Flames of hype
Dan Kennedy taunts those who speculated that the fire that devastated a development in Maryland was perpetrated by eco-terrorists. He especially picks on Fox News Channel’s Brit Hume for making vauge connections between mainstream enviromental organization Sierra Club and the eco-terrorists in Earth Liberation front.
It now seems clear that no terrorist organization of any kind was involved in the torchings of the development. So now there’s renewed interest in the theory that the arsonist or arsonists were motivated by racial animosity. An Associated Press article high on ‘tude and low on facts introduces this little nugget:
“Two typical motives for arson are revenge and race,” [spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Michael] Campbell said.
Race? Really, now? Me thinks not.
According to the FBI Unified Crime Reporitng, there were 7,489 hate-crime cases in 2003, but only 34 cases of arson classified as hate crimes.
By comparison, there was a total 71,319 cases of arson in 2003.
Remember the mosque that was torched in Springfield? Early on there was speculation that it was a hate crime, but now it looks like just another case of inner-city lawlessness. The motive for the arson in Maryland could very well turn out to be just as petty. Or not. Let’s just wait and find out, shall we?
