Why Quakers Don't
Jennifer stated the following in a comment in a previous blog entry here:
Personally, I have no problem with anyone spying on me because I’m not doing anything wrong. But if an email I send or a blog post I write expressing my disagreement with Bush, the administration, or the military lands me on some terrorist “watch list”, as happened to a group of Quakers peacefully protesting military recruitment at high schools, you’d better believe there will be hell to pay!
So what's Jennifer talking about? Ask Craig Cheslog or Demagogue about a December 14, 2005 report from NBC News:
A year ago, at a Quaker Meeting House in Lake Worth, Fla., a small group of activists met to plan a protest of military recruiting at local high schools. What they didn't know was that their meeting had come to the attention of the U.S. military.
A secret 400-page Defense Department document obtained by NBC News lists the Lake Worth meeting as a “threat” and one of more than 1,500 “suspicious incidents” across the country over a recent 10-month period.
“This peaceful, educationally oriented group being a threat is incredible,” says Evy Grachow, a member of the Florida group called The Truth Project....
The Defense Department document is the first inside look at how the U.S. military has stepped up intelligence collection inside this country since 9/11, which now includes the monitoring of peaceful anti-war and counter-military recruitment groups....
The Department of Defense declined repeated requests by NBC News for an interview. A spokesman said that all domestic intelligence information is “properly collected” and involves “protection of Defense Department installations, interests and personnel.” The military has always had a legitimate “force protection” mission inside the U.S. to protect its personnel and facilities from potential violence. But the Pentagon now collects domestic intelligence that goes beyond legitimate concerns about terrorism or protecting U.S. military installations, say critics.
Well, Jennifer, I stand corrected. I figured that the Federal Government wouldn't have the time to engage in stupid investigations, but it looks like I was wrong. A quick review of some of the logged information shows that some investigators have too much time on their hands. For example, International Action Center in Boston appeared in the log because of a December 8, 2004 "call for action." This is a group founded by Ramsey Clark, and despite their published leftist rhetoric, I doubt that they're capable of much more than holding hands and shouting a lot.
And as for the Quakers, here's their violent message:
Quakers: Religious Witnesses for Peace Since 1660
And this one's even more sinister:
QUAKERS: We Save Sinners At Potluck Dinners
Now, of course, the question has arisen regarding whether this blog post has landed me on a watch list. Perhaps not, but I'm sure that this will land me on something:
Matthew 24:30 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
30"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
Not only am I quoting from a book that mentions that all nations will be in mourning, the book also talks about an attack:
Revelation 19:14-15 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter."[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
Footnotes:
a. Revelation 19:15 Psalm 2:9
But surely the United States is a Christian nation that would be spared, wouldn't it? Wouldn't the President and Congress and the Supreme Court ascend up into heaven while the lesser nations such as Canada were subjected to trials and tribulations? Well, here's what the atheists say about Christian Nationalism:
For Christian Nationalists, America is God's chosen country which he has blessed beyond all others for our faith and belief in him. American leaders directly empowered by God to do his work here on earth. Anyone who opposes the work of American leaders must, therefore, also be opposing the will of God. This makes them simultaneously blasphemers and traitors.
As should be evidence, such an ideology conflates America and Christianity to a great extent - a Christian Nationalist is quite unable to differentiate between American Patriotism and Chrisitan Ideals. They portray America as ever being under attack by enemies - whether enemies of the body politic or enemies of God (rhetoric usually starts out by describing someone as belonging to one of those two categories, but by the end they become a member of the other as well).
Christian Nationalism owes a great deal to Christian Reconstructionism - and, in fact, can probably be regarded as a form of Reconstructionism. They share with Reconstructionists the idea that American laws should be modeled on biblical laws and the primary difference seems to be that whereas Reconstructionists emphasize in their writings the Bible and biblical laws, Christian Nationalists give equal weight to American patriotism and the Bible. Reconstructionists might actually argue that the Christian Nationalists are making idols out patriotic symbols like the American flag, but in the end the goals of both groups are largely the same: making this a Christian Nation in every fundamental sense.
So here I am, quoting selectively from sources when it suits my purpose. Heh.
Comments