act must have occurred in this country. That could be a glitch. There are days when I wonder whether Chapel Hill still wants to be part of this nation.
Now how hard is this to understand?
Just because Taheri-azar is incompetent when it comes to killing people doesn't make him any less a cold-blooded terrorist. Nor does his rational smile, his polite manner, his bookish glasses or his deceivingly calm voice on the 911 call. That soft voice screamed his terrorist intentions, and they do not seem to be the ramblings of a crazy or deranged person. This is a man who is smart enough to have graduated in December from UNC-Chapel Hill.
There's another charge that should be lodged against Taheri-azar. He committed a hate crime. N.C. General Statute 14-3c defines a hate crime as an offense that's committed because of the victim's "race, color, religion, nationality, or country of origin."
Given that this hate crime is so obvious, we should expect any day now the state's civil rights leaders to speak out and organize demonstrations just like they did last year when three crosses were set ablaze in Durham. After all, the cross burnings were strictly symbolic. Only feelings were hurt. On Friday, nine students faced serious bodily harm -- and even death -- at the hands of a man evidently intent on killing them for simply being who they are. A hate crime in which lives are at stake should certainly motivate an appropriate response.
Unfortunately, the UNC Muslim Students Association isn't handling itself well, either. The group's characterization of Taheri-azar's attack as a "hit and run" in a statement disassociating the group from the man and his action not only insults our intelligence, but theirs as well. The MSA cannot find intellectual sanctuary by denying its community has a problem with extremists carrying out acts of terror in the name of Islam. Doing so is about as intellectually honest as Hispanics denying our community has an illegal immigration problem.
Moeser and UNC leadership must not miss this critical educational opportunity. He should lead by example and teach the students and faculty under his charge a lesson in candor. Platitudes and euphemisms that downplay the seriousness of Taheri-azar's blatant terrorist attack do not serve the university's greater mission of fostering understanding. That's because the path to true enlightenment always begins with the truth.
Why did not anyone beat this POS within an inch of his life when he stopped the truck?
No No No, it's "troubled youth", "alienated Muslim", "Zionist plot", "American plot backed by the Zionist". Where are your feelings ? We must understand why this young man went astray. OK OTHER THAN THAT LINE OF B.S. , YOU'RE RIGHT, IT WAS A TERROR ATTACK, AND PUT THE IDIOT IT GITMO! YESTERDAY.
Last time I looked at the law University Chancellors usually don't get involved in court except as witnesses, or for stealing.
You gotta' get to the prosecutor ~ FIRST!
My understanding is that he drove through the crowd and then kept on going until he was far away from the scene. Also, he had pepper spray and a knife for "self defense" in case he got stuck. He deliberately rented the most powerful 4WD SUV he could get specifically so he could effect his escape. He supposedly spent months planning this outrage. I say it's off to Gitmo with this monster!
This a-hole won't be grinning for long.
He did the correct thing. He attacked The great satan .....American liberals. He did not attack good guys but went deep into the chilly blue zone to find those who aretrulu the enemies.
He did not attack a Christian school or other less Satanic institution.
I'm in academia, but I think this PC crap in our universities is crap!
He should be treated as a POW and sent to GITMO
Because our president has declared the terrorist's spiritual path a "religion of peace" and virtually every other US leader has followed. That causes a prounounced pause between stimulus and action - we know our government won't support us in beating the crap out of a terrorist. We would actually be prosecuted.
"It seems the hallmark of academia is to make the patently obvious excruciatingly complex."
LOL, there's tagline material in that excellent sentance.
Great post, the author is right on on all points.
And being the shameless promoter of my blog visit Mosquewatch
Lucky he didn't get hold of a Hummer.
True; however, I suspect University Chancellors can make life difficult for select student groups, all the while staying strictly within the official lines of their authority. He could and should put all proper pressure on their MSA to come out with a strong statement disavowing this terrorist attack and the ideology the perp claims lead him to it. Will he and will they? I don't know, but if UNC-CH is like many universities I won't hold my breath waiting. Until such time keep the pressure on the legal and school pooh-bahs!
Well, we all know it war terrorism but were it officially labelled terrorism, insurance companies would be off the hook.
nope. needs to face the Remington tribunal, noon tomorrow.
Does anyone remember how the MSM falsely labeled Timothy McVeigh a Christian? Everywhere you turned you were treated to speculation that there was a Timothy McVeigh in every Bible Belt church ready to blow up a gubmint building. We were constantly warned about a supposed link between Christianity and terrorism.
ping
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