Storm Clouds Gathering Over America
Mainstream Baptist printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 09:46:20 AM EST
A recently released Pew Research Center Report on Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes: 1987-2007 (122 page .pdf) proclaims in full caps "POLITICAL LANDSCAPE MORE FAVORABLE TO DEMOCRATS" and Salon Magazine is running a story about "How Bush helped the GOP commit suicide".

Meanwhile, Pat Robertson is raising the specter of a religious takeover of the U.S. government, Rick Scarborough is organizing "Patriot Pastors," and a former Navy Seal with deep ties to the Dominionist Right has used his half-billion dollar inheritance to build "the world's most powerful mercenary army."

Dark clouds are gathering over the political landscape of this country.

Those who think the Religious Right will go away peacefully into the night if they are soundly defeated at the ballot box need to consider the possibility that an extremely powerful mercenary army could be called upon at moment's notice to restore America to the "original vision" that Robertson, Scarborough and Blackwater founder Erik Prince sincerely believe to be valid.

If you think this possibility is remote, you need to read Jeremy Scahill's book "Blackwater:  The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army" with this characteristic of Dominionist thought in mind:

Some Reconstructionists realize that, sooner or later, there is bound to be a backlash against the kind of society that they intend to create. Many seem to be biding their time until public sentiment turns decisively against the kind of reforms they are seeking. When that happens, I believe that some, if given the opportunity, will be willing to take up arms and wage another civil war. Some of their literature indicates that they believe that such actions can be morally and theologically justified if they follow a lesser magistrate (like the Governor of a state) who claims to be following biblical law while refusing to submit to a rule of law that is imposed by a secular constitutional authority. This kind of crisis could easily be precipitated by the Governor of state, like Alabama, refusing to execute a Court order to remove a ten commandments monument from state government property.



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But I think this scenario is fairly remote in the near term. The only way I could see this scenario developing in the near term is if some entity actually began to attack churches & etc. in this country. That is not going to happen. More likely is that some smaller far-right religious militia, with a size less-than-or equal to 50 members starts some sort of armed resistance, or domestic terrorist action (OK-city style). Back in the days of the Clinton Administration I remember fulminations from the usual suspects about declaring a "Confessing Church" movement, a-la resistance against the Reich, and some calls for declaring the Clinton Administration an illegitimate government, but it was mainly a gesture from what I could tell, and since they were able to get Dubya in, the effort lost some of its momentum.

by SharonB on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 04:33:02 PM EST
Sharon,

I agreed with your position until I read the Blackwater book.  

That book gave me a different perspective.

by Mainstream Baptist on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 07:35:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

is the attempt to (Dominion-style) Christianize the US Armed Forces. I don't trust the patriotism of 100% of the brass, and where the brass lead, at least some of the enlisted will follow.

by NancyP on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 09:02:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Scahill's book is on my must read list. I don't trust the Dominionists to adhere to the Constitution.

by khughes1963 on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 09:52:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]




a committed domestic insurgency, jugding from Iraq.  Mercinaries by nature aren't a committed lot.  I predict terror possibly, but they can't fight those remaining loyal in the army.

by strayroots on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 11:37:52 PM EST


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