Waco Remembered
When I say “Waco” some think of the town in central Texas, but many think of the incident that went down in 1993 between the federal government — specifically the ATF and FBI — and the Branch Davidians, and many times their initial reaction is something along the lines of “those crazy cultists got what they deserved.” I for one don’t agree with this perspective and think it’s important to inject some truth into what actually went down.
When I worked at the Institute for Humane Studies we showed the documentary Waco: The Rules of Engagement at some seminars, which we immediately followed up with a lecture on the philosophical underpinnings of self-ownership, including the right to defend your person. This one-two punch definitely caused many students to think and question the government’s stance.
The story of what happened at Waco, like so many others, needs to be told so that we remain vigilant. So that those that initiate force against others — whether they have a badge or not — are held accountable. That’s why, when hammering out our Southern Style route itinerary, I made sure we stopped by the Branch Davidian property outside Waco.
In addition to Charlie Pace, a Davidian that allowed us to videotape our conversation, I also spoke with two women who called the Davidian property home. The entire experience was a bit surreal for me, particularly because the carnage of what happened was still so visible but I trust we did a good job communicating at least a broad overview of what happened.
Molon labe!
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- May 22, 2009: Lens of Liberty » Motorhome Diaries in Waco, TX
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Seven of seven video and surveliance towers mysterously failed the morning the tanks drove inside the building as WELL as crushing the outside while filling it with flammable gas from over 300 CS cannisters. It burned like a gas-soaked building…and all the video towers went dead.
Thanks for remembering the dead.
Great assessment! Hopefully others will see this and look into it more.
If we don’t educate ourselves we will be instructed by those who don’t have us in their best interestes.
Great video.
@1:43, comment says Horiuchi was with the ATF. I believe you meant to say he was an FBI sniper. This doesn’t mean that a PR boost wasn’t an ATF goal.
What did the F.B.I. claim?
A Joe-war nexus or something? Sorry I couldn’t make out what you were saying about how they bypassed Posse Comitatus.
qs – sorry about that poor audio. they claimed a drug war nexus. from what i understand at the time it was the only exception to the posse comitatus act.
i’ve read that rodin — the guy that owned the property prior to howell/koresh (and was a real asshole, later sent to prison for killing someone) did have a meth lab on-site, but that that had been years before and it’d be cleaned out.
I love how the inflation rate and the growth rate are almost the same number and that RBC a few days ago said the Canadian economy is doing fine. This means only one thing. As the Capitalists look to accumulate greater wealth in a declining and or stagnant economy they will turn to ever greater attacks on the working class for those gains. That means more austerity measures as they call for less business taxes and also for wage reductions across the board.