Hi, Folks,
Seems a thin definition of terrorism that it puts fear into the
hearts of developers, but I guess it then qualifies as terrorism. Overall, I
think the category has been overextended. Real terrorism is bombing civilian
targets: fear of death is a significantly more urgent form of terror than
fear of building a huge house, no?
Blowing up a plane, that too, but burning down an empty house? Seems
to extend the definition to fit the needs of authorities to villainize the
culprits. Perfect example of the power of a word.
I don't think it's a very humane or sensible practice, burning down
such houses, but it seems something less than terror.
-Tc
Anthony R. S. Chiaviello, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Professional Writing
Department of English
University of Houston-Downtown
One Main Street
Houston, TX 77009
713.221.8520/713.868.3979
"Question Reality"
> ----------
> From: Steven Bissell[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2001 10:07 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: eco-terrorism
>
> One of my students posted this to class discussion.
> Steven
>
>
>
> January 26 2001
>
> Eco-Terrorism Hits Phoenix
>
> (CBS) PHOENIX, Ariz., Jan. 26, 2001- It was going to be a million-dollar
> home. Instead, it became the target of an arson campaign being waged on
> builders, reports CBS News Correspondent Bob McNamara. Eleven fires have
> been set, so far.
>
> "We haven't seen anything quite like this. This is unique to us here,"
> admits Bob Kahn, the Deputy Fire
> Chief of the Phoenix Fire Department. In every case, the arsons have been
> aimed at expensive, unoccupied, nearly-finished houses.
>
> David Birk, a Phoenix resident says, "Everybody is scared and that's
> really
> unfortunate because life should not be that way."
>
> Investigators say the houses were burned because they were built too close
> to the Mountain Preserves, rugged remnants of what Phoenix was before
> urban
> sprawl swallowed open land - at the rate of an acre an hour. And the
> people
> whose houses burned now say they've lost a sense of safety and want their
> identities hidden.
>
> When asked if he thought this was terrorism, one Phoenix resident said,
> "Sure. Yes. He's just trying to put fear into people to stop building,
> urban
> terrorism, sure."
>
> An FBI-led arson task-force won't talk about the case or whether Phoenix
> has
> become the latest front in the
> war between radical environmentalists and land developers.
>
> The FBI estimates the ELF has destroyed $37 million worth of property over
> four years. In cryptic messages, a self-proclaimed Phoenix arsonist says
> he
> is not part of, but is sympathetic to, the Earth Liberation Front and its
> campaign of arson and economic sabotage against targets including timber
> companies in the Northwest, Colorado'sVail Ski Resort, and housing
> developments in New
> York.
>
> A $70,000 reward has been offered to bring the Phoenix arsonist in. But if
> this really is arson in the name of the environment, then the arsonist is
> not without sympathizers here.
>
> "I support the aim but not the technique," admits Randall Amster, an
> instructor at Arizona State
> University. Amster says the desert spaces where people can run and hike
> are
> fewer than ever and he knows the frustration. "Burning down houses is not
> going to solve the problem, but it may spark a discussion
> that could lead to some sort of workable solution."
>
