THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 25, 1995 TAG: 9504250011
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
It's now clear that the terror in Oklahoma City was home-grown. A combination of luck and saturation law enforcement has put one suspect in custody and several witnesses in the hands of authorities. Others are being sought. Alas, they all appear to be Americans.
What rock did these mass murderers crawl out from under? They appear to be affiliated with anti-government fringe groups whose views are a kind of sick parody of conservatism. They believe in the right to bear arms. They oppose immigration and fear foreign entanglements. They believe the federal government is too big and taxes too high.
But they also believe that when the tax bill comes, they can refuse to pay. When they talk about revolution, it's no metaphor for changing control of Congress. They contemplate overthrowing the government by force. A member of one group has said, if the ballot box fails there's always the cartridge box. They believe the government is at war with its citizens and patriots should shoot back. One crazy has even called the Oklahoma City tragedy ``a masterpiece.''
This kind of extremism isn't new. The heartland of America hasn't just nurtured family values, it has also spawned crackpots and bigots who embrace a paranoid version of American history - Klans and posses and militias. They believe the United Nations threatens to take control of the U.S. military, that Jews, blacks and others are snatching the country from its rightful Aryan owners, that government is out to disarm the people and the answer is armed resistance.
Such groups need to be identified and closely monitored to prevent them from acting on their delusions. But they musn't be confused with political partisans who may share some of their views. By advocating violence and resorting to it, they go far beyond acceptable political expression.
That said, it must also be admitted that the increasing virulence of mainstream political dialogue only can encourage extremism. We are living in an era when the raised voice is the one most likely to be heard.
Within the past several months, a Democratic congressman on the floor of the House has called Republicans Nazis and a GOP congressman has accused the president of treasonous acts. TV ministers lend their stature to bizarre pipe dreams that claim the president is a murderer and the world economy controlled by a secret cabal. A radio host advises listeners to aim for the head when ATF agents come to call.
This isn't political dialogue, it's political pornography. It's not an exchange of views, but the prelude to an exchange of blows. It's hate speech, and there's been entirely too much of it. It should come as no surprise that when extreme talk becomes acceptable, extreme actions follow. When hatemongering pays, somebody must be buying. It's time to stop listening to such talk and to condemn those who indulge in it. by CNB