And YOU Think "They" Aren't Wiretapping YOU?

It’s fun, or it would be if the “public” - defined by at least one federal court as “…that vast multitude that includes the ignorant, the unthinking, and the credulous…” – were less so, to read drivel such as “Rage Grows in America: Anti-Government Conspiracies”, published by the Anti-Defamation League. http://www.adl.org/special_reports/rage-grows-in-America/default.asp

In dismantling this blatant attack on concerned Americans (not all of whom I agree with), I think it’s important to follow advice that was ubiquitous in my childhood: “Consider the source”.

First, as footnoted on the web page, “The Anti-Defamation League is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).” As such, it is reasonably to be assumed that any disagreement with government policy is viewed as a threat to the “special treatment” of this organization.

Continuing in a “bottoms up” fashion (they’ll probably liken this to “grass roots”), it’s worthy of note that the ADL asserts as a “most troubling aspects of the rise of anti-government sentiment in 2009” a “resurgence of the militia movement”. I’m not surprised that this statement (indeed, the particular subject) is found in the last paragraph of the “Special Report”. The assertion that “Within the past two years, the movement has almost quadrupled in size…” gives lie to the entire work, showing that its focus of “anti-Obama” is misplaced. It is barely one year since Obama’s “election”, not yet even eleven months since the concert on the mall, yet the alleged “-near-quadrupling” of the “militia movement” is attributed – by the ADL – as being motivated by a personal, or perhaps racial, animus. This “fact” (if such it is) conflicts with the premise.

It could be, I suppose, that the allegedly exponential growth in the “militia movement” includes ADL’s immediately prior category, “Three Percenters”. This “loosely organized movement” is apparently not so loose as to avoid ADL labeling them(?) as “committed to the restoration of the Founders’ Republic”, or to prevent ADL as quoting an unidentified member(?) as “willing to fight, die, and if forced by any would-be oppressor, to kill…”.

Having narrowed the field, the next target (actually, previous; we’re critiquing “bottoms up”, remember) is “The Oathkeepers”, described as “an anti-government group that tries to recruit police and military personnel and veterans…”, while completely avoiding the fact that it is their Oath to “protect and defend the Constitution” that these fine Americans propose to honor – if, or when, “orders” that would violate that Oath are given. I find it curious that the ADL would oppose “police and military personnel”, in particular, refusing to obey unlawful or unconstitutional orders. I cannot conceive that the ADL has forgotten Nuremburg, or the reasons that name lives in all history.

“Resisting the Government” presupposes that, prior to Obama, there was no such desire. On the contrary, a great many Americans (and Freedom lovers the world over) found the previous administration at least as dangerous to Liberty; not a few recognized that encroaching danger several administrations, even generations, before that. Viewed in context, this particular “cause for alarm” is a transparent attempt to paint genuine concern for Liberty as racist; so transparent, in fact, that notable numbers of “people of color” see through it.

“Anti-Government Conpiracies” relies upon supposition that “Anti-government conspiracy theories seem clearly to have played a role…” in a shootout in Pittsburgh. Even assuming the supposition as true, it is just as likely that the well-publicized militarization of civilian police departments led to the event. Police no longer respond to domestic disturbances as peacemakers; they come in armor, and anyone who watches television news knows it.

Indeed, opposition to a “training exercise”, to be conducted in Iowa, off of any military installation, is viewed as a “wild and fantastical” (sic), and “reinterpreted by conspiracy theorists as an exercise in confiscating firearms from American citizens”, forgetting entirely the willful – and unlawful – disarmament of Citizens protecting their New Orleans homes after Katrina. This one covers as well the “Conspiracy Theories Imagine Government Plots” heading, given the known facts.

Blaming “anti-Obama” on “the extremist fringe”, ADL attacks by name Alex Jones (when they should know how much Alex will love this and the business it brings him!), but has enough blame to cover “mainstream media” in general and Glenn Beck in particular (who will also, I presume and hope, capitalize) for “a surprisingly active role in generating such…”. This assumes, of course, that “mainstream media” still possesses a credibility that no one I know – not even hard core “koolaid drinkers” – afford them. And Beck merely demonstrates that concerns for Liberty are FAR more wide than a government-sponsored entity such as ADL would care to admit.

Likewise the characterization of “The “Birther” Movement”. In ADL’s opinion, and that of many others, the fact that the published “copy” of Obama’s birth certificate appears oddly different from contemporaneous Hawaii birth certificates is only a manifestation of racism. My observation is that too few Americans really give a damn whether he’s American or not, and I find that more troubling than I can express.

For the top three categories, it’s clear that subjugating every American man, woman, and child – including those yet to be born – to a debt to “bailout” those who should have known, and I believe did know, better, and holding all of us hostage, against our national will, is ok with ADL. It’s clear that, to ADL, opposition to government seizing control of personal health decisions – in the name of supporting the econonmy all but destroyed by those recipients of that unwilling “bailout” - is no reason to be unhappy with government.
It’s clear that, to ADL, opposing the making of “willful failure to pay” and “health insurance evasion” crimes under the tax code, is merely “anti-Obama”.

As much as I’ve admired them in the past, ADL is just wrong.

If you’re not somehow described in ADL’s “Special Report”, you’re un-American.