Re: [tips] We all need to be condemning this behavior....

[Linda M. Woolf, Ph.D.]

Title: tag

Hi All, Jim Dougan wrote: I hope you are right, and I do hope the secret service and FBI are on top of this stuff.  As someone pointed out to me the other day, it isn't the screamers who are the real danger - it is the silent ones - the Timmothy McVeighs.... As I mentioned to Paul on the blogsite, I would really like to see the Becks and the Dobbses recognize that their rhetoric is getting dangerous - but Paul pointed out in response that they are well paid to rouse the rabble. Behavioral contingencies and tragedy of the commons - I guess there are teaching moments in this.... Yes, these are many aspects of this event that can be discussed in the classroom in terms of prejudice, hate groups, and hate crimes.  What are often thought of as "lone wolves" are indeed dangerous but also fueled by hate groups.  I would classify the "church" in question as a hate group, particularly after looking at the Web site and the sermons on the Web site.  And yes, according the the news, both the F.B.I. and Secret Service are all over this "church" and preacher. And, the "church" and preacher seem to feel that they are being persecuted! I've pasted a small quote below in relation to domestic hate groups and one can download the entire article at:  http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/HateDummies.pdf . This article examines hate groups from a psychosocial perspective and it has lots of good references/material that can be used in class. Best, Linda The attacks on New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. of September 11th, 2001 brought the issue of international terrorism into the forefront of U.S. consciousness. Domestic terrorism, however, remains largely unrecognized. What is important to note is that domestic terrorism within the United States has been largely perpetrated by individuals associated with organized hate groups (Levitas, 2002). There are several reasons why the connection between domestic terrorism and hate groups has remained unidentified. However, one important contributing factor is the tendency of the media to classify this type of violence as the result of a “lone wolf.” For example, Timothy McVeigh and Terry McNichols’ connection to right-wing militia and Christian Identity ideologies was largely downplayed. Second, the groups at the receiving end of such domestic terrorism have often been marginalized. Thus, the lynching of African-Americans in the latter 19th and early 20th centuries simply was not identified as a form of domestic terrorism as it did not impact the majority population. Additionally, hate groups have evolved, joined forces, divided, and otherwise mutated obscuring the continuity of hate organizations within the United States over time. Thus, to the casual observer, when a hate group disappears from the collective radar screen, the threat of violence associated with that group has been perceived to be diminished when in reality it has simply taken on a new identity. Woolf, L. M., & Hulsizer, M. R. (2004). Hate groups for dummies: How to build a successful hate group. Humanity and Society, 28, 40-62. -- Linda M. Woolf, Ph.D. Professor, Psychology and International Human Rights Webster University 470 East Lockwood St. Louis, MO  63119 Hulsizer, M. R., & Woolf, L. M. (2008). Teaching statistics: Innovations and best practices. Malden, MA: Blackwell. Book Web site at: http://www.teachstats.org Past-President & Internet Editor: Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, & Violence (Div. 48, APA) Vice-President Elect for Diversity and International Issues: Society for the Teaching of Psychology (Div. 2, APA) Program Committee: National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology (NITOP) Board Member: Institute for the Study of Genocide Woolf Web page:  http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/   Email: wool...@webster.edu "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's (and woman's) best friend. . . . Inside a dog, it's too dark to read."                   -             Groucho Marx --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu)