Matt Walling
01/19/2009
Revolution and Terrorism
Terrorism from the Left and From the Right
Walling 1
The left wing inspired terrorism appeared in the United States during the 1960’s. Terrorism went hand in hand with leftist ideology(Visions for chance). To be from the left – a term taken from French parliamentary seating conventions – meant to be against the status quo, and in favor of some form of wealth redistribution, as a means to social and political equality. The Cold War, coupled with anti-colonialist movements in mid-century, fueled leftist extremism further. National independence movements in formerly colonized countries often fused nationalist and socialist impulses. Some turned to terrorist tactics to drive home their case. Left-wing terrorists, according to the FBI, have a revolutionary socialist agenda, and present themselves as protectors of the populace against the alienating effects of capitalism and U.S. imperialism. Notable early participants in left-wing terrorism were various socialist and anarchist groups from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Leon Czolgocz, who shot President William McKinley in 1901, embraced anarchist beliefs, though no anarchist group would accept him for membership. Left-wing terrorists, according to the FBI, have a revolutionary socialist agenda, and present themselves as protectors of the populace against the alienating effects of capitalism and U.S. imperialism. Notable early participants in left-wing terrorism were various socialist and anarchist groups from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Leon Czolgocz, who shot President William McKinley in 1901, embraced anarchist beliefs, though no anarchist group would accept him for membership.
Walling 2
Right wing terrorism has a heritage that goes back to the anti-immigrant or nativist(Visions for chance). Right-wing terrorist groups, as defined by the FBI, are motivated by notions of white racial...