Perhaps we misunderstand evil.. Many people think of it as some outside entity, some corrupting source. As an atheist, I have never accepted an outside entity as the cause. Good and evil are human concepts and can only be applied to human actions. Whether or not humans are "inherently" good or evil does holds very little interest for me as I do not believe that morality is inherent.
If you go with the adage "You are what you do", humans can be classified as good or evil. I would love to do away with labels all together, but the source of the problem is labels.
If you are over 25 years old, you are not a disaffected youth. If you are a member of the group in power, you are not disenfranchised. If you choose to embrace the symbols of hate, it is because you feel a connection with them. If you choose to end the existence of another human being, you are a murderer. If you commit acts with the sole intent to causing a large group of people to fear for their personal safety, you are a terrorist.
As I've said many times on other topics, the line is not blurry. Attending a protest wearing riot gear is deliberately intimidating as is the carrying of torches and brandishing of weapons. Each point of escalation comes with a decision. Verbal abuse is not an excuse for physical violence. Physical violence is not an excuse for the use of weapons. There is never an excuse for targeting non-combatants.
The saying "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter." is a false equivalence. If you deliberately target civilians, your political point is moot. If you commit acts of terror, your motivation, upbringing, socioeconomic group, and even to a large extent your mental state at the time are immaterial.
The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States does grant
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.there was nothing peaceable about the assembly chanting "blood and soil" and gathering under the banners of our enemies.
