Militants and Militias in the US OCD_OCD: http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/militia_m.asp?xpicked=4 Ideology: Anti-government and conspiracy-oriented in nature; prominent focus on firearms The militia movement is a relatively new right-wing extremist movement consisting of armed paramilitary groups, both formal and informal, with an anti-government, conspiracy-oriented ideology. Militia groups began to form not long after the deadly standoff at Waco, Texas, in 1993; by the spring of 1995, they had spread to almost every state. Many members of militia groups have been arrested since then, usually on weapons, explosives and conspiracy charges. Although the militia movement has declined in strength from its peak in early 1996, it remains an active movement, especially in the Midwest, and continues to cause a number of problems for law enforcement and the communities in which militia groups are active. The militia movement is the youngest of the major right-wing anti-government movements in the United States (the sovereign citizen movement and the tax protest movement are the two others) yet it has seared itself into the American consciousness as virtually no other fringe movement has. The publicity given to militia groups in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, when the militia movement was erroneously linked to that tragedy, made them into a household name. Even comedian David Letterman frequently joked about the militia; in 1999, for instance, his list, "Top Ten Signs You're Watching a Bad Disney Movie," included "It's called 'The Little Right-Wing Militia That Could.'" Indeed, reporters, pundits and politicians alike have used the term so frequently that it is often tossed about carelessly as a synonym for virtually any right-wing extremist group. OCD_OCD: "The final element forming the militia movement was a vast fascination with conspiracies. Conspiracies were easy to accept for people who believed that the federal government deliberately murdered people at Ruby Ridge and Waco and that door-to-door gun confiscation could begin any day. But the militia movement not only accepted the traditional conspiracy theories, it created a host of new ones; combined, they described a shadowy movement intent on creating a one-world socialist government no matter what the cost. This "New World Order," using the United Nations as its primary tool, had already taken over most of the planet. The United States was still a bastion of freedom, but its own government was collaborating with New World Order forces to strip Americans slowly of their freedoms in preparation for the final takeover. The government was erecting large numbers of concentration camps in which to place American dissenters; meanwhile, the number of United Nations troops secretly encamped in national parks grew by the month. Stickers on the backs of street signs would guide the New World Order to strategic points, while the authorities enlisted urban street gangs to help enforce gun confiscation. "The Federal government and the press is [sic] fighting a war against independent thinking Christian patriots," wrote Christian Identity adherent and militia supporter George Eaton in 1993. "The reason they have targeted patriots is simple; they will not conform or submit to the New World Order." The combination of anger at the government, fear of gun confiscation and susceptibility to elaborate conspiracy theories is what formed the core of the militia movement's ideology. Although there were white supremacists in the movement, and although groups and individuals within the movement often made common cause with or at least tolerated hate groups, the orientation of the militia movement remained primarily anti-government and conspiratorial. The militia movement appealed to many radical libertarians just as it appealed to traditional proponents of extreme right-wing causes. There was room even for African American militia leaders like J. J. Johnson of Ohio and Leroy Crenshaw of Massachusetts, whose shared anti-government views allowed them to break bread with racist and anti-Semitic adherents of Christian Identity." OCD_OCD: There is a vast difference between having the Constitutional right to firearms and coteries of extremists who are arming themselves to the teeth to declare war on the government. That's not patriotism. That's fanaticism. It has nothing to do with Christianity or the right to bear arms and everything to do with radical, militaristic, fanaticism.  Aura: It certainly explains a little about some people on here. But the thing is, if people are sooooooo sure the government is going to take something away, i'm kind of wondering if they don't secretly believe they shouldn't have had it in the first place. OCD_OCD: The reason we have a Constitution is to preserve the rights of the people. The way our government is structured, it would be virtually impossible unless a group could take over all of the legislative, judicial and executive branches of our government. That being said, these checks and balances are in place to keep any grab for power contained. A healthy skepticism of the government is realistic because politicians are powermongers by nature, but an unfounded and unrealistic fantasy of secret cabals and plans to completely subjugate the populous through massive conspiracies just beggars belief.  duncan124: BUT OCD you have said in every thread you could that the USA did not have secret death camps where it kept victims. Even mild historians also point out that the USA organized the arrest and deaths of people all over the world just because they looked like muslims. You claim you are US American but I notice don't include military in your descriptions of the gun lobby. They are the gun lobby as well. Infact Pravda is running its the USA is starting to send military advisors to Africa story , trying to promote the lobby in Russia and quite forgetting the US War in Sudan. The USA was always against involvment in overseas wars I thought. (Edited by duncan124) OCD_OCD: Do you know what a militia is in the US, Duncan? it has nothing to do with our military. militia, Duncan. Militia duncan124: Wrong OCD 'militia' means the same thing everywhere it is said. 'We the people' say who is or what is in the US. OCD said " Conspiracies were easy to accept for people who ..." and "The government was erecting large numbers of concentration camps in which to place American dissenters" OCD said "The militia movement is a relatively new right-wing extremist movement consisting of armed paramilitary groups, both formal and informal,..." I would like to point out that the same applies to 'militias' everywhere including the old US bug bears of violent groups in the Middle East and "But the militia movement not only accepted the traditional conspiracy theories, it created a host of new ones; combined, they described a shadowy movement intent on creating a one-world socialist government no matter what the cost." sounds like official US policy thinking since Reagan. (Edited by duncan124) OCD_OCD: Duncan, OCD did not say "The government was erecting large numbers of concentration camps"... That was from the website describing the militia/conspiracy mentality. See the website up there?  R E B E C C A: If you posted the link to the website then its from you....because you have posted it on. Like other news broadcasters ocd....you decide what, how, and even when to report on news events....so in that respect it is from you. OCD_OCD: Rebecca, surely I don't have to explain the difference between posting the link to information on a website and using my own words, do I? It is my topic. The foundation of the topic is based on information contained on a website which explains the mentality behind militias. It's in quotes. Does that make it any clearer for you? R E B E C C A: Like I said you choose which websites/articles to re-post...most of which, I feel have bigoted and racist views.....Like do I need t explain the power of the media....n that you shouldn't believe everything you read? Now, if you want to go around quoting such people, thats your choice, though there must be a reason for it?! duncan124: I called them 'Death Camps' and you OCD referred to them as Concentration camps. The names are interchangeable but guessing from what yo have said yourself OCD you wanted to try and confuse people about the newly found German death camps and the US Death Camps. You have to be an idiot not to think that secret death camps wouldn't happen in any other Authoritarian situation you might find yourself in. Whatever you call them and how ever they operated they are all the same. Who invented Concentration Camps? The US did during the Civil War. R E B E C C A: Btw ...i haven't even checked the article ^up there^.... im going off ones i've looked at in the passed. N theres no need to get so uptight if someone doesn't agree with you. OCD_OCD: Yes, Rebecca. There is a reason for it. In case you are in a quandry about it, the reason I posted it is to discuss the mentality behind the crazy militant militias. You have apparently assumed that I agree with them, which is a false assumption on your part. If you were asking me in a round-about way if I believe that militant militias are bigoted and racist, then the answer would be yes. OCD_OCD: Rebecca, you are saying that you don't agree with me and that's fine. If you believe that militant militias are a good thing, then that's OK with me. But I would suggest that you read the article before you decide which side of the fence you are on. OCD_OCD: "N theres no need to get so uptight if someone doesn't agree with you." ^^^^ Right there, Becca. duncan124: I haven't looked at OCDs link and am not going to either. The point is what you are saying here OCD is not right. You clearly have an agenda and that includes denying atrocities. People have a right to defend themselves in groups, its always been the law in the USA, and millions of people have died because they were persuaded that they could not fight. R E B E C C A: if I wanted to form an opinion then i would do my own research , because as I already said, your articles tend to be very biased.....n thats putting it politely OCD_OCD: In case you missed it, the part that is NOT in quotes are from me. Let me post it again so you are clear on what I think: OCD_OCD: There is a vast difference between having the Constitutional right to firearms and coteries of extremists who are arming themselves to the teeth to declare war on the government. That's not patriotism. That's fanaticism. It has nothing to do with Christianity or the right to bear arms and everything to do with radical, militaristic, fanaticism. OCD_OCD: If you believe the Anti-Defamation League is biased against militias, then that's what you believe.  OCD_OCD: Duncan, the topic is not about Nazi Death camps or atrocities. Yeesh. The topic is about the difference between militant militias and people who merely own guns. | Off Topic Chat Room Similar Conversations |
