Letters to the Editor

This letter is associated with the following article:
In an alarming case, U.S. attorneys exploited post-9/11 counterterrorism policies to pursue and prosecute an environmental activist.
  • Yes, she is a terrorist. Sheesh!

    Ilya sez:

    Several letter writers have defined terrorism as trying to achieve political objectives through extra-legal means, i.e. commiting crimes to advance their socio-political cause. The flip side of that is the government trying to achive political objectives through the use of the criminal justice system.

    They're not equivalent, since the criminal justice system is not, by definition, extra-legal. Moreover, the goal is to enforce laws. I suppose you could call that

    Do we want impeding traffic or disorderly conduct misdemeanors to carry 20yr sentences because the government wants to slap a political label of "terrorism" on the defendants?

    How do you feel about 'hate crimes,' Ilya? Do you think a person should get extra jail time because s/he injured or killed a person of color rather than a white person? Just curious.