Keep Standing, No Matter What They Call Us

Rick Scarborough

I knew it was only a matter of time before those who stood up to our government would be viewed as “dangerous” or labeled as “extremists” who need to be “watched.”  It has now happened.  The Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis recently released a nine page document entitled “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment.”   Their intent was to warn local law enforcement officials such as police and sheriff’s departments across the U.S. about the increase in “rightwing extremist activity.”

The document goes on to define “rightwing extremism in the United States” to include groups that prefer state or local authority over federal authority.  The warning says “…it may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to gun control, abortion or immigration.”

What’s next? Praying in public places? Preaching against homosexuality? Putting limits on the glorification of sex in our culture?  Those of us who use our first amendment right to free speech and obey the Biblical mandate to stand up for Truth against outright sin are being labeled as dangerous extremists.  Sounds like persecution to me.  Jesus told us not to be surprised when it happened, even to rejoice in it, because we are fellowshipping with Him by sharing in His suffering.  We can stand firm because we know how the story will ultimately conclude.  Jesus wins.  What a privilege to join Him in fighting for righteousness in the meantime.

The intent of the government is to stress the fact that it will be working with its state and local partners over the next several months to gather information on “rightwing extremist activity in the United States.”   This is reminiscent of Soviet Russia and even Nazi Germany.  No one is safe from being spied on and turned in for any convictions that are opposed to those of the government.  Going so far as to have “a particular emphasis” on the causes of “rightwing extremist radicalization.”

The report says the following:

Most statements by rightwing extremists have been rhetorical, expressing concerns about the election of the first African American president, but stopping short of calls for violent action.  In two instances in the run-up to the election, extremists appeared to be in the early planning stages of some threatening activity targeting the Democratic nominee, but law enforcement interceded. It is unclear if either bill will be passed into law; nonetheless, a correlation may exist between the potential passage of gun control legislation and increased hoarding of ammunition, weapons stockpiling, and paramilitary training activities among rightwing extremists.

Because of the fear of Barack Obama instituting more gun control, more than 7 million Americans have applied for criminal background checks in order to buy weapons before it’s too late.  According to the FBI that is itself an indication that militias and white supremacist groups are forming and must be watched carefully for the “sake of the safety of the United States.”  How about personally protecting our constitutional right to keep and bear arms?

Ms. Kuban of the Department of Homeland Security said reports had been published on left-wing radicalization as well though she could not name even one specifically.  “These types of reports are published all the time. There have actually been some done on the other end of the spectrum, left-wing,” Ms. Kuban said.

The assessment from Homeland Security specifically says that “rightwing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to exploit their skills and knowledge derived from military training and combat.”

The FBI reported that only 203 out of 23,000 veterans had joined groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, the National Socialist Movement and other such groups.  Jerry Newberry, director of communications for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, responding by saying, ”The vast majority of veterans are patriotic citizens who would not join anti-government militias. We have to remember that the people serving in our military are volunteers, they do it because they love their country, and they believe in what our country stands for.  They spent their time in the military defending our Constitution, so the vast majority of them would be repulsed by the hate groups discussed in this report.”

Friends, we must ask God for courage to stand for such a time a time as this.  No matter what the label, radical extremists, anti-government rebels, it really doesn’t matter.   Freedom has never come free.  We have to fight for it.  Remember, God plus one is a majority.