Posted on 01/16/2002 4:04:18 AM PST by cascademountaineer
They're at it again. The 'court jesters' of the left, the Southern Poverty Law Center, has attempted to spin yet another serious political issue into left-wing propaganda. In their winter edition of the Intelligence Report, The Klamath Basin issue has become their latest target. In their ongoing demagoguery, they attempt to rise once again from the ashes, using partial information and scare tactics to further their cause, while constantly omitting information that shows their true colors.
In their article "Conflict in Klamath" they begin with the usual buzzwords: "A battle over irrigation rights in Oregon becomes, for a time, the latest flash point for antigovernment activists.". Then the scare mongering begins.
"...The head gates that control irrigation waters at Klamath Falls, Ore., were not just the site of five months of protests by farmers this year against a federal ruling denying them irrigation water. They were also the focus, at least in some minds, of some particularly vivid fantasies of overthrowing the federal government..."
Before we publicly correct them (again) about Klamath Falls and other issues, let's get the new reader caught up about this organization.
Many have seen the name Southern Poverty Law Center mentioned in newspapers articles when the label "anti-government" has been pinned on anyone. In the past, media has used SPLC quotes whenever reporting on certain individuals, as if it was mandated by the editorial staffs. However, it has been noticed the media are using their quotes less often these days.
They are listed as a so-called "watchdog organization" for extremist groups. But to this organization, 'extreme' is an ambiguous term. Their targets seemed to be mostly conservatives. In a propaganda play book similar to that of the Third Reich, they consistently take pieces of unrelated information and paste them together to make a story, then repeat it just enough for their audience to believe them. Like Jim Jones, they preach to their flock as if they are the 'champions' of the minorities; fighting for their rights, and keeping them informed of the 'hate mongers' among us. Unlike Jones, they won't lead their followers to commit mass murder/suicide. They just take their money instead.
If there isn't any 'hate' going on out there, don't worry. This organization will gladly produce it for you. They use the words 'hate', 'anti-government' and 'ideology' often, but have never really defined any of them. This author is one of their favorite marks - which brings us to their latest target: Klamath Falls. This time they quote from my article "Klamath: A Call to Arms" this paragraph:
"We are at war," roared former militia leader J.J. Johnson in his Internet publication, the Sierra Times. "We did not start this war but, having no choice but to wage it, let us wage it well. The forces against us claim they are trying to save fish. We are trying to save humans. In our minds, the most threatened species in the Klamath Basin is man himself. This may become one of the greatest rescue and resupply operations ever - and more important than the Historic Berlin Airlift."
This was an obvious scare-mongering (dare I say - hate mongering) tactic for their readers, to give them the impression that violence was imminent. The SPLC article even stated "it had the potential to become another Waco, Texas"
This is a bold-faced lie.
The Klamath protest never had the potential to become another Waco, and it wasn't on the minds of anyone. The people of that region simply wanted their water rights returned to them and, as a person who assisted in organizing the Klamath Convoy and other protests, I can say that no one ever considered violence. In fact, the organizers worked diligently with the authorities to make sure they were in compliance with the laws. By using my quotes, the SPLC is giving the impression that calling on Americans to help their fellow Americans in a lawful, peaceful manner is something that should be mocked.
The SPLC would have gained more credibility and their readers a better understanding if they had included the previous paragraph from that same article:
".There are convoys preparing to depart from several states in the West. Our test will be to see if we can resupply these 'troops' for the autumn and winter campaigns against this enemy. If we are successful, our brethren on the battlefield will not be forced to abandon their camps. We are not doing this just to bring attention to the situation, but to feed, clothe and defend those who have led the fight, and have suffered greatly because of it."
Where the enemy was defined as: "...the apathy in many hearts around the nation, and those who simply disagree." While trying not to mock the Klamath Farmers, the SPLC has in fact, mocked them anyway by using their plight simply to further their own, left-wing agenda. At the SPLC's Montgomery, Alabama headquarters they have a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King inscribed on their black marble walls for the world to read:
"...Until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream..
This is exactly what the farmers, ranchers and protesters want: Justice, water, righteousness and the mighty stream that was stolen from them. By attempting to demonize those who helped support this effort, the Southern Poverty Law Center is making a mockery of its own motto. What is most troubling about this organization, with all their propaganda against the right, is what is mysteriously omitted from their publications. While they claim to report on extremist domestic groups, the actions of the Animal Liberation Front, and the Earth Liberation Front (left wing terrorist organizations) are not covered. For an organization labeled as the watch dog for possible domestic extremist/terrorist/hate groups, there are no references to the Al Qaeda organization, or any of its supporters or other radical Islamic organizations that may be in the United States (some of whom are listed as 'terrorist organizations by the United States government).
While the nation grieved and pulled together from all sides of the political fence, seeking Divine Comfort and Guidance, the SPLC only sought to continue their campaign by treating the Internet traffic of a nation in shock as 'the ideology of the extreme right'. Since 09.11.01, they have also responded to a grieving nation's Spiritual Reawakening by sponsoring a lawsuit to have the Ten Commandments removed from an Alabama Supreme Court Justice's office.
They do this all in the name of "Teaching Tolerance".
Numerous law enforcement experts say Sept. 11 happened in part due to law enforcement's belief that the most dangerous threat to the national security of the United States was 'internal'. The SPLC was complicit in this effort with timely seminars for law enforcement before and after the Oklahoma City bombing. Now that law enforcement has been forced to look for and stop real terrorists, the SPLC continues on their campaign against American citizens who simply disagree with their political 'ideology'.
It is obvious that the SPLC are avid students of Sierra Times.com, as we are referenced many times in their propaganda. It seems that, to them, if Sierra Times covers it, they need to cover the fact that we covered it in an attempt to taint the whole issue. In their zeal for propaganda, they have stepped over the line. Their attacks are so egregious, this author has received the rare opportunity to publicly respond to their false statements in the past.
But perhaps it is time, in this age of heightened tensions, to start watching the watchdogs. The SPLC loves to use the word 'ideology'. In my past, I associated myself with those who professed this ideology: "A Well-regulated militia, necessary for the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." This is a Constitutional right, that many people feel is threatened in America. But to the SPLC, it seems that many of those who actively promote such a right fall into the category of 'anti-government' and into their cross hairs. For that reason, the SPLC loves to quote this author whenever it suits their own agenda.
But with the noted absence of material concerning the real dangers to national security, they failed to quote this author on a September 10, 2001 illegal immigration article when he wrote:
" I didn't make the rules, nor did I piss off the rest of the world toward America. But as we know, there are those in the world who just don't like us, and would love to have the chance to stroll into this country and, to be blunt - raise hell, and the money to continue doing it. Yes, we have enemies out there. There are also communicable diseases out there. Reality dictates we have to deal with that - just like other countries around the world.."
- J.J. Johnson September 10, 2001
Yes, the SPLC has those who rail against illegal immigration listed on their site as well. Have they changed their stance since 09.11.01?
Sadly, this organization's only change of course is to highlight hate crimes against Arabs, and it continues to assault Americans whose 'ideology', if put in practice, might have prevented that tragic day in September. Fortunately, Americans feel there are more important issues at stake. Among them are the rights of human beings to simply have their water and land.
In Klamath Falls, many of the people once listed (if not still) did in fact join in on the Klamath protest. They brought food, they made signs, they provided local authorities with law to battle the matter in court. Those people were there and assisted, because they care about the 'civil rights' of the residents of Klamath Falls, as well as the West. Any lawbreakers were quickly distanced or reported to authorities. Although many false warnings were given to law enforcement about the possibilities of violence, there was none. In fact, law enforcement's primary concern was with left-wing, so-called 'environmental terrorists' - the groups that never seem to get the attention of the SPLC.
But, even after admitting that thousands joined in the Klamath protest, the SPLC when on to say, "More than anything, though, the Klamath Falls protests fed the flames of far-right, anti-government fervor.", and then took clips of some individual's e-mails to make their point.
The SPLC has never defined 'anti-government'. It is a negative label that is used over and over again to make a person or group sound dangerous or disturbing. Needless to say, the 20,000 + protesters over the summer were against the government's policy. But again, they made a careful attempt not to label the locals in Klamath as "anti-government", even though the residents of Klamath Falls specifically asked for anyone who cared about the issue to attend and show support. One could easily assumed that the SPLC is calling every protester, farmer, rancher, politician, and news service that covered the issue 'far-right, anti-government'. They would of course deny it, but they have been known for their Third Reich tactics of 'guilt by association' for quite a while.
The Intellegence Report concluded that "Farmers have fiercely resisted federal offers to buy their land". They are correct, but failed to quote this author from June 19, 2001 when J.J. Johnson stated:
"...But these are Westerners. These are Americans - a special breed of mankind woven into the fabric of Americana. Eighty years of the blood, sweat and tears they've pumped into this land make them - part of the landscape itself.
…And the majority of this special breed in the Klamath Falls Upper Basin, and the surrounding areas, are not for sale at any price."
The Southern Poverty Law Center could gain credibility if they would stop wasting time and their contributors money suing to remove the Ten Commandments from public view and use their vast legal resources to stop the 'discrimination' against the citizens of Klamath and other rural residents, and helping to stop the 'hate crimes' that are being perpetrated against them. Perhaps the SPLC should give their course, "Teaching Tolerance" to themselves and the Department of Interior, so the folks in Klamath and other areas can have thier livelyhoods back. Then even the staff at the SPLC can continue to eat.
These guys must really be hurting for someone to sue. This is getting to be the modern left wing version of 50's era "red scare" stuff.
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May have been posted before, but heres another link for information on this subject as well, Klamathbasincrisis
Thanks for posting this.
The Conservatives are coming! eeeeeeekkkkkkk
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