Salon.com writer hopes Boston bomber is a white American, fears setback for panoply of left wing causes if otherwise

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4/16/13, "Let’s hope the Boston Marathon bomber is a white American," Salon.com, David Sirota

"If recent history is any guide, if the bomber ends up being a white anti-government extremist, white privilege will likely mean the attack is portrayed as just an isolated incident — one that has no bearing on any larger policy debates. Put another way, white privilege will work to not only insulate whites from collective blame, but also to insulate the political debate from any fallout from the attack.

It will probably be much different if the bomber ends up being a Muslim and/or a foreigner from the developing world. As we know from our own history, when those kind of individuals break laws in such a high-profile way, America often cites them as both proof that entire demographic groups must be targeted, and that therefore a more systemic response is warranted. At that point, it’s easy to imagine conservatives citing Boston as a reason to block immigration reform, defense spending cuts and the Afghan War withdrawal and to further expand surveillance and other encroachments on civil liberties."...via Drudge


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