Do you remember the conflict that America had in the Persian Gulf a few years back? An incident occurred there where a man drove a truck loaded with explosives into the building where more than 100 Marines were stationed. He blew up the building, along with the Marines. Now do you remember the bombing a couple of years ago, in Oklahoma City? Suspects Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols drove a Ryder Van loaded with 4,800 pounds of fertilizer and fuel oil to the front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, where it subsequently exploded, killing 169 people and injuring some 500 others. Of course you do. While both were massive acts of violence involving American citizens, the impact of such acts are always felt the most when it happens right in their own city. .
These days, America is filled with those people who disagree with our system of government. Most times, these people suffer silently, expressing their opinions through their votes, or within the discussions that they hold in their own private homes. When these people act upon this anger, and their disagreement, the feelings are brought beyond the point of normal behavior to vigilantism and violence. This hostility, when pushed to these limits, often results in tragedy, a tragedy that we call domestic terrorism. .
I have a friend who's uncle is a Senior ATF Agent, who has been exposed to domestic terrorism all of his life. His uncle has investigated hundreds of bombings, fires, and explosions for more than twenty years now. Many of these incidents were examples of the terrorism that I speak about. His uncle's experiences being an ATF Agent, has taught my friend countless lessons and informed him of many current events going on in our society. If you actually think about it, the information that he obtains from his uncle is far more valuable than anything that the media could ever possibly convey to him. .
While it is always difficult to lose a loved one or suffer the long-lasting scars of a terrorist attack, perhaps some of the most lasting effects of domestic terrorism are those inflicted upon those people we call upon to take care of the situation.
