Anybody hear of the John Birch Society?

[carriecros]

I am meeting some really great people who are members of the John Birch Society, and am just curious of what others know about it? It seems that most people are only aware of heresay, but I want to know if anybody has actually looked into it.

[Taxman]

From their website:

We believe the American system of government, a Constitutional Republic, is the finest yet developed by man.

We believe the traditional moral values of our Judeo-Christian heritage form the cornerstone of Western Civilization, and that the family is the basic and most vital unit of society.

We believe the free market system, competitive capitalism, and private enterprise afford the widest opportunity and highest standard of living for all.

We believe in the dignity of the individual. The Society welcomes and enjoys the participation in its ranks of individuals from every walk of life and from all ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. Judging others only by character and ability -- as we wish to be judged ourselves -- our common bond is a love for liberty and our rejection of totalitarianism under any label.

We believe that the rights of the individual are endowed by his Creator, not by governments; that the proper function of government should be limited to the protection of the rights to life, liberty, and property; and that individual rights are inseparably linked to individual responsibility.

We believe in patriotism based on principle, not on pragmatism, personality, or partisan politics.

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[carriecros]

Thank you, Taxman...I've been to a few meetings and have been given a "white book" and a "blue book"...and I kind of expectantly waited for a "red book" to surface, but none so far. :-)

[christopher60]

Originally Posted by carriecros

Thank you, Taxman...I've been to a few meetings and have been given a "white book" and a "blue book"...and I kind of expectantly waited for a "red book" to surface, but none so far. :-)

[Taxman]

What do they say? I've known a few Birch Society members, but I don't remember hearing about differnt color books.

[telos2000]

Those are coloring books. One you can only use blue in, one red, and so on. Got to keep everything homogenius you know.

Is this considered a drive by? If so, please excuse it as the babblings from a retard.

[Taxman]

* rimshot *

lol

[carriecros]

Actually, because I had never heard of the JBS before, (until recently)I had to draw my own conclusions from the members I am meeting, and the books(the White Book, a series of monthly bulletins from 1959, and the Blue Book, written in 1959 telling how JBS came to be)which I have only thumbed through, so far. I probably wouldn't even do that if I wasn't impressed with the folks that have been in the Society for a considerable amount of time. They're not all perfect, but they are standing up for something that is of worthy note.
They are very family-oriented, patriotic, and pro-Israel, and I'm finding out there are various races within their membership, including blacks. They don't accept members who are anti-Semitic, racist,or in the militia, and if there are other problems with a member that could cause the Society to seem as such, they are kicked out. The Society prides itself in only representing material and information that they can back up with proof, otherwise they leave it out, even if it's true, until they can offer sources and dates. They do accept various religions as members, but eventually a member may drop out when their religious beliefs clash with the unwavering Christian statutes.
It seems like when I talk to people (like my mom) and ask them what they know, they only state what they've heard from a friend of a friend, and it usually sounds like racial or anti-Semitic leanings. I have been telling them to find out for themselves, because it's being given a bad rap, probably because they don't waver from their original foundations. It seems that there has become a "wandering" from what the government initially was designed for, to serve and protect, not to dictate or rule...and the John Birch Society is an unyielding reminder to politicians and citizens of that, which can appear threatening to certain motivations or persuasions.
Boy, I feel like I wrote an essay, sorry about that, but I actually edited it....HA!

[Rockabillie]

FACISTS

[Taxman]

Screaming Fascist is only an attempt to demonize. In no way does the John Birch Society advocate fascism, which is defined as "somebody who supports or advocates a system of government characterized by dictatorship, centralized control of private enterprise, repression of all opposition, and extreme nationalism" by Encarta. ( [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] ). That’s as bad as a conservative screaming “COMMUNIST” when they hear ACLU…

[Rockabillie]

Actually Birchers have documented history collaborating with Nazis before Pearl Harbor when they were forced to support US fight against the Axis powers.

Founded by a group of wealthy powerful corporate leaders who wanted to squash unions in their companies. Used intimidation and threats to scare workers from joining a union. JBS funded a lot of anti-union activities. Regardless of if you’re a union member or not, everyone has the right to join if they choose without threats of violence or firing.

JBS was a powerful force behind McCarthyism. People were fired because of their political beliefs. Our greatest right in America is the right to our own political beliefs, but during McCarthyism people’s lives were ruined, often because of totally unsubstantiated rumor. JBS paid for gathering intelligence on liberals, illegally tracking their tax returns in hopes of finding ways to jail them. It reeks of facist control when people were encouraged to turn in relatives in order to save themselves.
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JBS support the Nazis early on. Eventually they realized they had to support the Allies, but they preferred the social order the Nazis promised. But they maintained Facist contacts in Germany as long as they could.

The John Birch Society is as secret as the Ku Klux Klan, as monolithic and unbalanced as the Nazi Party of Hitler, with many of whose ideas and methods it would find itself quite compatible.

I wouldn't choose a political affiliation because everyone was "so nice." Find a group that matches your beliefs. Being so nice to new members to try to sway them reeks of cultism and mind control.

[Taxman]

Come on, do you really expect any rational person to take a site subtitled "The Political Conspiracy Research Bin" by the author of such titles as "Psychic Dictatorship in the USA" and "The Covert War against Rock" seriously? Find a legitimate source instead of a tinfoil hat site and then we'll discuss...

[Rockabillie]

The best route for someone who supports the John Birch society is: To bypass the question of a history of Nazi collaboration (since it’s in history books) and to just claim it’s in the past, they don’t do that now. You can’t win the history argument, so go for “we’ve changed, really!—We’re nice now!” Serious, can’t deny the history. Sorta like the Mormans and multiple wifes. Old news. We’re new and improved.

There are many books and articles documenting the Nazi past of the John Birch society including John Birch Society—Fascist Revival (1961).
You may not agree with these links, but with the wealth of references, you can’t say it’s one conspiracist. [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]
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I could find better books, but online, one is limited by what’s just been posted in the past few years generally. But any visit to your local library will reveal more.

[Taxman]

I'm sure there are many published accounts, but I'm not aware of any by reputable sources. I can do a quick search and bury you under a deluge of links to sites that claim that the CIA is controlling us all with microwaves or that Jews run the world or that Martians regularly visit the White House. That doesn't make it true.

[3tbear]

I don't know anything about it, I did date a guy in college who was a member though. My DH thinks it's a radical group, I have no idea.