Thread by @GameDadJP

So, let's examine this through the lens of someone who actually knows what he's talking about. I've spoken at length before about terrorism and what it is/isn't. Not surprising that someone from The Blaze wouldn't know. So, let's go!

https://twitter.com/ElijahSchaffer/status/1400273922877276169

When we talk about "terrorism" we aren't talking about tossing a brick into a laundromat or punching someone. Terrorism encompasses things like kidnapping, hijackings, executions, hostage-taking, mass casualty events, etc to instill....y'know....terror.

While there isn't one globally-accepted definition of the word "terrorism", it's roundly accepted that it involves everything I just mentioned. Remember that, because we'll come back to it.

Terrorism almost always is directed against national symbols and government infrastructure; that's the whole point of terrorism. That simply isn't happening with "Antifa". And speaking of "Antifa".....

Antifa is not an organization. You cannot join it. There is no centralized leadership. There is no training (lol). There are not "Antifa websites" through which you can find your local Antifa chapter. There is no motto, no creed, no designator. There is no group.

Antifa is just an ideal, a belief held by numerous and autonomous groups of people, the same way some people believe god is real or that hamburgers taste good. Most protests involving these people are peaceful. 93%, in fact.

Of course there are opportunists who cause trouble and engage in looting and property damage; that's what opportunists do. It isn't written in some Antifa Code that "WE MUST LOOT THE GAMESTOP! POWER TO THE PLAYERS!". And even if it was, that's theft and vandalism, not terrorism.

You might say "well, terrorism doesn't necessarily HAVE to involve a mass casualty event". That's true. The Capitol insurrection is a great example! I'm sure Elijah here would tell you that wasn't terrorism, but thankfully I'm here to tell you why it is.

As I said before, terrorism targets national symbols or government infrastructure to harness the ensuing fear and terror to force a government to respond to a demand. A terrorist organization requires leadership, coordination, and a plan.

Well, the entire goal of the insurrection, which involved targeting the literal nucleus of the Legislative Branch of US government, was to halt the counting of legitimate electoral votes to illegally keep Trump in power despite a lawful election which he lost.

We talked about hostage-taking, right? You've seen the pictures of individuals wearing military kit carrying flexcuffs. You've heard them shouting and demanding to know the locations of our lawmakers and elected officials. There was a fucking noose outside.

We know organizations like the Oathkeepers and Proud Boys....militarized and well-armed organizations with centralized leadership, training, recruitment methods, websites (lol), charters, and membership rosters....were present with a clear POA.

And we know that individuals like Rudy Giuliani, Mo Brooks, and Donald Trump exhorted these organizations that very morning to march to the Capitol and engage in an attempt to stop the electorl vote count.

Guys like Elijah can pretend to know what they're talking about all day long. I can sit on my couch with a tricorn hat and and oar and pretend the carpet is lava. I do it all the time.

But if you were to walk into my living room and see me doing so, would you tell me "John the carpet is not lava and you are not a lava pirate"? Or would you throw reality to the wind and say:

Actually don't answer that; we both know you'd go with option two. The point is, Elijah is an idiot and has zero idea what he's talking about, and the same goes for literally anyone working at The Blaze.

Class dismissed.