Posts published in “Day: August 4, 2013”

RANDY STAPILUS   Idaho

Idaho and Montana, said Chuck Baldwin, co-author of the book "To Keep or Not to Keep: Why Christians Should not Give up their guns", are “the tip of the spear of the freedom fight” because that is where you find lots of “liberty loving, constitutionally oriented people."

Quite a few self-described conservatives would be nodding their heads to that. Where, in Baldwin's half-hour discussion following that statement, they might stop nodding and start shaking their heads, is a matter for serious consideration and could be a story of things to come in Idaho.

Baldwin is a Montana minister, chaplain of the group called Oathkeepers, and he was a main speaker at last week's “Self Reliance” rally sponsored by that organization, held at Farragut State Park in northern Idaho. The event reasonably could be called a survivalist gathering, and it attracted a significant number of people, hundreds at least or possibly several thousand, depending on whose numbers you accept. They are more than a tiny fringe, though, as measured by the elected officials present, including Idaho state Representative Vito Barbieri (one of the speakers).

Much of the weekend was basic survivalist fare, talk of stocking up food and ammunition for the coming apocalypse, self-defense, and such favorite topics as the long-discredited Agenda 21 conspiracy. And there were the usual frequent references to “patriots” and "supporters of the constitution," both of which were meant to include, of course, only people who agree with the speakers' interpretations. (They didn't quite go so far as to call everyone else “traitors”, but the implication seemed in the air.)

Baldwin's speech, available on YouTube, exemplified some of this, but it also featured a challenge aimed more at other stripes of conservative than at liberals.

"It'll come as a shock to many of you," he said, that “government is not God.” Lots and lots of people maintain that it is, he said. (Specifics, naturally, were lacking.) That point in place, he then took aim at fellow pastors, a whole lot of whom, he argued, may be well-meaning but tell their congregations that government should be strictly obeyed “no matter what.” (Again, no names were specified.) He told the audience they need to “find a patriot pastor who will tell you the truth.” He helpfully pointed to an online list. (more…)