Tucson Shooting-- What if the shooter was Muslim?

On January 8th there was a shooting in Tucson, Arizona at a supermarket where Representative Giffords was holding a meet and greet with constituents. A gunman who was identified as Jared Loughner shot at Giffords causing her to be hospitalized. Giffords remains in the hospital in critical condition. Loughner wounded several people and killed six people. The most tragic of those deaths was a nine year old girl who was born on September 11th, 2001. She was born on a tragic day and died on a tragic day. It is horrible to hear things like this happen especially when innocent victims are caught in the cross-fires. Clearly Loughner is unhappy with the political process in this country-- maybe particularly unhappy with Giffords herself. However, this was not the way to deal with that frustration towards the government.

What I find particularly interesting is the response that has followed the attack. I cant help but notice that this is a white guy so naturally given the state of our country's chosen group to discriminate this guy doesn't fit the bill. Loughner is simply going to be described as disturbed. Government officials have described him as being an extremist. Now let me say this along with everyone else who has already asked the same question: What if he were Arab? What if he were Muslim? What if??

If this guy were Muslim he would automatically be labeled a terrorist. So why isn't this guy who killed a 9 yr old girl, a judge as well as several others and wounded a congresswoman?? I am sorry but the last time I checked the definition of terrorist is someone or a group of people who frightens and instills fear in others through the use of violence for political purposes. UMM HELLO??? Is anybody awake? is that not EXACTLY what Jared Loughner did? He stood outside a supermarket and shot up the place because he was unhappy with our government. That screams terrorism to me. However, since Jared Loughner is white he is politically acceptable. He is not part of the Arab minority or Muslim minority that is so greatly discriminated against in this country. If Jared Loughner were Muslim he would be far more ostracized than he is right now. But why is that when an Arab or Muslim commits a crime, the first word that comes to mind is terrorist?

Terrorists just like extremists are generally labeled as loners, outcasts, disturbed, frustrated with political dealings etc etc etc. How come those labeled as extremists do not have a racial profile but terrorists do? Here is a terrorists racial profile: Arab. Man. Muslim. Long beard. Religious fanatic. What is an extremists racial profile? Answer: Non existant. So Jared Loughner, Timothy McVeigh, the unibomber, and every white guy that has ever caused fear is not categorized?

The political discourse that occurs in this country is quite fascinating to say the least. All I know is like Bin Laden, the Taliban, Al Qaeda, Jared Loughner is no different in my book.... A crazed person/group looking to release their frustration against America in a violent way aka terrorism. Loughner is no different than any other terrorist. There are just very few people who have the guts to call him for what he is.

May the victims families take solace in the fact that America is behind them and may we listen to Obama's words he delivered at the meeting to usher in a time of civility and to strive to be the America Christina Taylor Green, the young girl who died that day imagined.