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Odds 'n Sods:
Chester sent us the link to his "must watch" video Real
Gunfighter Lance Thomas on Justice Files. The lessons to be
learned: If you live in a bad neighborhood, then relocate,
as soon as possible. But regardless, get the
best self defense tools and training that you can afford.
o o o
Bill Six spotted this: 'Open season' declared on Mason Co. criminals
o o o
F.R. forwarded a link to a masterful piece of gray propaganda: Rightwing
Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization
and Recruitment. Its liberal bias is subtle but is a consistent drumbeat
throughout the document. The authors appear to be in the Extremism and Radicalization
Branch, Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division (a cell within the Intelligence
& Analysis (I&A) Branch of
the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)),
but I suspect that much of the content was outsourced. The authors made only
a
few
factual
errors
(such
as
referring to same-sex
marriage as a
"radicalizing"
issue in
the 1990s--it wasn't
actually an issue until it was first legislated in Massachusetts in 2001.)
But they have obviously fully embraced the innuendos, half truths, and urban
mythos promulgated by leftist "watchdog" groups such as the Southern
Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the Center for New Community, and the Center for
Democratic
Renewal. It is sad to see public officials either
duped by leftist pressure groups,
or
willingly
co-opted
because of their own political bias. If the report were actually fair and balanced,
then it would have analyzed both the "rightwing" threat and leftists.
(Other DHS I&A Branch publications such as the Domestic
Extremism Digest have
shown far less bias in the past.) But to the authors of this new report, and
to those of their ilk, hard core conservatives are "radicals",
while assorted hard core left wingers are merely "activists.") The
only thing worse than a
smear campaign is a subtle smear campaign.
