Saturday, June 5, 2010

Why America Is Really No Different


This morning, I watched a documentary called Waco: The Rules of Engagement. Being a fan of documentaries, I know that unless it's Mr. Happy Man, you're more likely to frown than you are to smile. However, what I learned and saw from watching this documentary brought tears to my eyes and stirred up anger at the people responsible for the deaths of so many people.


For those who don't know what Waco was:

The Waco siege began on Febraury 28th and ended violently 51 days later on April 19th, 1993. The siege began when the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) attempted to execute a search warrant at the Branch Davidian ranch at Mount Carmel, a property located nine miles east-northeast of Waco, Texas. The search warrant was served under accusations that the leader David Koresh (formerly named Vernon Wayne Howell) was stockpiling weapons, sexually abusing minors, and misconducting himself sexually. On February 28th, shortly after attempting to serve the warrant, an intense gun battle erupted, lasting nearly two hours. In the aftermath of this armed exchange, four agents and six followers of David Koresh were found to have been killed. Upon the ATF's failure to execute the search warrant, a siege was begun by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This siege ended when a second assault on the compound was made. Fire engulfed the compound and 76 people (24 of them British Nationals) died in the fire, including more than 20 children, two pregnant women, and Koresh himself.


The Branch Davidians were different from everyone around them and because of this, they were unlawfully murdered. As one court official stated in the documentary, the allegations built up against Koresh-especially the sexual allegations-go hand in hand with 'cults' and groups of different beliefs. I don't know what was happening in that compound, or if any of the allegations were true, but what I do know is that the 76 people that died suffered horrible deaths they didn't deserve. Lives were cut short, two before they even really began.


I am deeply saddened that our government has taken such a severe turn away from what is just, and lawful, and right and has viciously murdered innocent people. Usually, you hear about governments murdering people in Communist North Korea or in Africa because of their beliefs. But people right here in America are dying for the exact same reason, which is why America is really no different.


America is not the land of opportunity, nor the land of plenty.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Pages