The Texas Taliban

[RainDog]

 
"Repent Amarillo" resembles the Fred Phelps cult in more ways than one.

Seriously bad craziness. They seem to be moving out of their Constitutionally protected rights of speech and association and into active intimidation and harassment. Those are not constitutionally guaranteed rights.

http://www.repentamarillo.com/

Offshoot of Army of God.

"Army of God (AOG) is a Christian terrorist anti-abortion organization"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_God_%28USA%29

[StinkerBell]

I am kinda getting the impression by your choice of extreme post that you do not like Conservatives, Christians or Texans. 

[NM_Shooter]

I'm a bit confused... I looked over their website, and I didn't see any reference to anything that was outside their constitutional rights.  They are encouraging people to pray for and at places that they consider to be anti-Christian. 

Who are they intimidating and harassing? 

(granted.. I think that their means of marketing seems odd)

[RainDog]

I'm a bit confused... I looked over their website, and I didn't see any reference to anything that was outside their constitutional rights.  They are encouraging people to pray for and at places that they consider to be anti-Christian.  

Who are they intimidating and harassing?  

(granted.. I think that their means of marketing seems odd)

The Texas Observer has an account of Repent Amarillo's relentless harassment of a private swinger's club:

"In June, when the building reopened, Repent Amarillo became an almost-constant presence, shouting through bullhorns, blasting Christian music, haranguing club members, following swingers in vehicles and sticking video cameras into people's faces."

http://www.texasobserver.org/dateline/he-who-casts-the-first-stone

More:

http://www.repentamarillo.net/

http://amarilloindy.com/2009/010809/Editorial0108.html


Their site is packed with militaristic imagery, and plays audio on some pages with martial music and the sound of gunshots. Their mission statement includes a list of heathen and/or demonic causes that they've marked for destruction.

This is what happens when you live in a society with a 1st amendment guarantee of free speech. They are entitled to spout whatever nonsense they feel like just like I'm entitled to criticize them for those same views. When they stalk people and trespass on private property they're no longer protected by the 1st.

[RainDog]

I am kinda getting the impression by your choice of extreme post that you do not like Conservatives, Christians or Texans. 

I don't like hate groups, regardless of geographic location, political leanings, or religion.

[muldoon]

everyone is too busy being angry at each other ....

[StinkerBell]

I am kinda getting the impression by your choice of extreme post that you do not like Conservatives, Christians or Texans. 

I don't like hate groups, regardless of geographic location, political leanings, or religion.

Would it be fair to say you hate "Hate Groups"?

[RainDog]

I am kinda getting the impression by your choice of extreme post that you do not like Conservatives, Christians or Texans.  

I don't like hate groups, regardless of geographic location, political leanings, or religion.

Would it be fair to say you hate "Hate Groups"?

Think you're gonna catch me in a "There are two things I hate in life, racists and blacks." thing here? I hate those haters?  

Hate groups are destructive and dangerous. A hate group is an organized group or movement that advocates hate, hostility, or violence towards members of a race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or other designated sector of society.

It's only reasonable to despise such groups' existence. To ostracize and criticize them vigorously, and to make public their agenda.  

To be quite honest, though, I don't think I've ever "hated" anyone.

[Pox Eclipse]

I am kinda getting the impression by your choice of extreme post that you do not like Conservatives, Christians or Texans. 

I've got a thing against ignorant morons who spread dangerous misinformation.  From their mission statement:

Some of the possible missions that these two groups may be called upon to work will be some of the following:
...

4. Breast cancer events such as “Race for the Cure” to illuminate the link between abortion and breast cancer.

[StinkerBell]

Alot of Christians who happen to be pro life do not realize the link of Susan G Komen and Planned parenthood. That The Komen Foundation grants awards to Planned parenthood. Planned parenthood main focus is abortion.

http://www.bdfund.org/breastcancer.asp

[pagan]

This group is obviously using militant rhetoric to boost membership, and it'll only be a matter of time before some of the more aggressive members will want to put their militant desires into action. We've already seen abortion clinics firebombed and doctors who perform abortions being murdered by a few men who felt words were not strong enough. What will happen if a few hundred people, driven by the militant rhetoric espoused by this group, begin attacking establishments and people they feel are breaking their religious beliefs?

[Woodsrule]

...an almost-constant presence, shouting through bullhorns,haranguing club members,sticking video cameras into people's faces."
Kinda sounds like those abortion clinic protestors, no?

[StinkerBell]

This group is obviously using militant rhetoric to boost membership, and it'll only be a matter of time before some of the more aggressive members will want to put their militant desires into action. We've already seen abortion clinics firebombed and doctors who perform abortions being murdered by a few men who felt words were not strong enough. What will happen if a few hundred people, driven by the militant rhetoric espoused by this group, begin attacking establishments and people they feel are breaking their religious beliefs?

Here's the problem, this group has the right to assemble they have a right to be idiots. You can not stop this group IMO for expressing themself or stop them because they might do something or because someone might do something.

[Pox Eclipse]

Can we point at them and laugh? 

Just because your speech is protected doesn't mean you can't be mocked for what you say.  We have the right to use the same tactics against them that they use against the targets of their righteous indignation.

[StinkerBell]

Can we point at them and laugh? 

Just because your speech is protected doesn't mean you can't be mocked for what you say.  We have the right to use the same tactics against them that they use against the targets of their righteous indignation.

If you want to point and laugh, go for it.

[pagan]

Stinkerbell,

The problem with that argument is they're using the "free speech" platform while attempting to strip the rights of other people. Abortion, porn, and alcohol would all be illegal if they had their way. And that would just be for starters. Make no mistake, they want to ban anything they believe is against their religion. They do not care about you or your rights, unless you follow them.

[StinkerBell]

They have the right to express their discontent on certain laws they feel should be illegal.
We do not have to agree with them or their veiws, but they have a right to express them. That is free speech.

I recall a recruiter being at our local High School when we were in Seattle. The parents have decided that the military service was no longer invited to talk to the seniors. It got rather ugly. On the news was a mom just unloading about the war we are currently in and the soldier just kept smiling at her, being respectful and said (paraphrase here, but very close) "Ma'am, I respectfully disagree with your opinon, but I have fought in the gulf to allow you to express that to me and I would fight for your freedoms again"

[pagan]

I'm not disagreeing with their rights to free speech. What I'm disagreeing with is their efforts to take away my rights because of their religious convictions. I'm also disagreeing with their use of militant rhetoric.

I worked security at an abortion clinic and watched a fairly hefty women perform a running tackle on a young woman who was attempting to enter the clinic. The tackled girl actually required treatment at a hospital for her injuries. When arrested, the hefty woman was screaming at the top of her lungs about how we were all going to burn in hell for all eternity because we interfered with her "right" to protect the baby that girl was having murdered. We were, in her and God's eyes, murderers and would be held to the fire on judgment day.

As more religious organization use militancy as a recruitment method and preach for more aggressive tactics to achieve their goals, more people will be injured and killed as their members become proactive.

[StinkerBell]

I am pro life myself. So although I understand the hefty women's position. She did cross the legal line when tackling that young lady. There has been those occasions that people get caught up in mob mentalities.

I do have sympathy for the heavy women. Just think where the world would be today if there where not heavy women to protect the Jews from the Nazi's?

However, dispite my dislike for abortions the young lady has her rights, too. If I was on the jury or the judge I would fine the heavy lady for her actions. But, I am sure there were others protesting within their rights and I would not disburst or say they should stop acting on their rights to protest the clinic.

[pagan]

I don't see the mob mentality. There were no mobs when Scott Roeder shot Dr. George Tiller in a church. Where were the mobs when Paul Hill murdered Dr. John Britton and his bodyguard, retired Air Force Lt. Col. James Barrett, and wounded Barrett's wife? No mobs present when James Kopp murdered Dr. Barnett Slepian either. Where were the mobs when a Planned Parenthood clinic in PA was firebombed? How about the clinics in ILL and CA? Nope, no mobs present.

These are just a few examples. There are no mobs marching through the streets with pitchforks and flaming torches. These are the actions of lone men murdering doctors because they don't agree with abortion laws and they're using violence and murder to frighten other doctors into not performing abortions. Burning down abortion clinic is a method to scare people into not going to work, or to frighten pregnant women away from seeking medical advice and/or abortions.

We're not looking at one person brought to an emotional fervor during wild protests who suddenly, irrationally, charges out to stop an abortion. These are the actions of cold, calculating men bent on murder and destruction who use their religious convictions as an excuse to kill.

[StinkerBell]

What about those who have started church fires? Those who burn down new contrustion homes? Yet others who release lab animals and burn down the labs at Universities?

There are irrational people is all cultures in life. 

As for the mob. I had visualized a group protesting outside an abortion clinic and a hefty women got out of control. I am sure that has happened. Well maybe not a hefty women but a skinny man? I am sure there have been many protest that a few individualize act stupid and create chaos.

The WTO pow wow in 99 in Seattle is an example of people wanting to come out and protest  and a few individuals came just to create chaos. 

[pagan]

Don't forget the guy who burned the Hummer dealership or people who spike trees and break logging equipment. Also we can bring up the protesters at the national conventions.
Unfortunately the people who perform these acts believe their actions to by rational and necessary. I won't argue with you about some people joining the ranks of protesters to cause trouble and I agree that sometimes people can feed off a crowd and perform actions they normally would not.

As for the hefty woman, I remember the crowd was chanting something along the lines of "Don't kill your baby." Every now and then you'd hear someone shout out "murderer." One young lady exited the clinic and was asked "How does it feel to be a murderer?" Another woman asked me if my job was worth an eternity in hell. Nothing would lead me to believe the mob drove her to charge the young lady mentioned earlier, but then I'm not generally prone to extreme acts of irrationality...unless I pound my thumb with a hammer.

The point is people can justify their actions, whether it's through religion, helping animals, or protecting the environment, regardless of how heinous their actions become.

[StinkerBell]

Irrational people aka Nutters will always justify their actions. You can not penalize one group their freedom of speech and right to assemble because that group might have a few nutters among its members. If that is the case this country would have to repeal its rights to free speech and the right to assemble. I believe every group along with every family has a few nutters among them.

[NM_Shooter]

http://www.texasobserver.org/dateline/he-who-casts-the-first-stone

  This is what happens when you live in a society with a 1st amendment guarantee of free speech. They are entitled to spout whatever nonsense they feel like just like I'm entitled to criticize them for those same views. When they stalk people and trespass on private property they're no longer protected by the 1st.

I read that article pretty carefully, and still don't see where they exceeded their rights to free speech.  The exception being that the details of their protest at the private party were not well described.
If the protesters are on private property owned by the Route 66 club, or the owners of the club, then that is different... but standing on a parking lot owned by the mayor and taking photos and videos is not illegal activity...even if it makes their patrons uncomfortable... that's the whole point of the exercise.  If the activity of the patrons is honorable, then there should be no shame in getting their pictures taken.  Citizens taking pictures of prostitutes and their clients in public is an effective means for cleaning up a neighborhood.

From the small amount of data I have on them, I support Repent Amarillo's efforts.  My kids are older, but I am still embarrassed to have to be out and about and have to be faced with advertising that promotes a level of (what we consider to be) perverted sexuality and the rapid acceptance / promotion of these practices via mainstream media.  We don't participate in a lot of TV because of this, but even broadcast TV advertisements during prime time has stuff that I don't want my kids viewing.  We vote with our wallets and turn it off, don't have cable, and are pretty careful with internet use. 

I'm strongly in favor of people being able to do whatever they want in the privacy of their own homes as long as no one is hurt.., and thier emissions stay on their property.  Bring it out onto the street, or create businesses to promote perversion, and the rules change.

[NM_Shooter]

Stinkerbell,

The problem with that argument is they're using the "free speech" platform while attempting to strip the rights of other people. Abortion, porn, and alcohol would all be illegal if they had their way. And that would just be for starters. Make no mistake, they want to ban anything they believe is against their religion. They do not care about you or your rights, unless you follow them.

You certainly can't deny that those in favor of abortion, porn or alcohol also do not care about you our your rights unless you follow them. 

Quid pro quo.