Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s latest lecture, criticism of NYC terror coverage
The Queen of Bad Timing reflects on the New York terror attack. Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s latest video on Twitter, yesterday:
I was in a car and we heard news of an attack … and as soon as it was called a terrorist attack we knew there had to be some connection to Muslims, right?
People are dead, Yassmin. Give it a rest. The Australian online, yesterday:
The mayhem and the burst of police gunfire after he attempted to flee on foot yelling “Allahu Akbar” while brandishing fake guns set off panic in the neighbourhood and left the pavement strewn with mangled bicycles and the bodies of seven victims …
The highest authority of all things terrorism-related will not be stopped. Yassmin’s Twitter lecture on terrorism, yesterday:
There is no internationally agreed definition of what constitutes terror.
Tbh if I jumped up and yelled anything I would probably get arrested and they would report I yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’!?
— Yassmin Abdel-Magied (@yassmin_a) November 1, 2017
OK, fair enough. But let’s start with the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of terrorism:
The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.
Political violence sounds right up Islamic State’s alley. The Australian online, yesterday:
The Post quotes police sources saying handwritten notes in Arabic pledging loyalty to Islamic State along with an image of an IS flag were found inside the rental vehicle …
Yassmin continues on her Twitter video, yesterday:
There’s the definition the FBI has put forward which people usually talk about … but that’s the FBI’s definition. Since when did we all decide that what the FBI says is how we all see the world? (laughs).
The FBI has a lot of experience in handling terrorism actually. The Washington Post, March 25, 2015:
The FBI improved its ability to fight terrorism in the years after the September 11, 2001, attacks, but a new report says the bureau still faces significant challenges …
And it has saved a lot of people’s lives in the process. BBC News online, October 8:
A jihadist plot to attack New York City including Times Square and the subway system was foiled with the help of an undercover FBI agent … One of the suspects allegedly said he wanted to create “the next 9/11”.
But sure, Yassmin, tell us why the FBI shouldn’t be listened to on terrorism. Abdel-Magied continues:
They do not have the greatest history of treating Muslims with respect.
Sorry, this attack is all about you and how you feel victimised. We forgot. The Australian online, yesterday:
The 29-year-old driver who brought terrorism back to Lower Manhattan on Halloween barrelled along the bike path for the equivalent of about 14 blocks at speeds of over 100mph before slamming into a small yellow school bus.
What’s her direct link to the NYC attack anyway? Yassmin’s Twitter lecture, yesterday:
I’m here in New York City because tomorrow I’m doing a lecture at NYU on unconscious bias.
Maybe Yassmin and her fellow victim Kevin Rudd can catch up for a cuppa. The former prime minister on ABC’s Q&A, Monday:
I live out of the country … I’m the president of a think tank in New York … of an independent, not-for-profit American think tank.