Religious Intolerance in America: A Documentary History

Conclusion

Conclusion Changes and Challenges In 2004, a group of German “patriots” initiated “Project Schoolyard,” a program designed to distribute music cds to school-age children. On the surface , the idea seems laudable—providing children with the gift of music. The problem, for the German government and others, rested in the lyrical content of the music, which promoted white power (an increasingly popular genre of music). This type of music advocates white supremacy and racial conflict, a common theme in groups such as Christian Identity and the Creativity Movement. For example, the song “Rahowa,” meaning RAcial HOly WAr, by the band of the same name, provides a telling example. As I march into battle, my comrades I hail, Tonight the white race prevails — Death by our swords to the vile, alien hordes, Their every resistance shall fail. They see it, it’s there in our eyes, We know it, it’s time that we rise, Not one of their numbers shall be spared; The racial holy war has been declared.1 Emphasizing the purity of the white race and the necessity of violence toward others, this music frames the prophesied racial battle in religious terms. It is a “holy war.” Built on similar ideas, the above initiative uses music as a weapon to transform the schoolyard into a battlefield. While initially shut down by the German government, Project Schoolyard backers soon found ways to distribute 25,000 copies of their musical message, and white supremacists in the United States followed suit. Panzerfaust Records created a Web site and produced 100,000 copies of the cd for distribution in the United States. According to a Project Schoolyard press release, “volunteers from every pro-White group and organization in the U.S. have signed up to 248 Conclusion assist us in this project, as well as numerous unaffiliated individuals, consisting mostly of our customers/supporters who are high school students themselves. These cds will be handed out in middle schools, high schools, university campuses, shopping malls, sporting events, mainstream concerts, parties, etc.” Not content to rely solely on music to spread their message, the site also features content areas entitled “The Truth Behind the Talmud,” “Nigger’s Owners Manual,” and “Racist Jokes,” as well as a message board. Notably, at the bottom of the Web site is the following message: “Panzerfaust : We don’t just entertain racist kids . . . we create them.”2 In 1994, Paul Hill (1954–2003) shot and killed physician John Britton and his security escort, James Barrett, while they were on their way into a Pensacola, Florida, abortion clinic. The shooting resulted from Hill’s interpretation of the Bible and the Christian faith. In his article “Why Shoot an Abortionist?,” Hill wrote, “I realized that using force to stop abortion is the same means that God has used to stop similar atrocities throughout history. In the book of Esther, for instance, Ahasuerus, King of Persia, passed a law in 473 b.c. allowing the Persians to kill their Jewish neighbors. But the Jews did not passively submit; their uses of defensive force prevented a calamity of immense proportions.” Thus, Hill sanctioned violence through his appeal to biblical history, and he defined his shooting of Britton and Barrett as defensive and justifiable: The use of necessary force to defend unborn children. In addition, Hill later described the virtues of this violent act—it put his religious beliefs into practice, called attention to “the full humanity of the unborn,” highlighted the “enormous consequences of abortion,” and forced people to choose sides in the conflict.3 He had no regrets. In 2003, Paul Hill was executed by the state of Florida for his crimes. His message and actions, however, live on. Michael Bray, leader of the anti-abortion group the Army of God, has memorialized Hill as a prophet on his Web site (www.armyofgod .com) and in his movement. Amid graphic images of torn fetuses, the site features Hill’s writings as well as a “defensive action statement,” which states, “we declare and affirm that if in fact Paul Hill did kill or wound abortionist John Britton, and accomplices James Barrett and Mrs. Barrett, his actions are morally justified if they were necessary for the purpose of defending innocent human life. Under these conditions, Paul Hill should be acquitted of all charges against him.”4 The site’s valorization of Hill comes through clearly in Michael Bray’s reflection, “The Murder of God’s Prophet.” Bray writes, “His [Hill’s] was the...