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Whose your Terrorist?
Author: velveeta jones    Date: 05/16/2010 13:51:40

Some stream of thought reflections that I've had of late; I am thinking that BP specifically, but not alone as a group, is not much different than a terrorist organization. Here's what bothers me: BP takes my money for a product that frankly, I'd rather not be using, but I have no real alternative if I want to live the way society is currently set up. So, whether I am catching the bus or driving my car or turning on my internet or taking a hot shower, I am burning fossil fuel. (As TriSec pointed out in his brilliant post yesterday, perhaps I may be part to blame as well).

There is no real true definition of terrorism, I suppose it's similar to the famous stance of pornography Justice Potter Stewart in 1964 who tried to explain "hard-core" pornography, or what is obscene, by saying, "I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced . . . but I know it when I see it . . . " (I wonder if he ever went on to keep looking until he found some)? But Princeton has this for a brief definition of terrorism: the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear.

So, how can I, in my right mind, even hint that BP, Exxon-Mobil, et al, are terrorists? Well, first of all, I haven't been of sound mind since 1982 so perhaps that helps. Secondly, I do feel a bit coerced into using their product, oil, and their methods of obtaining the product instill fear in me. I fear not for my life but for the lives of others and the environment and the livelihoods of my fellow man.

The fear and disgust of this massive spill is not very different from the fear and disgust I felt at those that flew planes into buildings or blew up Federal Courthouses. I feel anger and I want those that did the deed arrested and brought to justice.

Sure, you can argue that BP did not mean to release that massive spill, it was an accident. But I argue that even a terrorist has a bad day. Consider the recent car bomb attempt in Times Square that failed. Consider flight 93, which, to the terror network was a complete failure since it missed its target.

I say that BP is a terrorist organization, it uses fear and intimidation to get what it wants. It seeks to control, through force, manipulation and by keeping us addicted to its product. When it does something wrong, it blames someone else; "you made us this way".

Of course I don't really think any of this. I do not believe that BP is a terrorist organization and I would never compare them to terror networks. It really was an accident.

Here's the thing, BP and all its subcontractors, Haliburton and Transamerica knew that this could turn bad. They knew what a spill might do and they did not prevent it from NOT happening. On purpose! They did not put on prevention and safety controls, even though it could cost people their lives and an environmental disaster. So, they knew what could happen and they went about their business as usual, with no controls to prevent a catastrophe. Sort of like playing Russian roulette...... with an oil rig.




 

3 comments (Latest Comment: 05/17/2010 01:55:18 by AuntAzalea)
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