From the Guardian comes news that should surprise nobody except the followers of Fox news where white is always right and all Nazis are above average.
The parents of the young man who killed six people and injured more than a dozen worshippers at a Quebec Mosque have spoken out to say that he is "not a monster", attack the prosecution for “minimizing the effects that bullying” had on their son’s behavior. They seem to be under the impression that what amounts to a life sentence would be a “political” statement, and note that “In a sense, we, too, have lost a son.” Somehow, in their minds six life sentences for killing six people would be political correctness run amuck.
If you recall, this event was greeted by silence from the Trump administration and the US media was completely baffled as to why a young white man would attack a Mosque. Just another inexplicable random attack by a young man “with issues”. We were cautioned not to jump to conclusions just because a white guy shot a bunch of innocent people in a Mosque.
Well, the truth is exactly what you would expect:
The court heard that Bissonnette had trawled the internet, obsessively following the social media feeds of Donald Trump and right-wing commentators in the US and scouring for content to feed his resentment of immigrants, Islam and feminists as well as his fascination with mass shooters.
I disagree with the framing here, it is a classic example of putting the cart before the horse. An angry young man turns to the internet to find people to victimize, and cynical politicians who have nothing to offer the public other than hate are happy to provide him with some. This is a pattern that has been repeated too many times in human history because something in our brains makes hatred of minorities a very powerful motivator.
I really am terrified for the immigrants who have found themselves in the hands of the DHS for no crime other than to believe the inspiring words on the Statue of Liberty:
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”