I've known plenty of people over the years had their rights abused under color of authority. I've known people who went to jail for exercising their constitutional rights. I've also known people who took their cases to the US Supreme Court and WON.
I like to believe we still have a modicum of freedom, but I am not naive. I've seen what excessive force looks like up close. I've felt the thud of a truncheon on the occipital bone. You really do see stars. You also lose your peripheral vision. The only reason I didn't pass out when the officer tagged from behind was I was intently focused on the trigger of the AR-15 pointed at me from the front.
Oh...and up until that point I was doing everything exactly as I was being told. Calmly and slowly and clearly. See I figured they told me to take off my glasses because they knew they had screwed up and didn't want me able to read their badges. I was so focused on the rifle, I didn't think someone might hit me.
I share this to make it clearn I'm sensitive to victims of police abuse. I think it's important given the recent posting about the alleged abuse of Steven Anderson Something in his story smelled wrong, so I checked the source. I had no idea how right I was.
I want to be clear about my objections here because it is not my usual practice to question the integrity of people who claim abuse at the hands of the authorities -- especially when they are active solid members of their community. Having said that, let me start raising some concerns:
First, if you are given lawful orders by a uniformed officer, you have to obey them. If you want to argue with them, you have your representation do that later. Of course, that will require some evidence.
Second, if you are going to create a video record for evidentiary purposes, you do it in a way that meets the rules of evidence.
Third, if you actually sustain injuries and receive medical attention... there is a paper trail of discoverable evidence.
Finally, if you have a congregation of followers who can attest to your virtue, you want to wrap them around you when you show up in court and make sure the media is along for the ride.
Why? Because a cop that beats the crap out of a defenseless, law-abiding, white preacher man is going to bring down a whole lot of unwanted attention on his bosses. That's no way to advance your career.
The video posted struck me as odd. Something doesn't ring true. Something smells wrong. Either the guy's story is out of whack or ... something else is going on.
Since he identified himself on the video, I figured it was worth looking around to see what was already available regarding Pastor Steven Anderson. I didn't have to go far. This isn't his first YouTube video. Turns out he is quite the YouTube afficionado. sanderson1611 has posted ALOT of stuff.
Joined: August 16, 2007
Last Sign In: 4 hours ago
Videos Watched: 3,937
Subscribers: 855
Channel Views: 85,135
855 subscribers? That's a fair amount. He's also got 371 videos posted to YouTube, so he is sure feeding the flock. Of particular interest to me is his list of "Favorites". I put up a few to make this point: I think the encounter was no accident. I think it was a set up. I think we may be seeing the beginning of a wave of people provoking incidents to justify the ravings of people like Beck. If this gets a lot of play on FOX, I will consider that evidence in support of my suspicions. I suggest you read the essay first, then check out the videos if you are inclined.
Keyes: Stop Obama or the US will cease to exist? Hooo...boy. Crazy is as crazy does. But wait, there's more.
Ok... now you might say... Hey... if someone looked at the stuff you write let alone watch, they could paint you as one sick sonuvabitch...what's your point?
Well, it turns out over the last few months the good Pastor Anderson has had quite an interest in the DHS.
DHS Checkppoint Blog entry 14?????
On November 26th, I was stopped & seized for about the 50th time since the beginning of 2008. The seizure took place at an internal suspicionless Homeland Security checkpoint along Southern Arizona's SR86 near mile post 146. SR86 is an East-West public highway located over 40 miles North of the border and never intersects the border at any point.
During the stop, Agent Gilmore admitted he knew who I was & all three agents told me I wasn't being detained. Nonetheless, these facts didn't stop the agents from refusing to allow me to go about my lawful business, choosing instead to escalate the encounter by requesting that I move to secondary inspection for more intensive scrutiny absent my consent or any articuable suspicion.
While continuing to deny that I was being detained and refusing to allow me to leave, the agents threatened me with arrest for impeding their operations.
After close to eight minutes of being unlawfully detained, a Border Patrol supervisor eventually arrives on-scene and wastes no time in telling me that I'm free to go with no further scrutiny.
Ok... now that sounds a hell of a lot like the story from TWO DAYS AGO. Same beginning and everything. Hmmmmm......
I'm starting to wonder if maybe we're looking at more than a simple law-abiding preacher spreading the word of The Lord and seeking to save souls.
Abusive Border Patrol Agents w/ Nun Chucks at NM Checkpoint
This is a 27 minute video of him and NM border patrols.
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." - 4th amendment of the US Constitution
Highlights:
(5:35) Agent whips out his nun chucks in anger
(7:45-8:00) The agent tells me in less than perfect English, "In the Border Patrol Checkpoint, the person's rights doesn't matter here."
(16:50-17:10) I'm told that the police will arrive in less than 10 minutes to arrest me
(19:00-19:40) I'm accused of being a terrorist
(26:20) I'm told that I'm free to go without being searched
Thank God we live in a free country! But how long will our freedom last if we ignore our Bill of Rights?
The highest power in the US government is the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land...not border patrol agents on a power trip that are about 75 miles from the border.
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Pro 29:12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
Ok... now I'm starting to think this is no casual encounter. Especially given the category: Non-profits and Activism. I'm also less inclined to believe this was an over reaction by authorities seeking to create a situation. I'm thinking we have someone with missionary zeal seeking to stir the pot.
That's a problem for a whole lot of reasons. Not the least of which is it diminishes legitimate protesters. It also gives fuel for crazy actors. I think we are going to see more of this in the future. May as well get used to looking for it.
UPDATE: This is the corker
From his wife's blog
My kids had the following conversation at the store yesterday, very loudly, and within ear shot of several other customers:
John (4 years old): Barack Obama, and the devil, and the government are worser than anything else in the world.
Isaac (5 years old): Mom, John actually told me that he thinks Barack Obama is worse than the faggots.
Ah, precious moments!
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6
By the way, don’t bother writing me angry comments about teaching my children to hate homosexuals.
When I said something didn't smell right, I had no idea how nasty this was going to get. I wish I could say I am surprised.
Oh... if you want a peek into the worldview that spawns this madness... and you have an hour you don't need. Here's another of Pastor Anderson's "favorites":
The Obama Deception HQ? This is a full-length "shockumentary" that wraps together a whole range of nutty ideas and serves them all up half-baked for people who will swallow anything. Seriously, if you have issues with the way Michael Moore manipulates the audience, don't watch this. Unfortunately, this guy is not going to cloud cuckoo land alone. As you can see from his wife's blog, he's bringing the whole family along for the ride.
