Of course there is zero evidence that religion had anything to do with this, or even that the boy or his family were practicing Muslims, and as the article notes Bosnian Muslims are not associated with the jihadist crap, and as far as I've ever heard, there is no radical Muslim activity in Salt Lake City or Utah. I've heard lots of other states and cities associated with investigations of radical mosques wannabe terrorist young male Muslims, but never a peep from Utah/SLC.
All the evidence points to this being just a messed up kid, possibly due to his early childhood in a violence-infested war zone and growing up with parents who were also traumatized by that experience. He's probably been a cultural misfit ever since he arrived in Utah, due to the foreignness of American culture and the close-knit Mormon-dominated community in Utah. Quite possibly his family discouraged him from getting involved in the LDS Church, due to their religious heritage (probably more important than theological convictions in the case of Bosnian Muslims), contributing to his social alienation, but I really doubt the "Muslim" angle had any more contribution than that.
While PC can go to far, I do see a benefit to not jumping to conclusions abotu religious motivation every time a Muslim does something bad. Lots of Muslims are no more religiously zealous than Unitarians or agnostics, but there is a large, well-funded, and dangerous Muslim constituency that is eager to take advantage of any opportunity to convert peaceful or non-practicing Muslims to their extremist views. We play into their hands when we're quick to voice suspicion that events like this one are rooted in Muslim faith -- makes it that much easier for the extremists to cozy up to the peaceful Muslims and say "See how evil those infidels are! Always trying to blame Islam for bad things that happen in their country!".
Newspapers should just report the facts and let the readers sort it all out.
Telling the facts of a story is not jumping to conclusions. 'Just the facts please' and I can conclude whatever I wish.
As for PC; why don't we just call it what it is. . .rather than what it is not. . .which is precisely the reason we have it. . .it is not a matter of going to far; but rather that we must suffer it's negative consequences by every measure. . .long or short.
well said
Actually the Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that he attended the Al-Noor mosque on 700 East Street every Friday. That raises at least the possibility that this kid's mahometan beliefs played a part in the attack.
Bosnian Muslims are not associated with the jihadist crap
Really? Then why has Al Qaeda had terror cells operating in the middle of Bosnia since at least the early 90's? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1859738079/ref=ase_robertspencer-20/103-1603172-8127010?v=glance&s=books
All the evidence points to this being just a messed up kid, possibly due to his early childhood in a violence-infested war zone and growing up with parents who were also traumatized by that experience. He's probably been a cultural misfit ever since he arrived in Utah, due to the foreignness of American culture and the close-knit Mormon-dominated community in Utah. Quite possibly his family discouraged him from getting involved in the LDS Church, due to their religious heritage (probably more important than theological convictions in the case of Bosnian Muslims), contributing to his social alienation
So in other words, it's everybody's fault but his own? It's society's fault for "alienating" him and for the traumas of his childhood? Sorry, but I'm going to have to pass on that one. The kid was a nut, and a very real possibility exists that his nutty religion had something to do with this. In fact, barring evidence suggesting otherwise and knowing the track record of his religion, its relation to this attack should be considered the most likely of the possible motives given at this point barring evidence pointing elsewhere.