They charged him with terrorism because that's the only way New York state can bring first-degree murder charges.
Also:
Mangione’s notebook allegedly refers to the investor conference that Thompson was set to attend on the day of his killing. “This investor conference is a true windfall … and — most importantly — the message becomes self evident.” [emphasis mine]
I mean, it was violence for the purpose of promoting a social/political view...which is terrorism.
Whether or not it is justified given our current circumstances, or the fact that the government is going to weaponize the law as much as they can against him are separate issues.
It can be a real uncomfortable discussion if/when terrorism is justified when all other avenues of peaceful change have failed, but it is what it is.
Edit: apparently a lot of people think it only counts as terrorism when you disagree with it.
What social view was he attempting to promote? Afaik, he was exacting revenge against the person he felt was most responsible for his and other people's suffering. That's not terrorism, that's murder. Had he issued ultimatums, and published his manifesto, then maybe it would be terrorism.
It seems to be the same social views we are all talking about now regarding for profit health insurance being a parasite on our nation. He left messages at the scene on bullet casings referencing a book criticizing the health care industry, and from what I read he didn't even have UnitedHealth insurance. I recall the early reporting after his arrest including a note referencing how it had to be done and he was the first.
If it turns out he really was just disgruntled and just wanted to kill a CEO for purely personal reasons, then yeah, not terrorism. But I feel like you don't leave clues and messages without hoping to be the first of many.
Terrorism specifically has a negative connotation with it. You could just as easily call him a revolutionary. The only difference between "revolutionary" and "terrorist' is whether you like the guy.
Again, we seem to be agreeing. But if his motives were based on promoting his political beliefs, whether or not they're correct, whether or not the actions are justified and for the greater good, and regardless of how the government defines it, it's terrorism. You correctly point out that he could also be called a revolutionary as the difference is largely whether or not you agree with him...but that doesn't change the fact that it's still a form of terrorism and people are getting upset that he is being charged with terrorism....which it is, and you would expect the government to use the word with the negative connotation here.
No he didn't. He wasn't attempting to influence policy, or terrorize the institutions. He was exacting revenge against the person he felt was most responsible for suffering. That's not terrorism, that's murder.
False. You can only commit murder against a human being. And Thompson surrendered his humanity a long time ago. If what Luigi did was murder, so was what Seal Team Six did.
I don't feel intimidated by luigi, I'm sure most americans are not intimidated by someone who killed a ceo. He's not a terrorist, he's a hero and soon to be martyr.
All of these terms can be true at the same time, y‘know the sentence "one man‘s terrorist is another man‘s freedom fighter". He‘s fighting for sick ppl and terrorizing the CEOs, I think that‘s what the comment was trying to say. The CEOs are also the ones up the hierarchy and in league with government, police, prosecution and media. They likely deliberately chose to use this term on him to bring to mind for people the disgust or fear response they get when the worst terror attack they have heard of is brought to mind.
So you can deny it completely (in the case of the charge which hopefully the lawyers can do well), but also you can argue by itself the meaning of the word and how it‘s used and if it‘s always bad (like say bring example of Nelson Mandela who was labelled a terrorist and is now widely known as freedom fighter).
So terrorist is in my point of view a politically charged term which is selectively applied by the people in charge to form a public opinion.
'Terrorism' is a code word, much like 'communist' in the 1950s or 'evil' in a cheap sci-fi movie. It means what the government wants it to mean. It's not what happened on 12/4/2024.
Then why not use another word with the same denotation, but different connotation. Why "terrorist?" Why not revolutionary, freedom fighter, martyr, or saint?
28 Comments
shalafi@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
They charged him with terrorism because that's the only way New York state can bring first-degree murder charges.
Also:
Anticorp@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
Well that's quite a stupid law then.
shalafi@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 1y
It gets worse. If you kill a cop or judge they can also pin the first on you. The rest of us don't count.
surewhynotlem@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Then all they need to do is deputize the dead CEO. mission accomplished.
Mango@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
Infiltrate circles? I haven't met literally anyone sympathetic to Brian Thompson.
Edit: We can literally vote the guy into office even.
mojofrododojo@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/health-insurance-worker-forced-to-sign-pledge-recognizing-ceo-as-indispensible-pillar-of-the-healthcare-system/vi-AA1vCOEy?ocid=social-peregrine
Health Insurance workers are being forced to sign pledges 'recognizing their CEO's as indispensable pillars of the healthcare system"
NounsAndWords@lemmy.world · -12 pts · 1y
I mean, it was violence for the purpose of promoting a social/political view...which is terrorism.
Whether or not it is justified given our current circumstances, or the fact that the government is going to weaponize the law as much as they can against him are separate issues.
It can be a real uncomfortable discussion if/when terrorism is justified when all other avenues of peaceful change have failed, but it is what it is.
Edit: apparently a lot of people think it only counts as terrorism when you disagree with it.
Anticorp@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1y
What social view was he attempting to promote? Afaik, he was exacting revenge against the person he felt was most responsible for his and other people's suffering. That's not terrorism, that's murder. Had he issued ultimatums, and published his manifesto, then maybe it would be terrorism.
NounsAndWords@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 1y
It seems to be the same social views we are all talking about now regarding for profit health insurance being a parasite on our nation. He left messages at the scene on bullet casings referencing a book criticizing the health care industry, and from what I read he didn't even have UnitedHealth insurance. I recall the early reporting after his arrest including a note referencing how it had to be done and he was the first.
If it turns out he really was just disgruntled and just wanted to kill a CEO for purely personal reasons, then yeah, not terrorism. But I feel like you don't leave clues and messages without hoping to be the first of many.
WoodScientist@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Terrorism specifically has a negative connotation with it. You could just as easily call him a revolutionary. The only difference between "revolutionary" and "terrorist' is whether you like the guy.
WoodScientist@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
NounsAndWords@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 1y
I don't disagree, but he's not being charged with revolutionaryism and people are arguing that it's not "terrorism" so it's kind of besides the point.
WoodScientist@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
The law does not define the definition of common words. Despite what the law says, ketchup is not a vegetable.
NounsAndWords@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 1y
Again, we seem to be agreeing. But if his motives were based on promoting his political beliefs, whether or not they're correct, whether or not the actions are justified and for the greater good, and regardless of how the government defines it, it's terrorism. You correctly point out that he could also be called a revolutionary as the difference is largely whether or not you agree with him...but that doesn't change the fact that it's still a form of terrorism and people are getting upset that he is being charged with terrorism....which it is, and you would expect the government to use the word with the negative connotation here.
MellowYellow13@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
It would have been terrorism if he shot up a school instead to "to raise attention to an issue".
shalafi@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 1y
He said in his notebook that he was sending a message. Sorry folks, that's violence for a political aim, terrorism.
WoodScientist@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
No, that's a revolutionary. Terrorists kill the innocent to terrorize the population. Revolutionaries bring justice upon the wicked.
Mango@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 1y
Oh, are you Betazoid?
Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world · -19 pts · 1y
IndustryStandard@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 1y
Every murder can be called terrorism if this is.
Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world · -7 pts · 1y
Anticorp@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
No he didn't. He wasn't attempting to influence policy, or terrorize the institutions. He was exacting revenge against the person he felt was most responsible for suffering. That's not terrorism, that's murder.
WoodScientist@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
False. You can only commit murder against a human being. And Thompson surrendered his humanity a long time ago. If what Luigi did was murder, so was what Seal Team Six did.
Anticorp@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Of course what seal team six did was murder. Even if it's justifiable, it's still murder. The only time it's not is if it's accidental.
Kyatto@leminal.space · 8 pts · 1y
I don't feel intimidated by luigi, I'm sure most americans are not intimidated by someone who killed a ceo. He's not a terrorist, he's a hero and soon to be martyr.
Coreidan@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
I bet the billionaires feel threatened tho
Iconoclast@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 1y
All of these terms can be true at the same time, y‘know the sentence "one man‘s terrorist is another man‘s freedom fighter". He‘s fighting for sick ppl and terrorizing the CEOs, I think that‘s what the comment was trying to say. The CEOs are also the ones up the hierarchy and in league with government, police, prosecution and media. They likely deliberately chose to use this term on him to bring to mind for people the disgust or fear response they get when the worst terror attack they have heard of is brought to mind.
So you can deny it completely (in the case of the charge which hopefully the lawyers can do well), but also you can argue by itself the meaning of the word and how it‘s used and if it‘s always bad (like say bring example of Nelson Mandela who was labelled a terrorist and is now widely known as freedom fighter).
So terrorist is in my point of view a politically charged term which is selectively applied by the people in charge to form a public opinion.
DougHolland@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1y
'Terrorism' is a code word, much like 'communist' in the 1950s or 'evil' in a cheap sci-fi movie. It means what the government wants it to mean. It's not what happened on 12/4/2024.
Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
WoodScientist@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Then why not use another word with the same denotation, but different connotation. Why "terrorist?" Why not revolutionary, freedom fighter, martyr, or saint?
Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
MellowYellow13@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1y
No it wasnt. You being unsure why you are getting downvoted is pretty fucking dumb dude lmao
SoJB@lemmy.ml · 0 pts · 1y
It was objectively not terrorism. Luigi acted in self defense.
Your liberalism is showing.