Issue 1: Defining A Terrorist: What is a terrorist? About 5min into the above video the gentleman defines two types of terrorists: international and domestic. In his definition international would include connections to Al-Quada and religious organizations and domestic would be considered individuals who may be a part of anti-tax organizations. 

These two types of terrorist don’t seem to be too fundamentally different.  Both have serious issues with the United States government and feel extreme acts are necessary to furture their cause/ beliefs. 

So why has the United States focused on the international terrorists–those who are so often referred to by media as “the terrorists” who we curently are “waging the war against terror” on? Why is our society filled with specific and at time irrational fear of those terrorists across the ocean, when it is obvious we have many domestic terrorists on our own land who also feel disenfranchised? What is it about the international terrorists that pose the additional threat making it nesessary to conqoeur their lands and take over with military force? Actions show that when a domestic terrorist runs a plane into the building its not that big of a deal, but if an international terrorist runs a plane into a building we must wage a war the next day–a war that will take lives and large amounts of money, even if there is only speculation as to whom is really to blame.

Is it viable to connect fear of terror eith Middle Eastern decent? Why when a white man runs into a building there is much less outward and irrational fear? The incident in Austin, TX is an obvious example of how racial stereotyping and irrational fear of the unknown has become a serious social issue following 9/11. 

These irrational and widespread emotions are very dangerous– fear is one of the main emotions that leads people to act  irrationally and impulsively….not a good thing when attending to matters of war and world public relations.

Issue 2:  American Disenfrachisement: What has become of the land of the free and free thinking? Or have we ever been a nation to live what we preach? It is hard to make the arguement that, yes, the U.S. has lived up to its doctrine of freedom when from the start we built this nation on free slave labor.  This fact alone seems to indicate “the land of the free” has never really offered true “freedom” to those under the elite class. 

Joe Stack, the man who drove a small plane, into the IRS/CIA building last week certainly felt this country was hypocrytical. 

Stack writes,”We are all taught as children that without laws there would be no society, only anarchy.  Sadly, starting at early ages we in this country have been brainwashed to believe that, in return for our dedication and service, our government stands for justice for all.  We are further brainwashed to believe that there is freedom in this place, and that we should be ready to lay our lives down for the noble principals represented by its founding fathers.  Remember? One of these was “no taxation without representation”.  I have spent the total years of my adulthood unlearning that crap from only a few years of my childhood.  These days anyone who really stands up for that principal is promptly labeled a “crackpot”, traitor and worse.”

Stack, expreses how he felt his concerns had not been considered by the government.  He felt all his life the government took his taxes; but lacked the represetation it boats.  Sure, local governement officials are voted in by popular vote, but is this system really just? It takes millions of dollars to run a campaign; money which too often comes from lobbyist and corporations as a deal to implement policies that make the people with the most money even more money.  Certainly many people just like Joe pay thousands of dollars in taxes, but are never represented.  This does seem like a frustrating situation: by law you must pay taxes or you will be put in jail, but if you pay taxes your voice most likely will not be heard.  So in essence your money is involuntarily taken and as an individual you can do little to nothing.  Stack says, “Nor, for that matter, are they the least bit interested in me or anything I have to say.”

Stack ends his note and his life with this, “I saw it written once that the definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over and expecting the outcome to suddenly be different.  I am finally ready to stop this insanity.  Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let’s try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well.”

Joe Stack, has been painted in the media as a crazy man…but was he really crazy or was he just willing to die for what he believed in? Die for a cause to let people know that the only insanity is by living as a drone for the chance of a suburban home…

In the memory of Joe Stack we should remember there are many things that confine our lives and strip citizens of freedom.  The present is filling with “noise” that distracts us from the main issues that plaque our societies.  We are too easily satisfied and distracted that we don’t see the obvious.  We eat, read, and live what “they” tell us and do very little personal critical thinking.  Joe Stack was a man who didn’t eat what he was fed, Joe Stack was  a man who wanted to make a difference, and what we can take from his life and death is that freedom is too conditional in the present.  The importance of change at this time is likely more important that ever before in history…

–KV