Too much generalizing

Submitted by Miss Ruth (United States), Apr 3, 2003 at 02:51

I can't believe some of these comments. These inadequate conclusions are being drawn based on a few common threads. These conclusions make about as much sense as saying every unemployed, white, christian, beer drinking, wrestling watching, slum dwelling male beats his wife. It may be true that some do, but it's not true about every one that fits the description. Determining cause and effect is a rather complicated and lengthly process, even more so when the human factor is involved. And grouping or profiling analysis using race, religion, or similar is becoming less reliable. Case in point, if police relied on profiling to locate the DC, VA sniper, they would still be looking for a white guy.

That soldier made a personal choice to do what he did. The guy is probably an emotionally imbalanced victim type, always on the pity pot for everything in his life, more so than he is a terrorist. It seems more likely that he got angry and lashed out at those by whom he felt victimized... his commander and his unit. The incident doesn't even come close to a terrorist act or an attempt to impede US led coalition efforts in Iraq, given the amount of ammo and the access the soldier had. If he was there to twart something, that camp would have had way more losses.

We probably all agree the soldier committed a disturbing and horrible act and should suffer the consequences. There is no excuse for this type behavior; no religion, race, ethinicity or other association is responsible for an individual's personal choices. But, it makes it easy to play the victim, considering the plentifulness of lynch mobs ready to string them up over prejudices. So, please, let's not enable individuals playing victim by handing them a bunch of excuses. Let's uphold personal accountability; each of us is responsible for our own choices, regardless of our associations.
We're an educated society; shouldn't we conduct ourselves as such.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".