Today's installment comes from a post at Tigerhawk. The NY Times headline read:China Jails Environmentalist Wanted in U.S.
Riddle: When is an arson suspect not an arson suspect?Answer: When the New York Times decides to call him an "environmentalist."
The headline reveals a certain way of thinking at the Times -- that arson might be a sort-of respectable tactic in pursuit of a higher cause. You know, in the tradition of Howard Roarke, perhaps. But does this conflation of criminality and environmental "activism" really help the cause of the environment in the long run? Perhaps it does among the readers of the New York Times, but I suspect not among Americans with less clouded moral vision.
To understand who this guy is, you can read paragraph two of the Times article:
After serving his time, Mr. Solondz, 30, who is on the F.B.I.'s wanted list, will be deported to the United States, where he faces charges stemming from what the authorities say was his role in an arson rampage that destroyed buildings in three western states as a member of a group related to the environmental extremist organization Earth Liberation Front. He was indicted in absentia in 2006.
If it were your newspaper, how would you write the headline for the Times editors?
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Comments (28)
"Noted Chemist jailed by Co... (Below threshold)1. Posted by GarandFan | November 28, 2009 5:19 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
"Noted Chemist jailed by Communists"
1. Posted by GarandFan | November 28, 2009 5:19 PM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on November 28, 2009 17:19
2. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | November 28, 2009 5:30 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
How about: Radical Environmental Terrorist Jailed in China.
Sounds good to me.
2. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | November 28, 2009 5:30 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on November 28, 2009 17:30
3. Posted by dfbaskwill | November 28, 2009 6:08 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Man-made Global Warming Enthusiast and Vegetarian housed and fed by Chinese.
3. Posted by dfbaskwill | November 28, 2009 6:08 PM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on November 28, 2009 18:08
4. Posted by Marc | November 28, 2009 6:48 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
I'd write it honestly, NYT honestly:"
"Move along, nothing to see here."
4. Posted by Marc | November 28, 2009 6:48 PM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on November 28, 2009 18:48
5. Posted by bobdog | November 28, 2009 6:52 PM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
China Gives Sanctuary To Noted Environmentalist Hounded By Bush Administration
5. Posted by bobdog | November 28, 2009 6:52 PM |
Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
Posted on November 28, 2009 18:52
6. Posted by Dave W | November 28, 2009 7:50 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
nice beard!
6. Posted by Dave W | November 28, 2009 7:50 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 28, 2009 19:50
7. Posted by 914 | November 28, 2009 8:30 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Friend of Earth jailed for AGW cause.
7. Posted by 914 | November 28, 2009 8:30 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 28, 2009 20:30
8. Posted by Wiglaf | November 28, 2009 8:55 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Acolyte of Gaia faces punishment in US
8. Posted by Wiglaf | November 28, 2009 8:55 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 28, 2009 20:55
9. Posted by DMinor | November 28, 2009 10:12 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Chinese Reds Nab Green who Blackened Three States
9. Posted by DMinor | November 28, 2009 10:12 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 28, 2009 22:12
10. Posted by GarandFan | November 28, 2009 10:25 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Schick wields power in China!
10. Posted by GarandFan | November 28, 2009 10:25 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 28, 2009 22:25
11. Posted by Clay | November 28, 2009 10:32 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Charles Manson in China?
11. Posted by Clay | November 28, 2009 10:32 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 28, 2009 22:32
12. Posted by Madalyn | November 28, 2009 11:14 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Arsonist Asshole is caught in China and jailed.
Madalyn
12. Posted by Madalyn | November 28, 2009 11:14 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 28, 2009 23:14
13. Posted by Weegie | November 29, 2009 1:06 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Dedicated Environmentalist Held by Chinese in Miscarriage of Justice
13. Posted by Weegie | November 29, 2009 1:06 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 29, 2009 01:06
14. Posted by 914 | November 29, 2009 2:38 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
"Obama gets elected"
14. Posted by 914 | November 29, 2009 2:38 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 29, 2009 02:38
15. Posted by Clay | November 29, 2009 5:48 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
FYI...I opened my Bangkok Post this morning and found that the headline here reads: China arrests US 'eco-terrorist' suspect on drug charges. Seems as though Chinese authorities caught Solondz with drugs and fake Canadian identification in the Yunan province. During his trial last month Mr. Solondz pleaded guilty to manufacturing drugs and asked to be deported to the U.S. I guess he has enough brain cells left to deduce that an American prison will be much more conducive to his survival than the Chinese counterpart.
15. Posted by Clay | November 29, 2009 5:48 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 29, 2009 05:48
16. Posted by TinaS | November 29, 2009 7:36 AM | Score: -7 (11 votes cast)
The headline reveals a certain way of thinking at the Times -- that arson might be a sort-of respectable tactic in pursuit of a higher cause.
Charlie Quidnunc,
Your article is so idiotic I won't even comment on it.
16. Posted by TinaS | November 29, 2009 7:36 AM |
Score: -7 (11 votes cast)
Posted on November 29, 2009 07:36
17. Posted by Victory is Mao's | November 29, 2009 10:40 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
The NYT headline should have been:
"Innocent Man to Return Home and Receive Stimulus Funds to Continue Good Work"
Come on Tina, tell us what you really think.
17. Posted by Victory is Mao's | November 29, 2009 10:40 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 29, 2009 10:40
18. Posted by G. | November 29, 2009 10:47 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Bet you can trace his radicalism back to some College.
18. Posted by G. | November 29, 2009 10:47 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 29, 2009 10:47
19. Posted by klrtz1 | November 29, 2009 10:54 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
If I owned a newspaper, I'd want a headline like
"Fugitive Eco-Terrorist Jailed, Finally!"
Me too, Tina. I want to hear what you really think, too.
19. Posted by klrtz1 | November 29, 2009 10:54 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 29, 2009 10:54
20. Posted by GarandFan | November 29, 2009 10:59 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
"...that arson might be a sort-of respectable tactic in pursuit of a higher cause."
In other words, 'the end justifies the means'.
On another note, I'm curious why Solondz wasn't continuing his Earth Liberation activities in China. Could it be that 'the death penalty' does have a deterrent affect?
20. Posted by GarandFan | November 29, 2009 10:59 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 29, 2009 10:59
21. Posted by 914 | November 29, 2009 11:35 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Tina S.
"Your article is so idiotic I won't even comment on it"
Thanx for reassuring us that liberals are so stuck on stupid!
21. Posted by 914 | November 29, 2009 11:35 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 29, 2009 11:35
22. Posted by 914 | November 29, 2009 11:47 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
He looks kinda like saint Nick.
22. Posted by 914 | November 29, 2009 11:47 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 29, 2009 11:47
23. Posted by s | November 29, 2009 2:49 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Elf Terrorist Finally Jailed in China Faces Extradition Back To US
23. Posted by s | November 29, 2009 2:49 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 29, 2009 14:49
24. Posted by Marc | November 29, 2009 6:00 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
tinaS "Your article is so idiotic I won't even comment on it."
But you did not only did comment on it but in doing so made an editorial type comment.
What does that make you?
A liar?
A buffoon?
A Nitwit?
Well, what are you?
24. Posted by Marc | November 29, 2009 6:00 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 29, 2009 18:00
25. Posted by XMariner | November 29, 2009 8:08 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
"Uninsured Youth's Imprisonment A Victory for Big Pharma"
Bush's Fault!
25. Posted by XMariner | November 29, 2009 8:08 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 29, 2009 20:08
26. Posted by 914 | November 30, 2009 1:26 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
He looks kinda guilty
26. Posted by 914 | November 30, 2009 1:26 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 30, 2009 01:26
27. Posted by 914 | November 30, 2009 2:42 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
OK, I will quit beatin around the Booshh!!
He looks kinda like My redneck neighbor?
Cept He has a swazy stika affixed to His frontal lobe.
27. Posted by 914 | November 30, 2009 2:42 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 30, 2009 02:42
28. Posted by Colorado Right
| December 1, 2009 1:05 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Weirdly Bearded EcoWorshipper Volunteers For Chinese Work Assignment
28. Posted by Colorado Right
| December 1, 2009 1:05 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 1, 2009 13:05