Double Standards on Terror

Fundamentalist. A word that has become a staple in the average U.S. citizen's vocabulary over the last seven or eight years. Most commonly associated with Islam and terrorism. Since 9/11, so very many chain emails, books, and opinion pieces have been written on the Islamic fundamentalists and how they are the most dangerous threat to our nation and our way of life. They can't be reasoned with, they cant' be bought, they can't be intimidated because they are religious fanatics ready to kill and be killed for their religious beliefs.

The question I pose today is this. Why are we so ready to abhor Islamic fundamentalist terrorism and in some cases, are applauding its Christian counterpart?

That's right I said applaud it. Yesterday Dr. George Tiller was assassinated by a Christian fundamentalist while Mr. Tiller worshiped in his own church. He assassinated Dr. Tiller because he was one of three doctors in the country who performed legal late-term abortions. He was labeled Tiller the Killer by Fox News contributor Bill O'Reilly along with Glenn Beck and various other pundits and organizations. One of these organizations was Operation Rescue, a group dedicated to ending abortion and advocating provocative protest often laced with violence.

The assassin entered a place of worship. A place of worship unto the very god that the assassin is beholden to nonetheless, and shot Dr. Tiller dead. This assassin was found to have been thoroughly interlaced with Operation Rescue, and had posted violent wishes for Dr. Tiller in many chat and blog forums. In fact, on Fox News message boards and fundamental Christian sites all over the internet there are notes of praise for the assassin. Saying things to imply that he was doing god's work, and that Dr. Tiller got was he deserved.

So I ask again, why are there not terrorist watch lists for fundamental Christian groups across America. They advocate violence. They have taken the lives of many doctors and patients providing and seeking abortions over the last fifteen years, so why aren't they being held at Guantanamo Bay? Why aren't they being subjected to "enhanced interrogation" techniques? They blatantly disregard the law of the land, challenging the auspice of the United States government itself. They want to change the way life is lived in our country through violence, intimidation and murder, so what is the difference? Does one of these individuals have to fly a plane into an abortion clinic before they are labeled with disgust?

I wonder if the fact that they are not Muslim and not brown has anything to do with it?