Nationalism’s threat

About 25 years ago, Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote a book titled “Gathering Storm: America’s Militia Threat.” Morris wrote to the attorney general about the danger posed by the growing number of radical white supremacist militia groups. He warned that the “mixture of armed groups and those that hate, is a recipe for disaster.”

Morris also mentioned that the hobby of these groups was to target and compile information on political enemies, journalists who didn’t agree with their agenda, and human rights activists, who actively opposed their plan and creation of “an all-whites homeland.” Morris’ warning to the attorney general took place six months before the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

Morris warned then of the danger of serious domestic terrorism, in our country.

The other day, in Warsaw, Poland, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned of the dangers of nationalism, where World War II started, eighty years ago. It usually begins with a policy of exclusion not inclusion, anti-immigration policy, targeting and spying on political opponents, marginalizing freedom of the press, targeting human rights activists, and strongly believing that your faith is superior to all others. Barry and Ann Byrd of Marble Mountain, Matt Shea and Rene Holaday seem to come to mind, in our area.

James G.Perkins

Colville, Wash.