[Vision2020] Neo-Confederates in Moscow
bill london
london@moscow.com
Thu, 01 Jan 2004 11:17:44 -0800
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Here is a copy of my "Town Crier" editorial from the Daily News 12/31...BL
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Doug Wilson has retreated.
Wilson, the pastor of Moscow's Christ Church, has backed away from the
inflammatory conclusions in the now infamous book, "Southern Slavery: As
It Was," that he co-authored with Steve Wilkins.
Faced with the community response to their untenable position that
slavery is both Biblically justified and ethically acceptable, Wilson
and other Christ Church elders have hastily explained that their
pronouncements had been misunderstood. They did not acknowledge the
error or the insult felt by African Americans and others. However,
Wilson did change his message. He agreed that slavery was, in fact, evil.
The conversion that we have witnessed here on the Palouse in
the last few months is an impressive lesson in the power of community
and the effect of free speech. But the work is not over yet.
A second element in Wilson's defense of slavery is the
partnership between Wilson and Wilkins. Steve Wilkins, pastor of Auburn
Avenue Presbyterian Church in Monroe, Louisiana, and a founding director
of the League of the South, is a leader in the Neo-Confederate movement.
Those who follow the radical right, like Mark Potok of the
Southern Poverty Law Center (http://www.splcenter.org/intel/), describe
the Neo-Confederates as an "active hate group" of Christian
Nationalists. Like the Taliban, the goal of the Neo-Confederates is the
creation of a theocratic state, a government controlled by religious
leaders that imposes its version of strict Biblical laws on everyone.
Wilkins and Wilson have been working together for a decade.
They have sponsored conferences, spoken at each other's churches, and
made numerous presentations nationwide on this and related topics.
Their growing drift toward Neo-Confederate politics and unorthodox
religious views has worried church leaders as well.
The Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States, for
example, accuses Wilkins and Wilson of heresy
(http://rpcus.com/aapc.htm). A resolution posted at that website, dated
June 22, 2002, calls upon their churches to "institute judicial
processes" against them, "removing them from the communion of the church
should they not repent."
Being booted from the Presbyterian Church is no big deal for
Wilson, who has created his own denomination. But for Wilkins, a
Presbyterian minister, this heresy charge is more problematic.
And therein lies the danger for the Palouse. If Wilkins is
driven, or jumps, into Wilson's denomination, or builds stronger
institutional ties between their churches, Moscow will be another haven
for the Neo-Confederate movement.
For Wilson, the benefits of that alliance are obvious: more money and
more power. He has already built a religious and educational network
that now includes the church, the K-12 school, the college, and the
publishing company, as well as the accrediting organizations to justify
it all. Closer ties to the Neo-Confederates will mean access
to more donors, more prospective students, and more potential church
members wanting to move here.
And striking a deal with the Neo-Confederates is not much of a
problem, philosophically, for Wilson. Both movements share very similar
views. For example, in their book "Angels in the Architecture," Wilson
and co-author Doug Jones proclaim that their ideal society was medieval
Europe. They also describe the Confederacy as the last true Christian
nation.
The Neo-Confederates and Wilson are committed to creating a
new religious and social order that institutionalizes their moral code
as law and eliminates rights for gays, women, and those who disagree
with the established hierarchy. In sum, they both want to establish a
new medieval empire. Here.
How can the Palouse say no to the Neo-Confederates? With
education and with more free speech.
You can learn more about the Neo-Confederate movement at a
local website (http://www.tomandrodna.com/notonthepalouse/) that also
links to an essay by two UI historians responding to the inaccuracies of
the Wilson/Wilkins slavery book. In addition, at the same website, you
can sign the on-line version of the "Not in Our Town" petition (or you
can sign the paper version at BookPeople in Moscow).
In February, Christ Church is sponsoring a conference at the
University of Idaho. The featured speakers include both Wilson and
Wilkins. A variety of protests and educational forums are planned with
the goal of convincing the Neo-Confederates that the Palouse will not be
their next conquest.
Christ Church has prepared fertile ground here in Idaho for
the transplanting of Neo-Confederate ideology. Whether this community
welcomes this Neo-Confederate influence remains to be seen.
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Here is a copy of my "Town Crier" editorial from the Daily News
12/31...BL<br>
<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Doug
Wilson has retreated.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Wilson,
the pastor of </span><st1:City><st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Moscow</span></st1:place></st1:City><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">’s </span><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Christ</span></st1:PlaceName><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><st1:PlaceType><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Church</span></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">, has backed away from the inflammatory
conclusions in
the now infamous book, “Southern Slavery: As It Was,” that he
co-authored with
Steve Wilkins.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Faced
with the community response to their untenable position that slavery is
both
Biblically justified and ethically acceptable, Wilson and other </span><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Christ</span></st1:PlaceName><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><st1:PlaceType><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Church</span></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"> elders have hastily explained that their
pronouncements had been misunderstood.<span style=""> </span>They
did not acknowledge the error or the insult felt by African Americans
and
others.<span style=""> </span>However, </span><st1:City><st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Wilson</span></st1:place></st1:City><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"> did change his message.<span style=""> </span>He
agreed that slavery was, in fact,
evil.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="">
</span>The conversion that we have witnessed here on the Palouse
in the last few months is an impressive lesson in the power of
community and
the effect of free speech.<span style=""> </span>But the work
is not over yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="">
</span>A second element in </span><st1:City><st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Wilson</span></st1:place></st1:City><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">’s defense of slavery is the partnership
between
Wilson and Wilkins.<span style=""> </span>Steve Wilkins,
pastor of Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church in </span><st1:place><st1:City><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Monroe</span></st1:City><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">, </span><st1:State><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Louisiana</span></st1:State></st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">, and a founding director of the League of
the South, is
a leader in the Neo-Confederate movement.<span style="">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="">
</span>Those who follow the radical right, like Mark Potok of the
Southern Poverty Law Center (<a href="http://www.splcenter.org/intel/"><span
style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">http://www.splcenter.org/intel/</span></a>),
describe the Neo-Confederates as an “active hate group” of Christian
Nationalists.<span style=""> </span>Like the Taliban, the goal
of the Neo-Confederates is the creation of a theocratic state, a
government
controlled by religious leaders that imposes its version of strict
Biblical
laws on everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="">
</span>Wilkins and Wilson have been working together for a
decade.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>They have
sponsored conferences, spoken at
each other’s churches, and made numerous presentations nationwide on
this and
related topics.<span style=""> </span>Their growing drift
toward Neo-Confederate politics and unorthodox religious views has
worried
church leaders as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="">
</span>The Reformed Presbyterian Church in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">United States</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">, for example, accuses Wilkins and Wilson of
heresy (<a href="http://rpcus.com/aapc.htm"><span
style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">http://rpcus.com/aapc.htm</span></a>).<span
style=""> </span>A resolution posted at that website, dated </span><st1:date
year="2002" day="22" month="6"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">June 22,
2002</span></st1:date><span style="font-size: 14pt;">, calls upon their
churches to “institute judicial
processes” against them, “removing them from the communion of the
church should
they not repent.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="">
</span>Being booted from the Presbyterian Church is no big deal
for Wilson, who has created his own denomination. But for Wilkins, a
Presbyterian minister, this heresy charge is more problematic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="">
</span>And therein lies the danger for the Palouse.<span style=""> </span>If
Wilkins is driven, or jumps, into </span><st1:City><st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Wilson</span></st1:place></st1:City><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">’s denomination, or builds stronger
institutional ties
between their churches, </span><st1:City><st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Moscow</span></st1:place></st1:City><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">
will be another haven for the Neo-Confederate movement.<span style="">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">For </span><st1:City><st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Wilson</span></st1:place></st1:City><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">, the benefits of that alliance are obvious:
more
money and more power. <span style=""> </span>He has already
built a religious and educational network that now includes the church,
the
K-12 school, the college, and the publishing company, as well as the
accrediting organizations to justify it all.<span style="">
</span><span style=""> </span>Closer ties to the
Neo-Confederates will mean access to more donors, more prospective
students,
and more potential church members wanting to move here.<span style="">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="">
</span>And striking a deal with the Neo-Confederates is not much
of a problem, philosophically, for </span><st1:City><st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Wilson</span></st1:place></st1:City><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">.<span style=""> </span>Both movements
share very similar views.<span style=""> </span>For example, in
their book “Angels in the Architecture,” </span><st1:City><st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Wilson</span></st1:place></st1:City><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"> and co-author Doug Jones proclaim that their
ideal
society was medieval </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Europe</span></st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">.<span style=""> </span>They also
describe the Confederacy as the last true Christian nation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="">
</span>The Neo-Confederates and </span><st1:City><st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Wilson</span></st1:place></st1:City><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"> are committed to creating a new religious
and social
order that institutionalizes their moral code as law and eliminates
rights for
gays, women, and those who disagree with the established hierarchy.<span
style=""> </span>In sum, they both want to establish a new
medieval empire.<span style=""> </span>Here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="">
</span>How can the Palouse say no to the Neo-Confederates?<span style="">
</span>With education and with more free speech.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="">
</span>You can learn more about the Neo-Confederate movement at a
local website (<a href="http://www.tomandrodna.com/notonthepalouse/"><span
style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">http://www.tomandrodna.com/notonthepalouse/</span></a>)
that also links to an essay by two UI historians responding to the
inaccuracies
of the Wilson/Wilkins slavery book.<span style=""> </span>In
addition, at the same website, you can sign the on-line version of the
“Not in
Our Town” petition (or you can sign the paper version at BookPeople in </span><st1:City><st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Moscow</span></st1:place></st1:City><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">). <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="">
</span>In February, </span><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Christ</span></st1:PlaceName><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><st1:PlaceType><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Church</span></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"> is sponsoring a conference at the </span><st1:place><st1:PlaceType><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">University</span></st1:PlaceType><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"> of </span><st1:PlaceName><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Idaho</span></st1:PlaceName></st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">.<span style=""> </span>The featured
speakers include both Wilson and
Wilkins.<span style=""> </span>A variety of protests and
educational forums are planned with the goal of convincing the
Neo-Confederates
that the Palouse will not be their next conquest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="">
</span></span><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Christ</span></st1:PlaceName><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><st1:PlaceType><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Church</span></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"> has prepared fertile ground here in </span><st1:State><st1:place><span
style="font-size: 14pt;">Idaho</span></st1:place></st1:State><span
style="font-size: 14pt;"> for the transplanting of Neo-Confederate
ideology.<span style=""> </span>Whether this community
welcomes this Neo-Confederate influence remains to be seen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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