Members of Oath Keepers, consider this my testimonial!
I posted a version of this testimonial on your “Declaration Of Orders We Will Not Obey” page. I hope that is okay and if it is too long I apologize. Much of what I say is directed at your detractors, who arrogantly seek to discredit you.
It is an unfortunate truth that most political or ideological movements are defined by their most extreme elements. You should, therefore refrain from judging Oath Keepers and it’s founders by the more extreme posts to their blog. Extremists always seek to take control of the debate through vitriol and the advocating of violence.
If you actually read the contents of this website, you will see that nobody in this organization is advocating the over throw of the government. What is being advocated is resistance. Oath Keepers talks mostly about what they will not do. In short they, as the protectors of the American people, will not participate in any plan or obey any order that seeks to oppress them. I fail to see how that can be perceived as a threat to anyone except those who seek to do just that.
While I believe that most of the more extreme posts here are plants designed to discredit oath keepers, I don’t doubt that some of them are genuine. What our detractors fail to realize, is that people are becoming frightened by a government they perceive as slowly and relentlessly eroding our freedoms through legislation and judicial activism. Whether or not you believe or agree with that sentiment is immaterial. The fear is out there and it is real. Our detractors in their arrogance, believe that because we don’t all agree with them we must be kooks. Be very careful of dismissing as fringe that which you don’t understand. There is a ground swell out there which may overwhelm you.
If I may, I would like to provide a little personal background that may help you to understand what is going on with many people. I do not presume to speak for everyone but maybe just a few. Members of Oath Keepers, consider this my testimonial.
I am a 45 year old white conservative male and, therefore, by leftist definition I’m sure, a racist, right wing, kook, though I take great umbrage at the label of racist. Because of the economic downturn I find myself once again working at an entry level position at a financial institution. But I can’t complain because, hey, at least I’m working. An ever growing number of people in this country are not so lucky. When I turned 18 it was a couple years into Ronald Reagan’s first term. I registered as a Republican and joined the Air Force. I did these things because of my respect and adoration for Reagan. My feelings were due in large part to the fact that I had grown up under Nixon, Ford and Carter all of whom, along with the political debacle known as Vietnam, had done terrible damage to the morale of this country. Because I was young and idealistic I found Reagan to be a breath of fresh air in a stale room. He talked of the greatness of this country and its people not its government. He made it OK to be an American again. He talked about peace through strength and his words and enthusiasm filled me with patriotic pride and a desire to serve my country. He validated my belief that it is the people of this country, not the politicians or the government, which are its greatest strength.
So I graduated high school and went straight into the service. For private reasons I did not make a career of it, a decision I’ve always regretted. In any event, that was the time at which I decided I really needed to start paying attention to politics. Although my life has had many ups and downs since then my political ideology has never changed and I have been a registered Republican ever since. When I was young I was staunch in my loyalty to the party. That loyalty remained until Bush 43 and through most of his presidency even though my suspicion of government and my lack of faith in the Republican Party had been growing for sometime. Where else was I going to go, the Democrats? They were worse and the other parties were all fringe as far as I was concerned. But now that I’m not so young and blinded by my idealism, I can look back and see that party affiliation is irrelevant and that Reagan was just a fortunate bump in the road as this country, along with the rest of the world, continues its relentless journey toward world socialism, a journey that began at least as far back as “The New Deal” and maybe before.
People on various political blogs and elsewhere keep harping about Republican vs. Democrat, right vs. left, liberalism vs. conservatism and it makes me nauseas. Conservatism is an ideal that I and many other Americans (more than our detractors may want to admit) still embrace. The problem is that the debate about it among elected officials is all a sham. That debate no longer exists. The debate now is over a difference of opinion on how to spend the money they steal from us and how they can take over more and more of our lives without us resisting. Many people complain about the evil greedy corporations and their endless evil pursuit of profit. I would say the government is worse than these corporations except that they’re all in collusion. Some of you people complain about the lobbyists and say they’re just throwing money at which ever party it is that you don’t like. Wake up! They’re throwing money at all of them, that’s their job. That’s how the corporations and special interests are always able to get there little exemptions written into what ever bill concerns them, rendering whatever is being voted on a joke, and a waste of time.
I now, for the first time in my life, find myself contemplating something I never thought I would. Though it pains me greatly, I’ve been thinking of dropping out of the political process. I intend to drop all party affiliation on my voter registration. I will not vote again until somebody comes along who is worthy my vote. I will continue to follow this nation’s politics with a jaundiced eye, but I will no longer participate.
Well, that’s my story. I’m sure by now in their arrogance, any detractors are even more convinced that I am a right wing whack job, so be it. In any event, too the detractors I say this, you would do well to take the sentiments of those who disagree with you very seriously. This is not some fringe movement it is an ever growing number of average Americans becoming increasingly weary of an ever more intrusive government.
To the members of Oath Keepers I would like to say that, I regret that I am unable financially to join your organization or donate to your cause. Know, though, that I also took my oath very seriously and when the time comes I am with you.
Please donate and support Oath Keepers mission, every little bit helps!
October 13th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I hear you and agree with you 100%.
I am a citizen supporter of Oathkeepers, who has discovered the same thing as you in my jouney of life.Well said friend well said. I am honored to have you stand with me in support of OathKeepers.
It is good feeling to know you will honor your Oath.
October 13th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Thank you for your service and support of OK. I’m a citizen supporter too, but our son is in Ranger School and I’m sure he’ll join when he has a spare moment from his current 20 hour days. I was at the DC march and I can tell you, we aren’t going away and we are the majority.
Lynne
October 13th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
What you are, sir, is a serious, thoughtful Patriot. We may not agree at every point – not every OathKeeper will agree at most points. What we do agree on is our love of this Republic and it’s foundation stone, the Constitution. It has been weakened, mostly through good but lazy intentions, and now stands under willful assault. I pray that, since the People are becoming aware sooner than was hoped by the Oligarchists, we may yet avoid anything beyond recall and repeal.
Thank you for standing with us.
October 13th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Thank you for standing with us at Oath Keepers and thank you for your service. It’s going to be a long road, that’s for sure.
Semper Fi
October 14th, 2009 at 9:27 am
Welcome to Oath Keepers brother!
October 14th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Glad to have you with us! Your mission is to spread the word and help educate people on our Constitution, Thanks
October 14th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I think you are a coward who will look for a hole to crawl in, if things get bumpy. I never once consider myself part of what is going on in washington even though I am a democrat. We have been lied to and we need to do something about it. Not quit our party. If you are AMERICAN you have an obilgation to this country to stop what is going on. If you served in the armed forces you have a duty to fight what is going on in this country. Please do not call the people here who call for violence detractors because they unlike you see government for what it is. I myself do not espouse violence but if the time comes to fight for AMERICA I will be the first one on the battle field. So go crawl in your hole and cover your ass and remember that it is the people who are willing to put their life up in exchange for our ideals that make AMERICA great. Not people who just sit around talking about how we got here. Our officials will not change and things will have to get violent before they give up their fat cushy positions on the hill.
October 18th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Please don’t drop out of the political process entirely, just dump the two parties that are both selling us out. When I registered to vote at 21, it was as a Democrat, because I had a “heart.” As I approached 30, my “brain” took over and I switched to Republican. I’m 65 now and have just switched to Independent, because I can’t tell the difference any more, and our very survival is at stake. I proudly served from ‘68 to ‘93, flew 146 combat missions in ‘Nam including the North, and am more devoted to the Constitution than I have ever been in my life. I stand with all Oath Keepers as we continue to “defend” our Constitution, our Freedoms, and our way of life together. There is none better on earth, and losing these is NOT AN OPTION!