I have read Tyrone Terrill's article and I agree with almost everything he says, however I am disturbed about his calling gang activity "terrorism". To me "terrorism" is a terrorist act, directed towards a group of people because of their ethnicity, color, religious or political beliefs. Examples are terrorists flying airliners into buildings, Tim McVeigh blowing up the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Palestinians strapping explosives on their bodies and walking into Pizzerias, Jewish settlers shooting up Mosques, etc: However, when a community leader, like Mr. Terrill, calls one gang banger shooting another over a drug deal "terrorism", it demises the problem, which is real and unfairly changes the argument about gang violence. Clearly, there is a serious problem with young black men killing each other and innocent bystanders, but this is a crime and gang problem, not terrorism. I think it is irresponsible to label acts like these as "terrorism". What will happen next? Will we label spousal and child abuse "domestic terrorism"' While I laud Mr. Terrill's efforts to shine a spotlight on a serious problem in the African-American community, I wish he had been a little more careful in his use of words. Dann Dobson Summit Hill - Saint Paul
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