If one wishes to test the thesis strength of this book one only has to research many of the militia beliefs and recent movements and hold them against former group movements like the KKK and others to see that they are scarily similar.
One of the strongest examples of coming militia movements in America used in the book is the Oklahoma bombings (Dees, 1999). Within the Okalahoma bombings ran a constant undercurrent of fear and anger at anything that was not white in skin color and attitude.
The fact that they were willing to bomb and kill a building that had a daycare center in it because that building embraced diversity and represented the embracement by the government of diversity illustrates the thesis of the book. In the old days the KKK would hang a single man by a tree, or murder him by setting him on fire because of his color or beliefs.
The OK bombings took such narrow minded thinking a step further when the entire building was the target.
The use of this example in the book brings to light the very real need to fear and believe that the racism in this country is far from over. It is not only still around but has grown in its intensity.
The thesis is also given strength because of the experience of Dees Morris who was instrumental in the oppression of the KKK through the use of the legal system. He has had an inside view of what the KKK was about and he has the authority and knowledge to compare that group to the more recent militia groups with creditability.
Morris also proves the existence of his thesis with his discussion about the talk radio circuit and its current flavor.
Morris bounces the militia movement blueprints off of the blueprints of Aryan Nation and comes up with twins. With these facts in black and white, there is no way one can argue that the militia...
Beam was accused of sedition which landed him on the FBI most wanted list in 1987. Morris illustrates the danger of the militia movement in the story of Beam who ended up fleeing to Mexico and getting into an altercation there shooting a Mexican official (Dees, 1999).
Morris proves his thesis with the story of Beam who has been linked to the national militia movement.
Morris also proves the thesis when he discusses the events of Wacco Texas in which the leader was a clear racist as well as member of the current American militia movement willing to use children as a shield. Weaver and his wife also used their children to help shield Randy from arrest (Dees, pp 195-196)." agree with his assessment of the current undertones in America with regards to the militia movement and its similarities and ties to racism.
The author proves with the use of Wacco, OK bombings and other events in recent American history that the storm of racism is brewing and promises to be more violent and explosive than ever before in American history.
It provides a warning blueprint for America with a vision of the future if the militia movement is allowed to continue. With the dismantling of affirmative action and other elements of recent American history the country is ripe for an uprising of unsurpassed violence and strength in the promotion of racism and segregation. This book serves as a warning of the future if steps are not taken to protect those who do not comply or agree with the supremist attitudes of militia groups.
REFERENCE
Dees, Morris (1999) Gathering Storm: America's Militia Threat [CLV] (Hardcover)
DIANE Publishing Company (May 1, 1999)
