What kind of teen do these behaviors describe to you?
“Parents might see sudden personality changes in their children at home—becoming confrontational. Religious leaders might notice unexpected clashes over ideological differences. Teachers might hear a student expressing an interest in traveling to a conflict zone overseas. Or friends might notice a new interest in watching or sharing violent material.”
A normal teenager?
A below average teen going through some struggles at home? Maybe dabbling with drugs or alcohol?
An advanced student curious about world affairs, possibly showing an interest in government service?
A student who wants to have a career as a war journalist? A motion picture director? Game maker?
All of these guesses are wrong, according to White House Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Adviser Lisa Monaco. She says (with all seriousness) that if you see a teen that fits this description, you may have a terrorist on your hands.
You can feel safe, though. “Monaco said that in addition to citizen alertness, the Department of Homeland Security is increasing its partnerships across the country and making hundreds of millions of dollars in grant money available annually to local law enforcement to help improve anti-terrorism security at the municipal and county level.”
The above descriptions sound
The above descriptions sound like every teenager I have ever know -including my own 4 children and myself. I think you could probably apply the term “potential terrorist” to any person – regardless of their age – who was slightly outside what is deemed “normal” by the government. It’s very reassuring to know that “hundreds of millions” of our tax dollars will be going towards investigating our children, neighbors, family members who dream of being a movie director while they’re playing video games and sneaking a beer. Or, God forbid, having a conversation about religion.
I feel safer already.
I agree
Sounds like every teenager I’ve known, or been. So now they’re profiling teens in general as terrorists? WTF is going on with this country and who’s doing this ‘homeland security’ crap anyway? They need to be shut down. They’re much more a terrorist threat than any of us.
Grant money
The grant money could then be diverted to use for police station upgrades.
Teens all around us!
We should qualify, as the number of potential terrorists in our midst has clearly skyrocketed.
I just thought of something, too. Pre-teens may become teens. It could be suspicious if they express an interest in learning things above their grade level. And what about babies? They are a mere decade away from potentially becoming terrorists.
I suppose we should arrest parents for reproducing. Or preemptively, for dating and considering production of a potential terrorist. It’s their fault. And look where they started. Probably as teens!
OK. I admit it. I was an active member of the teens for almost a decade. I hope it doesn’t prevent me from succeeding in the American dream.
Now I feel that I have to be
Now I feel that I have to be cautious around the many day care centers that are in town. Not to mention my pre school age grandson and his friends. There is potential danger everywhere. It’s quite disconcerting.