We are going backwards people!

Yup. Domestic terrorism at its finest.

Very disturbing. I gave a warning call in my piece published on The Harvey Journal following the April Tea Bag Party. See www.theharveyjournal.blogspot.com, go to the blog archives for April 16, 2009 article.

I remember that Michael.

I actually know some of these militia people around here In East Texas.. and I believe every word of this article!

What happened to reason along the way. The weapons citizens own are only for protection from criminals. These people are way out in left field.

I truly fear these fanatical right-wing militias/groups. They have the guns, the motivation, and the numbers to unleash traumatizing domestic terrorism on society. They are so ignorant and full of hatred that they may well act.

The right wing extremists are fueling them and adding to their numbers. I am a member of the Southern Poverty Law Center, whic tracks these groups.

The stupid loud throwbacks must not be allowed to win.

A fluff article with no hard facts. Difficult to say what to make of it. "On the rise" doesn't say anything. There have always been people against the government and Obama's success in the election was a surprise to me, so many people in fear/hate of the black man. As a white man, I'm often privy to the fear/hate spewed in private against women and people of other races.

What I find more disturbing than the right wing extremists is the talking heads on TV merely out to make a buck fueling the fear/hate.

When haven't groups such as these not been around? Every color and stripe has had it's reason to gripe and run around in groups. White militias, black panthers, as long as humans exist this will go on. Too bad. I wish everyone would get along, right Rodney?

This is just another example of how bad things are getting.

These groups have always been around, but it seems all need now have their views adopted by those outside their group where they, historically, simply needed to be left alone. The violence that has erupted with it is not only troublesome, it is also unbecoming a nation that calls itself a "guiding light".

Funny you should say that. Look around and see how many actual violent groups reside in almost every nation and somehow these look pretty tame despite the noise. Think Basques, the IRA, Shining Path, various Muslim groups, Nazis, Red Brigades, etc.

American groups are noisy but nothing like many foreign groups

We are just as capable of such right here. Some horrendous crime is occuring somewhere right now.
Sure, there's only the occasional cross burning and hurtful words spray painted on unwanted neighbors' homes.
Sure, it's been awhile since James Byrd was dragged behind a truck until he was nearly decapitated. Sure, driving while black may not be seen as much as a reason to be stopped by police.
Sure, gays aren't being persecuted as much as before.
Sure, it's been a long time since those good ole lynching parties.
Sure, the president being threatened by words alone doesn't mean much. My point is we still have reason to fear any number of acts by any number of people. One hateful person can do a lot of damage.

Karl has that part right, it really says nothing. SPLC says there is a rise in the number of groups out there agitating. We've heard and seen this before.

The question should be this; are these groups really new or attracting new members? One of the things learned last time this made the news was that many of these "organizations" were in constant flux with the same handful of members floating back and forth. They appear a larger threat than they are and the biggest thing they want is attention. They are fringers, the ones mentioned are rightist but just like their leftist brethren-they represent virtually no one.

Trying to make it seem like the fore runner of some tidal wave of doom is both silly and demeaning. It overstates a threat (why?) and advises action be taken (what?) Even the article notes that none of the terroristic acts committed stateside have been by groups but lone wolf types. That is a big down slide from the title.

I'm suspicious of such articles because they seem to trying to inflame rather than inform.

Well, excuse me if I seem paranoid to some of you.

I don't think being concerned and being paranoid are the same thing. People who live around these groups or have been victims of their violence don't see this as paranoid -- they see it as real.

One of the lessons in this should be removing free trade in assault weapons, IMHO, but that's another story.

No because the people should have the right to arm themselves in self-defense. Gun control works no better than "the war on drugs," and will never stop a truly motivated person from engaging in violence. I worry much more about the corporate-controlled government having all the weapons than I do about a few crackpots.

Yes we are and I thought Time Travel impossible. Recession, greed and an African American president brings out the worst in people. We should be celbrating a brighter future not the dark part of our past.

Instead of helping hands it is, "I'm keeping what's mine and the hell with the rest of you."

The Holocaust could happen again

The Holocaust could happen again

http://www.theroot.com/views/birthers-and-jim-crow-20

Paranoia is simply another word for ignorance, they really are out to get you.
Plenty of them in Michigan too. As a radical I fear for my long-term safety. I'd point out that we've been going backwards for some time. It's a sad time in our world as Fascism is gaining traction again.

Some paranoia is a result of history. The world is full of stupid people. That's not new. Arming them to the teeth and encouraging them to carry weapons in public places is just asking for trouble. Throwing around labels is senseless. Common sense is in short supply. We're not going backwards, we've just not really ever gone forward. Maybe instead of learning how to shoot guns, people should learn how to read...and start with history.

I agree totally that we've never gone forward... I've often said that we really are little more than monkeys with guns. I would say however that "common sense" is often simply a convenient label to apply to ones' own point of view or particular ideology. You're dead on correct about learning history however, but I would hasten to point out that even history is often distorted through the lens of politics and prejudice. These people don't need any encouragement to arm themselves, nor would I provide it, but I really believe that most of them would do so anyway whether or not it was legal.

"Devolution", eh?

Thomas Jefferson wrote after the creation of The Constitution of the United States that the right of the citizens to own and bear arms was also put there so the people could protect themselves from the government if it ever got out of hand or unconstitutional.....

this looked like some good old left wing propaganda to me....