Whatever happened to the USA?

[Frank The Bunny]

Across the pond opinion: The guy is mentally unstable and dangerous, even without the charged political rhetoric, which certainly didn't help.

Thank you for speaking for those of us "across the pond"

Charged political rhetoric can incite an unstable person with dangerous thoughts to act upon those thoughts. Are the commentators and politicians to blame? I'd say they're contributory factors.

I don't blame Islam for the terrorist attacks on 9/11. But I don't just blame the 19 terrorists either. They were conditioned by extremist rhetoric to commit insane acts of violence upon their fellow man.

I don't blame The Right Wing for this man's actions. But surely those who conditioned his mind with their extremist rhetoric should share some of that burden.

[withahip]

What about the fact the shooter's reading list on his youtube page would be considered leftist writings (Communist Manifesto, Animal Farm) and he has a video of himself dressed in "Muslim" garb and burning an American flag to the song "Let The Bodies Hit The Floor"?

I would not argue these books be banned or the music be made inaccessible.



Also, the accusation that a politician caused this was made within minutes of the shooting, went viral and has taken as fact by people and the media. The guy appears to be a schizophrenic that really will use any message as an excuse to get wound up.

Another thing I notice is the vitriolic reactions by those on the left when these facts are pointed out about the shooter.

Hopefully Scotland Yard is wrong and you folks in the UK won't be going through anything like this in the coming weeks.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/major-bom ... d=12440350

[withahip]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/us/11 ... ml?_r=1&hp

A little more insight into that particular area of the U.S.

[fat cherry]

oh i dunno, banning animal farm might work. lol. if anything animal farm is about the failure of what you refer to as 'leftist'. Not that the author wasn't a bit that way inclined I understand.

c.

ps i'd like to apologise for lolling.

[withahip]

Good point on Animal Farm.

[girlwithnoname]

Thank you for speaking for those of us "across the pond"

Charged political rhetoric can incite an unstable person with dangerous thoughts to act upon those thoughts. Are the commentators and politicians to blame? I'd say they're contributory factors.

I don't blame Islam for the terrorist attacks on 9/11. But I don't just blame the 19 terrorists either. They were conditioned by extremist rhetoric to commit insane acts of violence upon their fellow man.

I don't blame The Right Wing for this man's actions. But surely those who conditioned his mind with their extremist rhetoric should share some of that burden.

I was only speaking for myself, as an "across-the-pond" person, but I agree with you, Frank. When people bandy about extreme, emotionally-charged ideas, unstable people will fixate on them to the point of tragedy. I believe this is true of people everywhere--the US, the UK, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, you name it.

I think those who disseminate charged rhetoric should rethink how they're coming across to the less than rational among us--it may save someone's life.

[Voodoo Billy]

I think those who disseminate charged rhetoric should rethink how they're coming across to the less than rational among us--it may save someone's life.

Bloody hell, I think I need a thesaurus.

[Scouser]

Please, please, please tell me this woman isnt taken seriously in the US...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/ja ... a-shooting

Plus of course this is still rumbling on -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/ja ... intcmp=239

[Dave Smith]

Something sexy about women in power suits.Girlwithnoname take note.

[girlwithnoname]

Something sexy about women in power suits.Girlwithnoname take note.

Hmm.. a nice suit is expensive and would probably get ruined by the nasty chemicals with which I work on a daily basis.

But I'll keep that in mind for talks, seminars, and conferences.

[Voodoo Billy]

Hmm.. a nice suit is expensive and would probably get ruined by the nasty chemicals with which I work on a daily basis.

How much for an ounce of your finest Colombian space dust?

[Kounelaki]

Please, please, please tell me this woman isnt taken seriously in the US...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/ja ... a-shooting

"blood libel"

[Dave Smith]

Hmm.. a nice suit is expensive and would probably get ruined by the nasty chemicals with which I work on a daily basis.

They are called workmates

[black francis]

Frank leaves nasty chemicals all over his workplace.

[Frank The Bunny]

Frank leaves nasty chemicals all over his workplace.

One person's "nasty chemicals" is another person's "bodily fluids"