Militia Takevover Brings New Set of Issues

By REV JIM PURCELL

In the past few days, a group of armed, white militiamen have occupied a wildlife sanctuary in Oregon with the goal of sparking a Neo-Conservative revolution in the United States, which culminates in the overthrow of the Federal Government, according to published reports.

To some, their actions are being regarded as "patriotic," while others view the group as simply a collective of home-grown terrorists. I side with the latter group, and am concerned about the nature of the nationwide militia phenomenon, their intentions and links to white supremacist ideology, not to mention their access to firearms. It is my opinion, these groups (and I include the Klu Klux Klan in this) have been indulged and allowed to grow by Federal law enforcement, without proper scrutiny or tracking by authorities.

I believe in freedom of speech, as all Americans should. However, the moment "freedom of speech" includes buying firearms being coupled with open talk of sedition and violence it becomes something else. Where there are fierce anti-government sentiments, which apparently is a common denominator in such groups, and firearms there is a precursor for action. And, any group that advocates the forcible overthrow of the American Government must, in all common sense, be laid to rest quickly and decisively in order that their actions may serve as an example to other such groups.

Of course, why these groups were and are allowed to exist, grow and prosper, is beyond me. I would have thought Federal authorities would have been tracking domestic terror groups more efficiently than to allow one to overrun Federal land. There is an excuse the group gives for this, the so-called Bundy Militia, but to my mind I cannot imagine a fit excuse, for any reason, to resort to bearing arms against one's own country.

Currently, there are negotiators trying to avert an armed conflict between the government and the militiamen, yet I am not even sure if that is in the best interest of this situation as, if this is not treason they are doing, I have no idea what else to call it. There should be no leniency with treason or sedition, in my opinion. Historically speaking, treason is the crime that perhaps carries the worst of punishments, deservedly so.

It is my firm belief that we, as the American People, have entered a time wherein we must each choose what side of potential armed Neo-Conservativism revolution we stand on because, as is made clear, there are reactionary elements within that political movement that are not content to abide by the ruling of the ballot box. The span between being an ideological Conservative and a radical Conservative is only a brief commute and, I believe, these people and their aims, goals or ambitions, represent a clear and present danger to the welfare of the American state and government. I admit, I have always believed this, since the early days of the Tea Party Movement rhetoric but now I believe there is sufficient evidence for anyone to see plainly.

There are reflections used by so called "patriot" groups of the American Revolution. These people liken themselves to the Founding Fathers revisited. In fact, these are dangerous, immature and potentially hostile collectives of people that each deserve attention by Federal law enforcement authorities. It is not true anymore, with this recent event, that the fiery words of revolution spoken by these people and their ideological leaders (the Bobby Jindalls, Ted Cruzs and Donald Trumps of the world) are merely high political theater. Things have taken a dark turn and the very fabric of our American society, and all we hold dear, is being threatened not by the Russians or the Chinese but by our neighbors, our friends, our colleagues and even our family, in some cases. Yet, in each would-be revolution, sides must be taken and, not because of my words but by the actions of the Neo-Conservative Movement in the recent past and now, there must be a stand. What will America be? Another Third World backwater where the mob may usurp legitimately elected leadership or will it remain a beacon of freedom, where revolutions are waged not with assault weapons and homemade pyrotechnics but through the vote -- one person, one vote? This question is being debated now, like it or not.

I do not care to cast off the traditions of being a democratic republic, which is what America was crafted to be. I do not want to give in to terror and armed rebellion. I will not countenance being menaced any longer by seditious actors and I certainly will not lend my voice to them by voting for anyone in the Republican Party these anarchists have aligned themselves with.

In each person's life, there comes a time when they must either be bullied into something they would not choose or to stand for what is right. I choose to stand for what is right, to me, and that is the less-than-perfect, but better-than-all-other system of governance in this country. So, I will not be moved by the spectacle of treason or words of crocodile patriotism. On my part, I am of the belief they can go to hell.