The Real Tragedy of Waco and Ruby Ridge

In August 1992 Americans watched events unfold at Ruby Ridge in northern Idaho. Attention was focused on Randy Weaver's separatist views. A short eight months later, Americans watched the siege at Waco, Texas, and again the attention of the people was focused on the views of David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. Since both of these events, Americans have watched with growing horror as the real truth about these two events — that failed to make the media spin of events as they unfolded — began to emerge and are still emerging. In both cases, we have watched the credibility of the government crumble under lies, deceptions, withholding of evidence, obstruction, and the finger pointing blame-game that seems to be the modus operandi of federal officials and agencies these days who are caught doing things they shouldn't.

But there is more to Waco and Ruby Ridge than just the lies, deceptions, and media spin of events. It became apparent shortly after both events that had law enforcement really wanted Randy Weaver and David Koresh, both individuals could have been arrested quietly without incident. Randy Weaver was known to frequent certain places off his property at Ruby Ridge, and law enforcement was aware of his movements. David Koresh went shooting with BATF agents shortly before the Waco siege began. If both men could have been taken quietly, then why did Ruby Ridge and Waco happen?

It became obvious to many that there was more to both these incidents than the beliefs of the individuals targeted or alleged infractions of the law which, in themselves, did not warrant the heavy handed response by the FBI, BATF, and Delta Forces, with guns, tanks, incendiary devices, etc. And that is what is so dangerous to every American. Why did the government want to make an example of Randy Weaver and the Branch Davidians? Was it to see the reaction of the American people and what that reaction would mean, one way or the other, to what can only be termed a rogue government? It would seem so.

One does not have to agree with the beliefs of either David Koresh or Randy Weaver to realize that what was at stake in the actions of the government at Ruby Ridge and Waco were the rights of not only those targeted but of every American. The message was clear: "If you do not espouse the government sanctioned beliefs, we can kill you!" And kill at Waco and Ruby Ridge they did, murderous acts against American citizens because of their beliefs. Their actions do not fall under the definition of law enforcement; their actions were purely acts of aggression.

Such was also the governing philosophy of Hitler, Stalin, Lenin and numerous other despots, hungry for power over people. Gerry Spence, famed constitutional attorney, put it well when he said that when you are willing to sacrifice the sheep at the edge of the flock to the wolves by virtue of the fact that you do not agree with them, it will not be long before you yourself will face the wolf, and wolves aren't discriminating. Think about it. While our attention has been focused on Koresh and Weaver and what they believed, where our attention should be focused is on our government, what they did to these people, and in so doing, how they violated the rights of ALL Americans. Not only did eighty Branch Davidians die, Vicky and Sammy Weaver, but also the rights of every other American.

Had what we now know about both of these incidents been divulged at the time of the incidents, what would the reaction of the American people have been then as opposed to now? The American people should be just as outraged now by what happened at Waco and Ruby Ridge as they would have been then. Our freedom depends on it.

The biggest threat to our nation does not lie in individuals like Randy Weaver and David Koresh; the biggest threat to our nation lies in a rogue government who has the capability to lie under oath to the American people, and use its power to manufacture evidence, destroy evidence, and hide evidence to attain an agenda that has no foundation in the Constitution or Bill or Rights. Those who should be protecting these precious documents, and in so doing, protecting the people of this nation, are, in fact, the enemy of both. That is the real tragedy of Waco and Ruby Ridge.

Lynn M Stuter

In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.

Protestant minister Martin Neimoller, reflecting upon Germany’s fall to the Nazis

For information on Waco, please visit the Waco Holocaust Electronic Museum and Waco: Rules of Engagement. I leave discernment to the reader and offer both sites without prejudice or preference.

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