Amy Cooter, in the photo above, has spent the past few years getting to know people in Michigan's militia movement. Cooter's writing a sociology dissertation based on her field work at the University of Michigan. After Monday's news about the arrests of nine members of the Hutaree, an extremist Christian militia based in that state, she agreed to share with us some of what she's learned. Cooter writes:
"Probably the most important thing to know about the Militia Movement is that it is less cohesive and unified than we typically think of social movements or nation-wide interest groups as being. That is, groups of the Militia Movement even within a given state can vary as much or more than groups separated by state lines. There is really no such thing as the Michigan Militia as a result, although the highly visible Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia and groups with which it associates do have more in common than not. The beliefs and actions of the indicted Hutaree members, on the other hand, represent an extreme of the militia movement.
"This may be surprising, since most news stories on militias tend to focus on this very extreme, following a raid like this one, and represent it as the mainstay of the movement. However, in contrast to the stereotypes, the vast majority of militia members are married, have children, have steady jobs (some even work for the government), and are not religious. Most care deeply for their country, vote at every opportunity, and frequently contact the elected representatives to express their viewpoints.
"Why is it important to recognize variation in this movement? At a general societal level, it's a slippery slope to start limiting the rights of people who are not advocating violence or otherwise breaking the law. Practically, the more media and hate-watch groups confuse and over generalize the overall movement with its most extreme components, the more the movement may be pushed in that direction. We saw this after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 when it was falsely reported that the bomber was a militia member. In the aftermath, some groups did dissolve, but many others went completely underground where they became harder to monitor, and it became more difficult to discern which ones might become problematic.
"More recently, when the Department of Homeland Security released the 'Rightwing Extremism' report last April, veterans -- especially those recently returned from the Middle East -- felt the government was accusing them of being terrorists. Attendance at militia events in my area roughly doubled, and most new attendees had military experience. They talked of feeling offended and betrayed, and they were seeking an outlet for protest. Clearly, this was the exactly opposite the outcome DHS had wanted.
"Comparing the brunt of the movement to the extreme, in short, irritates its members. It further alienates the ones who see their militia involvement as a political statement against a two-party system that, in their view, does not adequately represent their interests. It makes them less likely to interact with the public, to hold open events, and, potentially, to cooperate with law enforcement."
Sociologist Amy Cooter is writing a dissertation on the militia movement at the University of Michigan.
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It seems that the militia movements get more active when Democrats have the White House. During the 1990s, after Bill Clinton was elected, they popped like weeds in the garden. I read an interesting book, "THE HARVEST OF RAGE." It was written by a Denver newspaper reporter who took a year to travel and investigate militias. He found that many farmers who had lost their farms, their family homes, and self respect were easily recruited by militia organizations. The farmers were angry that the government had let them down. Big agra had destroyed these farmers. Companies that sold seed to them were also the companies that bought their crops and owned the banks that made loans to farmers who were encouraged to buy expensive equipment When the farmers could not get a fair price for their produce, they went bankrupt. Does anyone remember the Farm Aid Concerts?
March 30th, 2010 10:02 pm ET
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I think that the teaparty =far right + militia I dont think that the tea party meeting in washington on april 15 it is tax day but the millitia is having a march on washington in virginia on april 19th and sara's husband has been linked to the movement in alaska
Gene W. Devaux says..."It seems that the militia movements get more active when Democrats have the White House"... Maybe due to more media coverage? If you ask any of the SMVM member I know they will tell you a lot of them have been with the SMVM for more than four years. The SMVM is a public group and we openly invite anyone to attend our meetings or training. Please feel free to visit www.smvmforums.com or www.michiganmilita.com
Mother Jones carried a story in their March-April issue that was entitled, "The Age of Treason." That story told of military personnel who were arming themselves to fight against the U.S. government. When the story broke of the FBI arrests yesterday, it relieved my mind to know that the government is paying attention to these extremist groups. When the military personnel, who have sworn their oath to protect their country, decide that they want to overthrow our government, it is clear that there is paranoia that spreading in this country that must be addressed by law enforcement agencies.
FOLLOW THE MONEY!
In all the coverage so far, no one seems to know (or care) where these fanatics obtain their weapons. Weapons that look like they'd be really expensive & possibly illegal (LOL). And, blasting away as shown in the film clip I saw, how can they afford all that ammo? Please look into this, and let us know what you can discover. THANKS for the Totally Great Program!
Can we consider that if these groups were not comprised of white people who identify as Christian they would not be called "militias." "Militia" reminds me of muskets and three cornered hats and fighting at Fort McHenry. I don't want to shake the fear tree, but shouldn't we be calling these groups "domestic terror cells." They are people inspired by a fundamentalist religion who are training to fight against the United States government. They have bombed day care centers, killed doctors, flown planes into buildings, and attacked the Pentagon. And they are gaining support among the populous, thanks to the rantings of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin.
No. We should call domestic terror cells domestic terror cells. We should call militias militias. We should call things what they are, not what we think they are like.
Did you read this piece? Specifically this part:
Why is all of the TV coverage calling these people "Christian Warriors" and "Fanatical Militiamen"? If Islamic terrorists converted to Christianity, would they no longer be terrorists? Would we call them warriors? Lets call a spade a spade here people. I'm sure there are some weirdos in real militias, and I am not about to join any of them, but it seems that most of them are relatively harmless. These Hutaree people are terrorists. They are Christian Terrorists. Why does no one on TV have the guts to put the words Christian and Terrorist together? I can just imagine the thought process - "These people are clearly terrorists... oh wait, they are acting in the name of Jesus Christ... never mind, lets call them warriors. We wouldn't want to offend anyone." Give me a flippin' break. I expect this kind of thing from Fox News, but the real media should straighten this out. For full disclosure, I am a white Christian male.
Because people cannot distinguish between the Hutaree and other militias. When you call people terrorists, you'd better be sure that's what they are because you put a target on them when you do.
It's like calling abortion doctors "baby killers." Sure, the pro-life people think abortion is like killing born babies, but when you actually say that some nut feels justified taking out an abortion doctor because he believes he's saving babies.
I don't want a person to wind up getting killed because he just happens to belong to a militia. It's likely there are people in the country who believe they would be justified in killing someone they believed to be a terrorist. And we don't know who those people are.
Are we so used to the media jumping the gun and getting things wrong that we actually expect, even demand that they do it?
I don't know about anyone else, but I don't want anyone to lose a life regardless of what side their on.
Terrorism, beyond “hate crime”…………
“Hate crime” has a precise legal definition. “Hate crime” and conspiracy-to-commit “hate crime” have clear levels of prosecution defined by law.
“Terrorist” crime is super “hate crime”. It targets and executes multiple victims. “Terrorist” crime requires additional legal definition and its own levels of prosecution. Conspiracy-to-commit “terrorist” crime also requires bolder legal definition and levels of prosecution.
Terrorists target groups without regard to innocence individuals. It can be any group, gender, ethnic, religious, economic, or political.
Terrorist crime requires broader rules for arrest, interrogation, and prosecution. These rules may or may not include miranda warnings, legal defense, interrogation, extradition, venue, jurisdiction, or other civil rights granted alleged of lesser crimes.
Our elected lawmakers must step up to the plate. Terrorism is an evil beyond hate crime. If problems exist holding trials in America, it is time to resolve them.
Terrorism is a step beyond hate crime. It challenges our social, legal, and political institutions. It’s time we concentrate on just laws dealing pragmatically with terrorist acts and conspiracy.
This translates into world-class terrorist laws. America must take leadership in clarifying and forming these laws. Nothing less than the “rule of law” is at stake.
Congress, stop haggling, step it up, show world class, and confront this legal challenge.
I know my paranoia is showing when i say this, but; Every time I read or hear about some group being infiltrated by the FBI and then getting in trouble with law enforcement, I begin to wonder just when the ideas which got them in trouble were first concieved? If before the infiltration then so be it; if afterward, did the informant have anything to do with it and are they not also legally involved? As to this groups supposed connections to the christian faith; I can't help but ask just"What would Jesus do?" Having read the bible, specially the New Testament and the theaching attributed to Jesus himself, I can't find any referrences to a civil uprising.
Like I said in the beginning, I know my paranoia is showing and I can't help asking these questions.
You nailed it! We must start treating these radicals as though they were dangerous to our country because they are. They get a pass becuase of their skin color and Jesus affiliations. They don't care what color you are if you are on their hit list.
I think this group was cracked down upon now because they were planning something in the middle of next month. The dates April 19th and April 20th are "holy" to rightwing extremists: Waco, Oklahoma, Columbine and well as Hitler's birthday (!) all occured on these dates and given the hatred on the Right for the President, the authorities are obviously on high alert.
Treat the bad guys like they're bad guys - as long as you can prove they're bad guys.
If not, then you treat 'em like they're not guilty of anything.
Not as simple as it sounds of course, but it's good to remember that's how we're supposed to do things here.
The even tone of this article suggests that it's author is seeking a fair-and-balanced approach to her reporting.
That it suggests that the widespread assumptions as reported in the media are inaccurate again lends to it's likely credibility. Very little, I find, is as extreme as the media reports it....and that is in relation to things I definitely am personally knowledgeable about. If what I do know about is presented in a biased manner...I tend to assume what I'm less knowledgeable about isn't any more true-to-life either.
I wish this author luck as she tries to get anything that is actually fair-and-balanced past her university's socially and politically "correct" editing process which will in all likelihood pressure her to make her paper read more "extreme" than it should so as to promote some professor's personal social agenda.
Good luck dear Lady.......
Uhhhh, what a stellar production: Uhhhh”-43 times; “or whatever”-6 times; “or what not”-5 times; “simular” instead of similar... I want this guy in charge after “the crap hits the fan”
All definitions of milita are on this order:
"Citizens of a state who are not part of the national military forces, but who can be called into military service in an emergency. . ."
They are to be used in a time of emergency or a time of need. That means FOR our country, not against it. Do they declare themselves to the government so they can be called on in time of need?
Anne Coulter says, "It further alienates the ones who see their militia involvement as a political statement against a two-party system that, in their view, does not adequately represent their interests. It makes them less likely to interact with the public, to hold open events, and, potentially, to cooperate with law enforcement."
Anne Coulter is totally disingenuous.
Local officials in Bridgewater utilized the Hutaree as they would the boy scouts or a local 'posse'. The connection between Bridgewater police officials and the Hutaree needs an investigation. Where's the media?
http://www.annarbor.com/news/bridgewater-township-turns-to-militia-for-help/
Are the Republicans demanding that their right wing Christian Terrorists, e.g. Hutaree, be tried by Military Tribunals ... as they have demanded for other Terrorists? Or do they see some legal difference between Christian Terrorists and Muslim Terrorists?
I am not a fan of Religion Inc, in any form. But I do wish that the media would stop referring to these terrorist groups as "Christian militia' or "Islamic terrorists". Just because these militias choose to associate themselves with a popular mythology doesn't mean that its true. Especially when they espouse hate and violence that these mythologies don't really condone in their books. So I think that by using one of the mythological monikers to describe the militias/terrorists is a misnomer and does a disservice to all of those people who actually try to live by the codes of the books that relate to their personal mythology.
Thank you for this reasoned, sociological, perspective.
Maddow says scratch under the surface and it is a great right wing conspiracy to overthrow the government. Cooter says it is family oriented people with jobs who have some grievances with the way our goverment behaves.
The real conspiracy that endangers our future and freedoms and you don't even have to scratch under the surface is the interconnection between SPLC, ADL,APAIC, CFR, AJC adn a host of others. These are the groups that will get many people killed when they start WW3.
Don't worry about a handful of boyscouts target shooting and barbecuing.
What Happend to the Poblic Option!! I missed the memo, please explain.
I thought it was going to be included in the Reconciliation Bill!! HELLO!!
Thank God our forefather's had the foresight to restrict these militia groups and ONLY allow them the right to bear arms.......can you imagine if they were required by law to actually think?
How irrelevant do you have to become before you realize, Rachel, that your opinion means NOTHING. How far down the ratings list, the same stupid guest that you have...never anyone new, same stupid retreaded garbage out of your mouth, same predictable goofy liberal ideas, and then rant about Fox News...who is kicking MSLSD's collective arses! GD, please go off the air and just show reruns of LOCKDOWN!