Extremist Groups in America—Militias, Hate Groups, Christian Identity—Who and What They’re About
Posted: Friday, April 02, 2010
by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective
Most Americans are aware of Muslim extremists who blow themselves up killing innocent men, women, and children in hopes of getting their beliefs to the forefront. We see this type of extreme behavior every week on television occurring in Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Americans fear that one day this type of extremism will become commonplace in the US. Government agents work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure it does not occur inside America's borders. While everyone knows of this type of extremism, how many know of the other extremist groups fermenting within America 's borders.
Christian Identity Groups: These groups are composed of individuals expressing a theological movement based on a distorted interpretation of the bible, quite often racist. Rhetoric often foretells of a race war between white people and those of color. These groups include The Aryan Nations, Posse Comitatus, Church of Christ 's Christians, and the World Church of the Creator.
Survivalist and Militia Groups: These paramilitary groups call for American Patriots to arm themselves and protect themselves from the federal government. They feel the government has too much power and one day will enact martial law or something similar, and take away freedom, as we know it. This is a simplified version of their goals; however, these are their core basic beliefs. These groups are not to be mistaken for people who believe government has too much control, is moving away from self-determination, or in their opinion, away from true democracy and want to work to change things traditionally. Survivalist and Militia Groups are radical in their view of what is occurring and what to do about it.
Traditional Hate Groups: These groups have a historical linkage with hate and white supremacy. They include various neo-Nazi groups, the New Order, The United Racist Party, the White People's Party, and the infamous Ku Klux Klan. Skinheads fall under this category.
These groups and others like them are all over America . They are not just concentrated in certain States. They are in urban and rural settings. As you read this article, some are hatching plans to hurt innocent men, women, children or government officials. Groups like these have been around since just after America 's inception. The odds are they will still be here after we are all dead and buried. Reasonable men and women need to realize the reality of their existence and back those who strive to make sure they do not hurt others.
This Article has been viewed 4,419 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)Great article, Steve.Even with news riddled with so much violence I was stunned to hear of a group wanting to kill police officers. I knew such groups existed, but had not thought of them in a while. Such small-minded thinking. I even heard a guy on the radio talking as if this group had been "mis-represented" by the media.Anyway, good stuff here, Steve.Thanks for reading and writing Ken.Steve
Excellent article. I wonder about these groups often and wonder why they aren't talked about as much as other (mostly foreign) extremists. Protesters burning cars and holding signs of murder (from the left, of course), along with the tea party movement (from the right) get much more airplay, yet these groups you mention are much more serious and much more destructive.It is disturbing that these groups are, in many cases, right down the road from where we might live. Great job, sir.Hi Mike and thanks for writing. Yes, at times they are right down the street or next door perhaps.........
Ever since the beginning of time, there has always been the battle between good and evil. It is almost cliche. The power of evil grows as it feeds on hatred and fear. And just as evil seems to be unstoppable greed and vanity become it's downfall. Caesar met his fate from daggers of assassins, Napoleon was defeated because he had to take Russia, and Hitler met his downfall with the help of us crazy doughboy Americans. I have faith that the moronic KKK, skinheads, teapartiers, and whoever brings travesty to innocent people will also go down. Just as Iranians who's ambition is to nuke the world will be taken out before they can develop a nuclear bomb; probably by Israel who does not wish to be the first victims. As for me, I am going to enjoy the peace and chocolate of Easter even though I am Jewish.Very interesting about greed and vanity becoming its downfall--I learn new stuff all the time. Enjoy the chocolate and send any left overs my way. Thanks for writing.
I appreciated this article, thanks. It helps bring perspective.Thank you Jennifer!!!!----And thanks to everyone else who posted comments for this article--I responded to all of them--somehow they all deleted.
Great article! I have been studying about these groups. The internet has some fascinating insights into the right wing mindset. I just finished reading the internet dtory "Battle Jakes". These people really are stockpiling guns and ammunition.Thanks for reading and your kind comment!Steve
I am a steadfast Christian, well i try to b but nobody's perfect, but this makes me sick. seeing these groups that give my ideals and in the end, my God, a bad name. i refuse to accept these pharisees and hypocrites as Christians. i am pained to see these people killing and maiming, claiming to do God's will. i just hope some people come soon who can make God's name good again after these people's tarnish.Hopefully, people or a person comes on the scene to make things right--thanks for writing.
Steve
im in the north carolina militia and we arent nut jobs we help out who we can and we help out our lawenforcement dont judge people you dont even know. we are a constitutional Militia we dont go out killin people we look after the people. The word MILITIA means alot of things. and thare are alot of nut jobs out thare that form a militia but thare not a constitutional militia like my unit is.
The "unorganized" or reserve militia is a legal and lawful part of the armed forces of this nation. It is a military organization recognized by the Second Amendment of the Constitution; Title 10 Section 311 USC; The Dick Act of 1903; The National Defense Act of 1916; and affirmed by numerous court decisions.There is no ambiguity, the "unorganized" citizens militia is not the National Guard or the state "select" militia under the governor, or part of the "organized" armed forces of the federal government. It is literally the entire body of the armed citizenry Although the "unorganized" militia can be called up for lawful (Constitutional) purposes, it is not under the direct control of any state or political jurisdiction. It represents the authority and power of the people over the government and stands as the last defense of the citizens of this country against any domestic tyrants.
Good reminder that there are more forms that only nut-jobs...thanks--I know someone in one of these units you talk about in another state and they are helpful and try to be as professional as possible.
My argument for describing survivalists groups or militias as a homegrown extremist groups. That's assuming they all go by the same charter. Obviously there have been groups that completely lost track of reality but to lump them with religious fanatics simply because they think the worst WILL happen, not just might happen, is a travesty. Are you really scared of a neighbor with a fully stocked bomb shelter? If you remember, 20 years ago such behavior wasn't so crazy. I mean what's your fear here? They might lock themselves in the basement over a plane crash in the neighborhood?
Now on to militias. Here's an excellent question. Do you believe it is impossible for the US government, or an entity identifying itself as such, to declare martial law and try to strip everyone of their constitutional rights? Because the Germans would have told you the same thing right before Hitler rose to power (believe it or not the whole country was NOT supportive of that movement, and in fact it was a small minority that gave rise to Hitler.) Let's consider our own past. The Civil War. Sure the North won (I'm from Ohio, born and raised), but was the South not legitimized in their acts? Did the law at the time not provide for the Confederate cessation from the Union? Also understanding that slavery would have died off, and likely with less residual racism and resentment, of course this is a belief that many share, yet still just one likelihood, regardless of the so called "fight to end slavery" everyone believes was part of Lincolns reasoning. I do not at all believe Lincoln, or any president, would have allowed so much bloodshed over something that would have been best corrected through diplomacy. I digress though. The fact is that the government doesn't know you as an individual. They'll never see your face even as they tread on your freedoms. What nation in the world that's stood the test of time and strife has done so through quick assembly of force against a common enemy? Even we, during the Revolution, had time to assemble a regular force. When a militia makes a large purchase of tanks, anti-tank equipment, stringer (anti-air) missiles, and other offensive weapons I'll worry, until then let them be ready to survive the worst they can imagine. If you chose to ignore the worst case scenarios you can foresee then feel free. Bury your head in the sand, it's your right. Just don't identify anyone with a healthy fear of their government as a possible extremist... That's how we end up with soldiers coming back from deployment with an automatic "potential domestic threat" tag in the Homeland Security database.
See google search "Veterans on homeland security radar".
Oh and if you chose not to bury your head in the sand, you don't have to join a group. Just learn basic survival techniques that also could apply to any disaster, natural or otherwise. You don't have to buy 50 cal sniper rifles. Just know that in a worst case scenario people might seek to take advantage of you. Get some basic firearms skills. For some reason people will call anyone that has such skills out of the military a nut. They think that if their neighbor has a full weapons safe in their basement that they're the next Timothy McVeigh.
I recommend in order to see the other side of this article, a counter-informative web-site if you will, google for survival info it's the second link displayed, where they have a wealth of knowledge on such things.
As to the line "These groups are not to be mistaken for people who believe government has too much control, is moving away from self-determination, or in their opinion, away from true democracy and want to work to change things traditionally." I have two comments. The first is that a democracy is the worst form of government, and that we're a Republic. The second being that I definitely fall into both categories listed. I'm a member of the Tea Party group however. I was a member of the Army and served in Iraq. Call me nuts but I've seen what is possible with bureaucracy
in charge of an Army. Remember, none of the soldiers were told/ordered to shoot at Kent State University either, and the mistake was having them there at all. That's what a bureaucracy does though, they put innocent people in harms way, and then they worry about numbers, not individuals. In Iraq if there was a friendly fire incident and a bomb was dropped near 3 people and one could be saved, who would they save? To make it more complicated, one person is a US citizen, another a terrorist, and the last an Iraqi civilian. Want to know the right answer? I'm not sure how it is as of today, but before it would have been decided by a lawyer in Washington DC. His job would be to minimize collateral damages, such as the current administrations image on the US stage and World stage respectively. Another goal overseas is to change our enemies minds so they don't hate us as much. I could go on and on about how dangerous it is to just chalk everything up to "I'm just one person, I can't do anything about what the government does... I vote and that's good enough." Luckily I don't need to, the founding fathers already warned us against it. Thus the 2nd amendment is the most direct written yet also the most liberally interpreted right we have. I wish that someone would start passing laws with a liberal interpretation of the 1st amendment. That would wake everyone up. Suddenly Fred Phelps and his "merry" gang of brainwash victims wouldn't get the judicial "Okay!" to protest military funerals.To the writer. This wasn't directed completely at you, but to anyone who comes here and goes "Oh yeah those crazy clingers and their guns" and never tries to learn any better.Thanks anonymous from Tennessee--getting everyone's opinion out in the light is the way to go--thanks for offering your views.
Steve
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.