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ONLINE JOURNALISM REVIEW
October 13, 2000
Waco Sites on the Web
By Stephen D. O'Leary
OJR Columnist
Here are some links for those who wish to explore the many facets
of this controversial case.
The Dallas Morning News has published a
Waco news archive that gathers years of journalistic coverage. A
vast archive
of Waco news articles can also be found at CESNUR, an academic group
devoted to the study of new religions. A daily update of current developments
in the case can be received by subscribing to WacoTragedyNews@aol.com.
The most
complete amassing of controversial evidence to be found on the Web
is Carol Moore's The Davidian Massacre. The full text of this 500-page
book can be downloaded here, along with archived collections of Waco
news going back to 1994, trial transcripts, affidavits of witnesses,
and numerous other useful documents.
Many will find Moore's conclusions over the top and even suspect her
motives (the title gives a good clue of her opinions, and her book was
published by the Gun Owners Foundation). But there's no denying the
usefulness of her links and resources, and one can't find a better summary
of the various charges made by those seeking to expose the government's
handling of the case. Much of the evidence presented here is credible,
although Moore's inferences from this evidence are certainly open to
question.
The Committee on
Waco Justice, whose membership includes Ms. Moore, is a group that
has organized demonstrations in Washington at the various hearings and
has actively worked for the release of the surviving Davidians in prison.
At this Web site, you can find records of their activities, information
about how to write to Davidian prisoners, photo albums of the group
agitating in front of the White House and other federal buildings, and
order forms for buttons with slogans such as "Waco Never Again!"
The T'ien-Kuo Waco/Koresh/Davidian Home Page offers numerous
resources about ongoing developments in the Waco activist movement,
including information and speech transcripts from the various services
held annually to commemorate the Waco fire. Other doings of this loose-knit
movement can be followed at the "Waco
Walk 2000" site which promotes annual demonstrations to keep the
case in the public eye.
The House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, in tandem
with the Judiciary Committee, produced a 1996 report titled "Investigation
Into the Activities of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Toward the Branch
Davidians". Though confirming the official version of the story in most
respects, the report presents
a damning indictment of the ATF's conduct before and during the
initial raid.
It is particularly incisive on the responsibility of the two senior
ATF raid commanders, Chojnacki and Sarabyn, for not aborting the raid
once the element of surprise had been lost. The two men were subsequently
fired by the ATF, then reinstated with back pay. The report concludes
that the fact that "senior Clinton administration officials approved
their rehiring indicates a lack of sound judgment on their part. It
also further begs the question as to whether there are facts not disclosed
to the subcommittees that led administration officials to agree to rehire
these men."
Those interested in legal aspects of the case have numerous resources.
The Hamline Journal of Public Law and Policy, a libertarian-oriented
publication of the Independence Institute, has published "The Unwarranted
Warrant," a detailed analysis of
the questionable circumstances of the original warrant served by
the ATF on February 28, and the implications of this case for Fourth
Amendment search-and-seizure procedures. Complete transcripts of the
1994 trial of Davidian survivors can be located at the Mount
Carmel Information page, as well as other sites.
Many sites present online memorials to the victims of Waco. "The Last
Will and Testament of the Branch Davidians" is one such site that
succeeds in humanizing those who died. It offers still photos and
a complete transcript of the video produced by David Koresh and his
followers during the siege, with interviews and conversations with group
members.
The Waco Memorial Project includes photos,
memories, and reflections about the Davidians who were killed. Those
looking for images of the
children of Waco should visit Sharlene Shappart's powerful memorial.
If you want a smarmy sentimental
treatment, try the "Seventeen Little Children" Web site, where you
can hear a ballad or read the lyrics written to commemorate the infant
Davidians who died.
In stark contrast to the sentiment of these sites, the Waco Holocaust
Memorial Museum presents a
series of gruesome photogalleries, mixed with evidence and extremist
arguments (the author claims that the
film Rules of Engagement is a hoax designed to assist in the cover-up
of the military's involvement in the Waco operation). Those who want
to see autopsy photographs featuring charred flesh and the grinning
skulls of young children will find this site useful.
The controversial religious beliefs of Koresh and his followers can
be studied in detail at numerous sites. The David Koresh Memorial Site
collects
a number of Davidian writings, by Koresh and others, that explain
their theology. Although few people are aware of this, there are enough
surviving members and followers that the church
at Mt. Carmel has now been rebuilt.
Former Davidian Marc Breault analyzes
the expectations of many surviving Davidians that David Koresh will
return from the dead. One survivor, writing under the appellation "The
Chosen One," claims the title of successor to Koresh as the group's
prophet, and propounds his evolving
teachings at the Seven Seals Web site, sponsored by a faction of
survivors called Hidden Manna.
For a detailed
overview of the history and theology of the Davidians, one may consult
John Mann's "Introduction to Branch Davidians." A fascinating
scholarly study of Koresh's prophetic teachings can be found in
James Tabor's article "Patterns of the End." Tabor is also the author
of what is by far the best
book-length treatment of both the religion of the Branch Davidians
and the events at Waco, Why Waco? Cults and the Battle for Religious
Freedom in America.
Few will find the various Waco joke sites amusing, but they are worth
a glance if only to see how tragedy can be twisted into comedy. In one
rather
gruesome (and anonymous) collection of such jokes, you can find
"humorous" gems such as "Q: Did you hear David K. was a closeted gay?
A: He was flaming, but he didn’t come out. Q: What was the most popular
name for Branch Davidian children? A: Ashley."
On The "Canonical
List of David Koresh Jokes", you'll find the following recipe: "Obtain
one Lamb o' God. Garnish with approximately 90 vegetables, and seal
up tightly with Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Allow them to stew in
their own juice for 51 days, then sear quickly using a wood fire. Serves
1 media circus." Distasteful, certainly, but it's only a small sample
of what's out there.
One could hardly close a site review like this without providing a
few links to the apocalyptic paranoid fringe who have made the Waco
cause their own. I recommend a visit to Beastnet, self-described as
"a loosely affiliated
private coalition of sovereign citizens dedicated to fighting the Beast
and its agents in all their manifestations." The Global Conspiracy site
provides expected
attacks on the government along with links to the militia movement.
There are hundreds more such sites, focusing to greater or lesser degrees
on Waco in the context of various conspiracy theories and plots. Happy
surfing!
Finally, for those who like to get their information through books
rather than the Web, try Amazon.com's Waco site, which collects
almost all of the books currently available on the tragedy. Caveat
emptor...
Stephen D. O'Leary is an associate professor at the USC Annenberg
School for Communication.
© 2000 Online Journalism Review
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