You can't please all of the people all of the time. As it happens, there are some people you can't please any of the time. I will express some strong opinions here that I know some of you will not agree with, but they are just that, opinions, so hey, don't tear me apart too badly. I've just read the MSN story about the rise of militias, and as a firm believer in everything from the right to bare arms to the right to free speech I am appalled.

   First is the timing in the drastic rise in membership of these citizen led groups. I believe the article stated a 700+% rise since the election of President Obama. If this doesn't demonstrate the still-strong racism in this society nothing does. These militias did not form or rise in membership due to his policies. Other presidents have pushed to make gun ownership nearly impossible and did not cause this kind of stir. We can't site the economy as the catalyst when discussing Obama. This economy started tanking long before the man even considered running for the office. I can be honest about it because I could care less about the mans race. It's because he's black, or African American, or whatever the PC term of the week is. President Obama, in my opinion, has made one mistake. He came to the job with too little experience. I firmly believe he meant all him promises, I just think he did not fully understand the limitations of the seat he wished to occupy. Once he took office he hit a wall called Congress. Yes, the Road To Hell and all that, but I believe he wanted to change things for the better. So, no, let's be honest. This drastic upturn in militia membership is, in large part, racial.

   I am sure some of these groups are well meaning. They are preparing for something that could happen to any nation at any time. Collapse. Given the current state of the world can they be blamed for preparing for the possibility they may have to hunt to survive and protect themselves? If society ends the Bad People don't vanish. In fact, they band together, and become more dangerous. These are the people who very much consider themselves Americans, would probably fight to help keep it that way, and obey the laws of this great land.

   Then there is the other side of the coin. The conspiracy theorists who insist 9/11 was an inside job. The extremists who don't want to take down America but think America should be formed in their twisted image of a democracy (well, republic really) where we can still hang criminals and shoot anyone who walks on our manicured lawns. They are the fringe, and of them you should be afraid. Think Oklahoma City. They will and have gunned down law enforcement officers because, hey, in their America transporting explosives while driving drunk should be legal, damn it! Some blend in while others...don't. Watch for the people who think dressing in camouflage and blousing their trousers makes them "soldiers", often strutting around with badly maintained pistols in battered leather holsters, clenching their shooting hands hoping to catch someone breaking in to their trucks so they can draw that weapon. Wearing camo doesn't make you a soldier just like standing in a garage doesn't make you a car. These are the people intent on a whites only society where anarchy is the rule of thumb. The one's cooking up ammonium nitrate in the garage, not caring that in planting that bomb they might kill a public safety officer of low level local politician but they will kill a mother and her child, of some hard working, blue collar guy just paying his property tax down at the court house. In the humble opinion of this author these people are no better than Al Quida or the old PLO. THEY are terrorists just as much as any Middle East group. And they are far more dangerous because they are, right now, already inside our borders. They won't need elaborate plans, fake student or work visas, or forged passports to reach our soil. They can be any where they want, implement any plan, just by getting in the car and driving.

   My first concern about these militias is that they are dangerous. They have just enough sophistication to build and employ weapons without the compassion to spare the very people they are trying to "save from a tyrannical government". They make people like me look bad. You see, I am what's termed a survivalist. I keep my household prepared for emergencies stemming from natural disaster to societal collapse by stockpiling food, supplies, a small yet serviceable collection of firearms and ammunition, and even a place to go if anything goes bad. In the process of doing this I obey every law. I am the last person who ever wants to see this nation stumble. In fact, if it were to come to that, I would be among the first to volunteer to serve and protect my country and its leadership. I may not agree with every decision President Obama has made but, by God, he's my President! It may sound cliche', gung-ho, and a tad John Wayne, but yes, I would give my life to preserve this nation JUST AS IT IS!

   My advice to these "Soldiers" and Militia members? If you don't like it, LEAVE. I've been around, I've seen other countries, how they live, the laws they live under, and government oppression far beyond what people think we have here. Pack up and go, people, and I believe you will quickly learn how very twisted your hatred is.