🚀 go-pugleaf

John M Atkinson wrote:
> 
> Thus Spake mshinn@osf1.gmu.edu (Michael T Shinn):
> 
> %John M Atkinson (jatkinso@ANTISPAMgmu.edu) wrote:
> %: %Ruby Ridge. Waco.
> %
> %: Something a little more obviously a long-term policy.  Any one who thinks
> taking
> %: down a handful of fanatics is just cause for revolt has mental problems.
> %
> %Thats awfully myopic of you.  Regardless of my or your particulat fellings
> %out these individuals personal religous or governmental opinions is no
> %cause for hunting them down, demonizing them, surrounding them with tanks,
> %and shooting and burning their children alive.
> 
> The fire started inside the compound.  And there were no 'tanks' present.  I
> shouldn't have to explain the definition of tank to an infantry type.
> 
> %I agree that these groups held some peculiar, and in Koreshs case
> %ridiculous, notions - but thats no reason to start seeing them as "enemies
> %of the State".   Christ, we treat Serial Murders better in this country,
> %but if you hole in a building and have some rather odd opinions suddenly
> %that demonizes and makes it OK to treat you like an Animal?
> 
> I didn't say it was the ideal way of handling a situation.  Just that it comes
> no where even remotely close to my criteria for justification for armed revolt.

How many repetitions of that or worse would it take to begin to come
remotely close to your justifications for armed revolt?

Would you consider armed revolt before or after the potential
usefulness/success threshold of armed revolt had passed?

Let's say that often there is no need to bare the blade if the mere
rattle of the saber can avoid open conflict. Diplomacy, often a language
of subtle threat nicely-conveyed, works within nations as well as
between them.

Basically, the way I see it, popular anger and agitation have in this
case probably reversed the perceived alarming slide towards excessive
authoritatian misuse of untrammelled Federal police powers. Hearings
were at last held on both the Ruby Ridge Incident and the Waco Massacre
and while justice may not have been fully served, enough changes have
resulted to keep the vast majority satisfied and at peace. Had those
hearings not taken place, who knows what might have occurred?

> 
> John M. Atkinson
> jatkinso@gmu.edu
> "A nation which despises its soldiers will all too soon
> have a despicable army
>                  --Jerry Pournelle

-- 
Be kind to your       | When the going gets weird the weird turn pro.
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they be transgenic    | Now. chock full of uninteresting links.
chimerae.             |-- Genesis 19:1-13 - Hebrews 13:2 -- 
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Usually I work within the system when it's not trying to get me killed.