On September 11, 2001, 19 Muslim radicals attacked our nation, slaughtering 2,996 innocent men, women, and children. No one will ever forget that day, or forget exactly what we were doing when we heard and watched the horrific events of that day of infamy. Many questions remain. Could this tragedy have been prevented? How much did our government know prior to that day? Did our nation’s security agencies have sufficient reason to sound the alarm? Although 15 of the 19 terrorists were Saudi nationals, why was our focus solely on Afghanistan and Iraq?

No massive attack has occurred within our shores by foreign agents since 9/11. However, white, American terrorists have murdered hundreds of men, women, and children. They are not referred to by the right wing as terrorist attacks, but they are in fact the greatest danger facing the American people today.

They are called mass assaults or mass shootings. They are hate crimes and fit the very definition of ‘terrorism:’ “The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims or personal beliefs.”

Our nation’s politicians have entered various issues into our political system which do not belong in the discussion of our nation’s ability to govern effectively. These issues are based on emotion and not fact, and are some of the reasons why white terrorism is on the rise in America. These issues are the result of violations of the first amendment of the Constitution, and the culprit is the Christian religious right.

Abortion, same-sex marriage, and the freedom of religions other than Christianity have been labeled as “hot button issues” because of the angry and volatile response of hate groups including fake-Christians and xenophobes. Add to these, white supremacists who have a ‘champion’ for their ’cause’ living in the White House, and hate crimes have grown by 800 percent in the past two years plus.

The most recent acts of White terrorism were committed by a 23-year-old junior college dropout; Mark Anthony Conditt. For three weeks he terrorized the city of Austin, Texas. Conditt’s method of attack was the use of homemade bombs. The first two were left on the porches of two African American homes. Two people died, and one was injured.

The first victim, Stephan House, became the primary suspect.

“We can’t rule out that Mr. House didn’t construct this himself and accidentally detonate it,” [Austin Police Department] Assistant Chief Joseph Chacon told reporters at the time, noting that there was no continuing threat to the public.

House’ family lived in fear of retaliation from the citizens of Austin who were now living in fear themselves. Although a third bomb was detonated with the use of a tripwire, House never received the consideration or respect of the Austin Police Department.

A 75-year-old Hispanic man was injured by the third bomb.

Conditt mailed or exploded six bombs in all; killing two and injuring several more. On Wednesday, surrounded by law enforcement, he detonated a bomb inside of his own vehicle killing himself.

Evidence found in Conditt’s residence revealed that these were indeed hate crimes, and he had a longer list of future victims.

Conditt was raised in the suburbs of Austin, and attended private schools. I, or no one else is claiming that all residents of the suburbs are racists, but removing individuals from mainstream society prevents the experience of engaging in relationships with men and women of other races and religious beliefs. We are a nation which should be proud of its diversity. The facts are that situations such as these prevent individuals from experiencing compassion, understanding, and tolerance for others. This is a classic recruitment situation for white supremacists.

Statistics since 2015 prove that the American people are in far greater danger from white terrorism than foreign terrorism. Right wing terrorists outnumber left wing terrorists by a margin of nearly 10-1. The same is true when foreign terrorists are compared to the right wing, white terrorists.

The truth is not good and very disturbing. We are fulfilling the prophecy of Abraham Lincoln.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

On November 6, vote for yourselves and your country. Republicans have become the enemy of the majority.

Op-ed by James Turnage

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