William Ayers and Timothy McVeigh

I agree. While Timothy McVeigh is hated because he killed a lot of people, William Ayers is now a respected teacher. Why? Because he failed to actually kill an innocent people. But his intent was still there. He is just as dangerous and so are his ideas. How he is respected much less allowed around our next generation is beyond me.

With all due respect, Ted, but you have got to be kidding!!! Ayers never killed anyone!! McVeigh's full intent was not only to kill, but to do it on the anniversary of another incident between individuals and the Feds. The W.U. made sure their actions were known and took ownership of them. McVeigh hid like the coward he was. The people who founded this nation were the terrorists of their day in the eyes of England. Those who were caught were executed. I don't see much difference. Israelis under Great Britain's rule committed acts of terrorism against Great Britain including bombings and assassinations to gain independence, yet we view them as one of our staunchest allies even as those THEY now control do the same things to them. I just don't see any parallels between McVeigh and Ayers. Not at all.

I have to agree with my friend jerzgirl on this, Ted. Comparing Ayers with Timothy McVeigh is a bit of a stretch. I'm not defending Ayers, or at least the man he was 40 years ago, but McVeigh was a total monster and a coward. He chose to blow up that federal building knowing there was a daycare center full of children in it and then he hid. I don't believe we're still discussing Ayers! Annie

Wow, you're right. McVeigh was just one prosecutorial misconduct away from becoming a college professor and family friend to a future president. Imagine that. I guess it's just so much easier for liberals to ignore such things when it happened before they reached adulthood.

I must first say I see a good many people saying ayers did not actualy kill anyone himself. Well, neither did Bin laden. I must also say I observe people saying that the weather underground never intended to kill people. BULL, they intended to and DID kill people. A few durring an armored car robbery. And when you place a bomb near a gas line of a home and other bombs near the homes exits and there are people home, including a child, you intenend to kill people. When you build bombs that contain nails, an anti personal tactic, you intend to kill people. Ayers is as much a terrorist as McViegh, Bin laden, Al Nasria and Ted Kasinski and here is simply no way to spin, euphempize or justify it.

Oh my, where to begin. I know, how about here. Timothy McVeigh killed 168 people and injured 450 others...he also wanted to assassinate individual people. Bill Ayers and the Weathermen didn't kill anyone, other than a few of their own members while assembling a nail bomb. Timothy McVeigh set off a 5,000lb bomb in front of a building he knew was filled with people and his intent was to kill as many of them as he could. The Weathermen targeted property, setting off small bombs at night. Timothy McVeigh's motivation was revenge, for Waco and Ruby Ridge, and hatred of the Federal Government. As far as I know, he had no personal reasons for his hatred. Bill Ayers and the Weathermen, on the other hand, were a radical anti-war organization during a time of great civil unrest in this country. I do not approve of their actions, however, I do know (because I was there) that the young people in this country were angry, frustrated and SCARED because the body bags were arriving daily and there was no end to the war in Viet Nam in sight. As far as teaching...what could Timothy McVeigh possibly have to teach anyone? He was an ignorant, unfeeling murder. I don't know what Ayers teaches but I'm pretty sure it's not Bomb Making 101 and, if you're concerned about his philosophy, you should take a look at what else they're teaching on that campus.

Sometimes a person can be a terrorist and lack the opportunity to bomb buildings, and do damage. It is just luck that Ayers never got to go to prison. Had he had the means to put his words in action, he would have been in the same place that McVeigh is now.