White Men and Terrorism

White Men and Terrorism

            When most Americans think of terrorism, they think of radical religious groups. These perceptions exist from a post-9/11 America, where citizens were taught to fear their neighbor and to blame the “other.” While many believe that the profile of a terrorist is an extremist Muslim, the truth is that from 2008 to 2016, terrorism from right-wing extremists doubled that of radical Islamist groups.[1]This false narrative that Muslims are the ones committing all the terrorist acts has been ubiquitous in American culture since after the attacks on the World Trade Center. Additionally, placing the blame of crime on immigrants and people of color is deeply embedded in this nation’s history. This still rings to be true as Donald Trump announced his presidential campaign with “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”[2]Not only did he kick off his campaign with this egregious claim, his main message was to build a wall and to deport immigrants. So clearly, the United States has had, and to this day, has an identity issue when it comes to terrorism and crime.

            It is important to look at why white men are committing terror. White men throughout history have been in power and have not seen a challenge to that power.[3]In predominately white countries, men have held the power sentencing women to a subservient role from the political structure to the individual home. These white countries then colonized land in the Global South, where they held mostly all of the power and again marginalized people of color. Now, in nations with diversity, there has become a challenge to this power. Although I would argue that only white men view the political participation of women and people of color as a “challenge.” The fear of this challenge has manifested itself in many ways, but most importantly to this blog: terrorism. 

            Kellner cites that the rise of right-wing extremists was caused by two specific events. One being government attack against a white supremacist in 1992 and the other being a religious cult in 1993.[4]In 1995, the Oklahoma City Bombing took place on second anniversary of the attack on the religious group and one of the terrorists was handing out literature about the cult.[5]This motive shows the panic and action of white male extremists when they fear they are being challenged. The terrorist felt wronged by the United States government and that his religious liberty was under attack, then, to deal with these feelings he bombed a federal building. When threatened, he responded with violence. 

            The alienated white man complex was also present in the Unabomber.[6]Instead of seeking a bureaucratic answer to his hatred of technology, he resorted to using violence to get his message across, which this theme is present with most white male extremists.[7]Again, the one can see the extremists not know what to do about their anger and panic, so they turn to violence and terrorism to accomplish what their goal is. 

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[1]Sarah Ruiz-Grossman, “Most of America’s are White, and Not Muslim,” Huffingtonpost, last updated August 23, 2017, https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/domestic-terrorism-white-supremacists-islamist-extremists_us_594c46e4e4b0da2c731a84df.

[2]Katie Reilly, “Here Are All the Times Donald Trump Insulted Mexico,” Time, last updated August 31, 2016, http://time.com/4473972/donald-trump-mexico-meeting-insult/.

[3]Douglas Kellner, “Constructing Male Identities and the Spectacle of Terror,” Guys and Guns Amok: Domestic Terrorism and School Shootings from the Oklahoma City Bombing to the Virginia Tech Massacre, Paradigm Publishers, 2008, 90. 

[4]Kellner, Guys and Guns Amok, 101.  

[5]Kellner, Guys and Guns Amok, 101. 

[6]Kellner, Guys and Guns Amok, 113. 

[7]Kellner, Guys and Guns Amok, 114.