Branch Davidians - Terrorists?

Lately we have been regaled on the many facets of terrorim and terrorists.  What it is and who they are.  We know that Mohammed Atta and bin Laden are.  And many accept that Timothy McVeigh is one as well.  Along with Eric Rudolph.  And others that we can determine picked an indiscrimiante target that had nothing to do with their perceived injustice.

But recently, I was informed that the Branch Davidians of Waco were Terrorists.  Huh?

Now I will grant you that I am not an expert on the issue of Waco, or of the creed of the Branch Davidians.  However, I do not recall them ever carrying out acts of terrorism prior to their immolation at the hands of the Elian Gonzalez snatching Justice department.  My memory of the event is that they were "accused" of some serious crimes, never proven (dead men tell no tales).  And they do have an idea of salvation that is not in any way in line with my own.

But Terrorists?  Does that make Jim Jones one?  Or is this a new form of newspeak where mistakes, innocent or incompetant, are now being swept under a rug of "post facto" evil?  Could they have been "terrorists"?  Only God knows for sure.  But why are they now being branded terrorists when all they wanted to do, by all accounts of worth, was to pray in their own way?

I have not condemned the ATF in the past for Waco.  I do not now.  It was not their call. Nor have I heaped a bunch of scorn and pointed fingers at Janet Reno for her decision, ham handed as it was.  They were defying the law, and the tragedy could have been avoided if they had complied with the authorities.  But why now do we have to hide this tragedy under a veil of "terrorism" when to all accounts, none existed.  Just another cult trying to live its way, outside of the laws of the country.

Why now are we trying to justify an incident that needs no justification.  Other than to perhaps paint the authorities of that time in a better light?

8,121 views 32 replies
Reply #1 Top
psttttttt?????// DAVIDIANS.... the only terrorist there was the ATF. THE FBI. AND THE DOJ.
Reply #2 Top
DG is it Davidians or Dividians? Are they the same? I thought it was Davidians?

WWW Link
Reply #3 Top
I do not think they fall into the category of terrorists, they terrorised no-one.
Reply #4 Top

psttttttt?????// DAVIDIANS.... the only terrorist there was the ATF. THE FBI. AND THE DOJ.

I would not even go that far.  I think that Janet Reno blew it, but that was a judgement call (which does go to my lack of faith in her judgement and the one who picked her).  But there was no terrorism there.  Just a sad black eye for America.

Reply #6 Top
MM and Poison - Brain fart!  I even googled some of the stuff and typed it right!  Sorry for the misspelling.
Reply #7 Top
psttttttt?????// DAVIDIANS.... the only terrorist there was the ATF. THE FBI. AND THE DOJ.


I'll wager if the ATF, FBI, et. al. had of calmed down and backed off and just let the local authorities deal with it then the whole thing would have turned out better.

I'll wager   
Reply #8 Top

Reply By: ShovelheatPosted: Monday, June 18, 2007
psttttttt?????// DAVIDIANS.... the only terrorist there was the ATF. THE FBI. AND THE DOJ.


I'll wager if the ATF, FBI, et. al. had of calmed down and backed off and just let the local authorities deal with it then the whole thing would have turned out better.

I'll wager

No bet joe, cause I do believe you are right.

Reply #9 Top
I'll wager if the ATF, FBI, et. al. had of calmed down and backed off and just let the local authorities deal with it then the whole thing would have turned out better.


I dont take sucker bets.
Reply #10 Top
Re(Citizen)Poison5June 18, 2007


yes mam!

Reply #11 Top
Terrorists? They holed up and tried to separate and cut themselves off from the rest of the world, how is that terrorism? I think someone out there is reading more into things than exist?
Reply #12 Top
Brain fart!


We all get them hey doc!
Reply #13 Top
Never, ever compare me to a NAZI, in any way.. not even in fun I do not appreciate it, far as I know NO JEW DOES.

Docg and I go back a long way, and my correction of Davidian was the right thing to do. He would not like his article to stay with a misspelled headline, I know the man.
Reply #14 Top
Never, ever compare me to a NAZI, in any way.. not even in fun I do not appreciate it, far as I know NO JEW DOES.

Docg and I go back a long way, and my correction of Davidian was the right thing to do. He would not like his article to stay with a misspelled headline, I know the man.


I would suggest she is making light of her own Spelling Nazism on the doc, she did after all point out Doc's mistakes too. I would not take this to heart, spelling nazi is a phrase that is used the world over on the net, and it has been used by many of us here on JU at one time or another.

MM you are far to precious to most folk on JU for them to set out and insult you like that and although Poison is fairly new here I think she likes to keep things light and breezy, not to cause hurt to anyone.

Reply #15 Top
I have to wonder if there were a Muslim compound with that many weapons stockpiled if we would hesitate to call them terrorists.

I don't think the Branch Davidians were terrorists. From what I know, they were stockpiling the weapons to protect themselves not to attack others. Terrorists use violence to intimidate and coerce. I think we have to be careful with the terms we use. It takes the power away from the word when you use it to describe people who haven't actually terrorized anyone. Though I guess an argument could be made that David Koresh terrorized some of his own followers.
Reply #16 Top
The Davidians were upgraded to terrorist because of politics.
It aids in clouding and distracting the real issue of terrorism.
Reply #17 Top
Reply #14
Never, ever compare me to a NAZI, in any way.. not even in fun I do not appreciate it, far as I know NO JEW DOES.

Docg and I go back a long way, and my correction of Davidian was the right thing to do. He would not like his article to stay with a misspelled headline, I know the man.


  

MM - never never would I dream of doing something so awful.

Please forgive me if this caused you to take offense, it was not directed at you at all, I was as J1 said referring to my own pointing out of the spelling of Davidians in good humor to keep things light.

I do not believe in causing hurt to others and I if I do so it is always done so unintentionally or through misunderstanding. Again please accept my apology.
Reply #18 Top

Never, ever compare me to a NAZI, in any way.. not even in fun I do not appreciate it, far as I know NO JEW DOES.

MM, both you and she pointed out my mistake, and I dont think it was directed specifically at you.  However, I understand your sensitivity to it, and I have deleted the post.

Poison, I am not upset with you, but I greatly respect MM, and in light of his feelings on the subject, I felt that it would be better to remove it.

Again, thank you both for pointing out my spelling mistakes.

Reply #19 Top
However, I understand your sensitivity to it, and I have deleted the post.
Poison, I am not upset with you, but I greatly respect MM, and in light of his feelings on the subject, I felt that it would be better to remove it.


Thanks DG, I hate to think I may have hurt someone inadvertantly.
Reply #20 Top

Terrorists? They holed up and tried to separate and cut themselves off from the rest of the world, how is that terrorism? I think someone out there is reading more into things than exist?

If only all Terrorists were like that.

Reply #21 Top

I have to wonder if there were a Muslim compound with that many weapons stockpiled if we would hesitate to call them terrorists.

Given they did with the Branch Davidians, would they not for ANY organization? 

Which now is a good time to tell where I got this tid bit.  It was on a CBT that all IT people are required to take in this state on Terrorism.  And another example of stupidity starting with this governor.  His other examples I would not argue with (McVeigh, ELF, John Allen Mohammed), although some were stretching the point (Property Rights Extremists?  Again, they did not go out looking for victims, they just shot the cops when they showed up to take their land).

But as I was very much around in 93 with the Davidians, and it was a tragedy of errors, there is no history of the cult that would indicate they were going to start shooting up malls.  INdeed, as Jennifer pointed out, they were just holed up in their compound, allegedly breaking the law, but not killing people randomly.

Ted Matthews Strikes again! Duh!

Reply #22 Top

The Davidians were upgraded to terrorist because of politics.
It aids in clouding and distracting the real issue of terrorism.

Which means that when real terrorists are about to strike, no one will know the truth as we will all be out chasing phantoms.

Reply #23 Top

Thanks DG, I hate to think I may have hurt someone inadvertantly.

You are welcome, and thank you for understanding.

Reply #24 Top

Reply By: Poison5Posted: Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Reply #14
Never, ever compare me to a NAZI, in any way.. not even in fun I do not appreciate it, far as I know NO JEW DOES.

Docg and I go back a long way, and my correction of Davidian was the right thing to do. He would not like his article to stay with a misspelled headline, I know the man.




MM - never never would I dream of doing something so awful.

Please forgive me if this caused you to take offense, it was not directed at you at all, I was as J1 said referring to my own pointing out of the spelling of Davidians in good humor to keep things light.

I do not believe in causing hurt to others and I if I do so it is always done so unintentionally or through misunderstanding. Again please accept my apology.

No problem, honest. PEACE! poison

Thanx doc for allowing me to get all snotty on your space.

Reply #25 Top
(Citizen)little-whipJune 19, 2007 18:08:46


~ahem

(pokes head in gingerly)

Since no one really answered the question, the name of the group is easy to remember, as it it's proper spelling. They called themselves Davidians because they followed David Koresh, whom they believed to be the next messiah. David-ians. They were originally members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, but 'branched off' to follow David, thus the name "Branch Davidians."

Just thought ya'all might like to know.


Leave it to my goil to know who, what, where, when and how.

Kudos, S.