irrational perceptions

from a story getting only a bit of local press today (from the Chicago Tribune):

"An Oakbrook Terrace man was in custody Monday on charges he planted a bomb that detonated in a Salt Lake City library in September, officials said. Thomas James Zajac, of the 0-100W700 block of Butterfield Road, is charged with possession of an unregistered explosive device, said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent Thomas Ahern."

disturbing story, and an undoubtedly disturbed man. . . but imagine, if you will, the type of mass hysteria and seemingly unending national coverage this story would have been given had the man been named Abu al Hariri or Salem Nassim instead of Thomas Zajac.

i guess Bush's cutting back Clinton's funding of local police forces wasn't such a great idea after all.