Son,

Your terrorism post inspired me. Terrorism is not about ideology – it is about power and control from sick people. These are people who will have their way at any cost.

Domestic terrorism takes many forms – usually disguised as something else. Sometimes we call it Domestic Violence – that usually refers to a man beating his wife. Child abuse is another form of terrorism – imagine the terror a child must experience when the people who are supposed to protect them beat them senseless. Emotional abuse and verbal abuse fall into the categories of terrorism. How about rape – it is not about sex – it is about being in charge and proving it.

Being in charge and proving it. We will show you. We will just intimidate you into submission – the creed of the terrorist. We will blow up your abortion clinic. We will burn a cross in your yard. We will hang a noose from your tree. We will threaten your political candidacy with alienation. We will take our ball and go home to mommy.

There are talk show hosts and social group leaders who skirt the fringe of terrorism. Al Sharpton fits this category – behave as I say or I will punish you. Shawn Hannity and Rush Limbaugh are bullies – using their platform to try to intimidate. Power and control.

Using fear to coerce or threaten, to get people to act differently, is another form of terrorism. There are many Tel-evangelists who fit this category.

Terrorists, bullies, thugs, gangsters, mobsters – they are all the same thing.

Dad