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.

Neo-Conservatives: Homegrown Terrorists Waiting for their Moment?

By Jim Purcell

The American Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine are not employed to offer their political observations upon the state of the American Republic.

Far from it, the American Serviceman or Servicewoman is employed to defend their country by obeying the orders of the President and the officers placed above them by the President. This is inherent in the oath they are administered at the outset of every enlistment they enter into as a member of the U.S. Military.

And there is folly and misunderstanding happening about that these days. I am an old soldier, who served between 1983-1999, several years on Active Duty, a few as a Reservist, and some as a member of the Inactive Reserve. Now, I say this -- there is a notion by some Active Duty Service members that they participate in democracy and do not just protect it. Meanwhile, this nation employs so-called "Contractors" who are little more than traitors to the American Cause, clothing themselves in the cloak of Conservativism.

At Valley Forge, during the Revolutionary War (1776-1783), American Soldiers were asked to stay and fight, not their opinion about the way Gen. Washington ran the Army. Gen. Washington served at the pleasure of the Continental Congress, his bosses. Likewise, MG Andrew Jackson was commissioned by the U.S. Congress and, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815), selected to serve in his post by President James Monroe; as the Congress commissioned LTG Phillip Sheridan and he was selected as Army Chief of Staff by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War (1861-1865); and commanders from then until now have been commissioned by Congress and selected to their posts by the serving President of the United States.

Yet, thanks to Social Media today, some Service Members feel free criticizing their President and Chain-of-Command openly in venues like Facebook. They are sure that their opinions should be counted in the way that civilian opinions should be because they believe they have a "right" to do so. They possess no such right. They have the unique privilege of serving this Republic in its Armed Forces. They are Patriots for this service, though that does not entitle them to openly defy or ridicule their President or Chain of Command.

There is much made of potential insurrection in this country by Conservative, Reactionary Political Forces (e.g. the so-called Tea Party). These so-called "Patriots" threaten overt use of force if the country leads in a direction where gun privileges are reduced by the Congress or other legislating bodies. How dare they!? Why are these so-called "Patriots" not considered what they are: home-grown potential terrorists? They promise insurrection -- and some of them are members of our Armed Forces who purposefully and publicly promise disobedience and worse to their oaths of enlistment. Meanwhile, others who are "Contractors" subscribe to this belief, which should be illegal in a public setting should such employees utter them to embark upon nefarious actions in hopes of creating a rebellious effect. These people, these Conservatives, are a mere minority of Americans -- nothing more. They are the least intelligent, educated or demonstrative of character.

This scourge should be stopped immediately. Laws on the books of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice should be enforced, and harshly, to ensure that the U.S. Military that has always served this nation with distinction does not become some haven for would-be terrorists.

As an acute critic of President George W. Bush, I protested him in all the ways open to Americans: I picketed, protested, wrote editorials and took part in constructive Online discussions. However, I never have or would threaten any President of the United States, be they in or out of office. Why? Because such a thing is insurrection to the American mentality. One cannot love this Republic and spurn its acceptable means of showing opinion.

So, I say Servicemen and Servicewomen should be ferreted out of the military for adopting overt political beliefs or ideologies that run counter to military or civil law (e.g. Reactionary Neo-Conservatives). Further, American civilians who state or demonstrate opposition to the accepted American standards of political disagreement should be investigated as potential U.S. terrorists in waiting.

To contractors, they should be investigated and, if found guilty, either banned from any government service or imprisoned.

This Republic is being threatened not by Leftists or Communists, as some believed in yesteryear, but by Pseudo-Fascists overtly planning to make war against the U.S. Government and the Governments organized beneath it. And, that cannot be tolerated for the American Experiment to endure for long.

As dangerous as Radical Islamists are, so too might American Neo-Conservatives become before too long. Their message has been a simple one: If the will of the Majority is not to our liking, we will dissolve our collective loyalties to the United States and embark on an actual war of arms against their native country. And, it is high time that ordinary Americans see this for what it is -- not a piece of gamesmanship for electoral purposes but outright sedition in its worst form: Treason.

No body will long last with cancer festering within it, and so too does this present extreme danger where it involves the clear and present danger of Reactionary, Ultra Right-Wing Forces forming in the bosom of our nation.

(Jim Purcell is an award-winning journalist, who has been recognized by the U.S. Congress, NAACP and NJ Library Association, among others. A graduate of the NY Theological Seminary, Mr. Purcell earned his Master's degree in Parish Ministry and is the Publisher Emeritus for The Courier, Middletown, NJ. He is a former officer of the Greater Long Branch NAACP and was recognized, academically, as a Lily Scholar.)