I debated whether to call this diary what I did, or "Super Patriot Games". I decided against the latter because these activities are anything but games. The SPLC has recently released a report outlining the increase militia / quasi-miitia groups over the last year. We've had a few diaries specifically discussing their report. We know that this happened during the Clinton Administration.
Recently there have been two other stories in the news that can be easily mocked ( and that does tend to be my go to strategy) but which we really need to take seriously. If you've read any of troutfishing's work, especially his most recent diary: Heads up: Palin's prayer-warriors organizing for 2010 election coupled with the two stories I'm going to highlight and the SPLC's report, we ignore ( and mock ) these folks at our own peril. To borrow a sports analogy, the Christian Dominionists are "in it to win it."
Rachel Maddow had a segment on one of these stories last night. Her guest was Frank Schaeffer, who's been on several times before to discuss extremist Christianity. Last night, he was on to discuss "Operation Exodus" , which I originally read about a couple of days ago on TPM.
You can read more about "Operation Exodus" at the TPM link but in summary:
A Louisiana sheriff plans to arm volunteers with shotguns, riot shields, batons, and a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on a "war wagon," as part of "Operation Exodus," a program to provide security in the event of a terrorist attack or civic unrest. "It's a calling," he says.
You can read Sheriff Pusser's, I mean Deen's press release here
The press release added that Operation Exodus got its name in part "because of its Biblical relevance," explaining that "[i]n the book of Exodus, the Israelites were totally on their own, learning to be self-sufficient and handle everything alone, just as the plan provides."
Because as Frank Schaeffer points out in his discussion with Rachel, these people have lost faith in the institutions they revere like the police and fire departments, National Guard, US Military etc.?
If you watch the video it's really easy to mock the people in it as not being capable of fighting off a pootie attack on the barco lounger but then there are these guys:
Christian Hate Group ‘Repent Amarillo’ Terrorizes Texas Town, Harassing Gays, Liberals, And Other ‘Sinners’
An evangelical Christian hate group called "Repent Amarillo" is reportedly terrorizing the town of Amarillo, Texas. Repent fashions itself as a sort of militia and targets a wide range of community members they deem offensive to their theology: gays, liberal Christians, Muslims, environmentalists, breast cancer events that do not highlight abortion, Halloween, "spring break events," and pornography shops. On its website, Repent has posted a "Warfare Map" of its enemies in town.
I won't link to their website, but I did go to a link to littlegreenfootballs provided via Think Progress, and their longer list of sinful events to protest includes:
Some of the possible missions that these two groups may be called upon to work will be some of the following:
1. Gay pride events.
2. Earth worship events such as "Earth Day"
3. Pro-abortion events or places such as Planned Parenthood
4. Breast cancer events such as "Race for the Cure" to illuminate the link between abortion and breast cancer.
5. Opening day of public schools to reach out to students.
6. Spring break events.
7. Demonically based concerts.
8. Halloween events.
9. Other events that may arise that the ministry feels called to confront.
These large events may involve both the intercessory prayer AND the soldier groups. Some of the smaller events that can be accomplished in between the larger events may be:
1. Sexually oriented businesses such as pornography shops, strip joints, and XXX-rated theaters.
2. Idolatry locations such as palm readers, false religions, and witchcraft. Many of the smaller missions listed above may be just prayer oriented missions for tearing down demonic strongholds or they may involve more aggressive use of soldiers and prayer warriors. Some other missions occasionally employed may be "undercover operations" where the groups show up together but are not publicly visible together to effect the outcome of a public meeting such as city commissioners meetings, etc.
I think I'm safe in generalizing that these are also people who will wail on about their loss of "liberty" while not skipping an ironic beat. Especially as is noted here:
Calling Repent an "American Taliban," blogger Charles Johnson notes that the group’s moniker "Army of God" is a rough translation of "Hezbollah."
And this is comforting, given the guy's access:
Led by a man named David Grisham, a security guard at a nuclear-bomb facility called Pantex, Repent first gained media attention in Texas following a campaign to boycott Houston for electing a gay mayor.
Race for the Cure? Because #1) ALL women who get breast cancer must have had abortions and #2) If you're at a Race for the Cure event, you're really in the mood to be receptive to this idiocy.
So how do I tie this all together? I'm not sure other than it all scares the shit out of me and we can't ignore any of it. I will end with a reminder from one of my favorite "Harry Potter" characters, Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody ( the real one ) : constant vigilance!