As many of you know, Markos has a new book coming out. The American Taliban
It's not hyperbole. It's not sensationalism. It's not hyper-partisanship.
It's true.
And it's scary.
Check out our American Pantie Sniffers....... Complete with guns and militarism!!!!
Meet Repent Amarillo.
Go on, click on the link if you have a strong stomach. These are the people that those of us in the secular community have been warning this country about for a very long time. They're the very definition of Markos' upcoming book The American Taliban.
Markos:
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m putting the finishing touches on my new book, American Taliban, which catalogues the ways in which modern-day conservatives share the same agenda as radical Jihadists in the Islamic world. But I found myself making certain claims about Republicans that I didn’t know if they could be backed up. So I thought, “why don’t we ask them directly?” And so, this massive poll, by non-partisan independent pollster Research 2000 of over 2,000 self-identified Republicans, was born.
P.Z. Myers' blog Pharyngula has highlighted these enlightened individuals and as usual, takes them down:
You know, Texas has a reputation of being a nasty place full of particularly ignorant rednecks, which I don't blindly agree with — I know too many smart Texans, and it does have many good organizations, like the Texas Freedom Network — but this is a blight that smirches even that already sooty name. I am speaking of a vicious vigilante organization called Repent Amarillo. Look upon that link and quiver with disgust.
It's saturated with military imagery: men in uniform, humvees, helicopters, helmets; they compare themselves to special forces; they call themselves the Army of God, and sport Bible quotes glorifying warfare. They aren't military, but they pretend they are, and bring shame to both our soldiers and their faith. They're actually just cowardly busybodies who snoop and whine at their neighbors, and harass their employers until they get fired. They are not nice people. They're actually some of the worst kind of people.
From Repent Amarillo's own site:
Notice: This site is not designed for non-christians, It is designed as a recruitment tool to call certain Christians to spiritual warfare, If you are not a Christian and you want to know more about becoming a Christian consider the following Links as resources. While some of them support our efforts, and some may not, it is not about us and it is not about them. It is about Jesus Christ.
Now, I know that there are many moderate Christians here on Daily Kos. There are far more moderate Christians in this country. That's no excuse for this tripe.
Hey, moderate Christians? These people, whether you like it or not, are part of your pack. They are rabid dogs. You need to do what is required with this particular sect of your religion. Put them in the pen and lock the gates.
This is your responsibility. They won't listen to this godless liberal. Hell, they may not listen to you. But this is eerily reminiscent of an early time in American history. These folks are outing gays, consenting adults, video taping, taking down license plate numbers and publishing addresses of people that they consider apostates to the faith. Now, to access license plate numbers, they have to be getting help from local law enforcement. (That in and of itself should scare the shit out of you.) In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if some local police aren't involved in this nefarious group's activities.
It's not the responsibility the secular community or atheists to get these people in check. It is the responsibility of the moderate/mainstream religious community.
They belong to a religious tribe. And that tribe needs to convene, condemn and demonize this nonsense.
I don't know how you'll do it, but do it you must.
They need to be outcast. They need to be monitored by law enforcement. They need an intervention.
I don't give a rip about the outcome.
This is making the rounds on the blogs. Here's another link at my friend Laffy's blog The Political Carnival. Complete with nifty tidbits that I omitted.
Lastly, I would like to add this bit of prescient prognostication:
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.” -Sinclair Lewis