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To: Jim Nicterline, Editor, First Things Magazine
Enclosed is a meaningful response to Kelley's long rambling article.
Please print it intact. Kelley made false statements about me,
it seems only fair to set the record straight and try to clarify
the issue from a different perspective.
Thanks,
Rick Ross
June 21, 1995
First Things
Editor:
Dean Kelley's May article "Waco: A Massacre and Its Aftermath"
presents both a biased and specious viewpoint. Kelley seems to
have carefully filtered the facts and excluded information and
sources that did not support his conclusions. Beginning with
the description of the Waco conclusions. Beginning with the description
of the Waco standoff as a "massacre" he is hardly objective.
Kelley no longer speaks for the National Council of Churches.
He has retired and is now a "consultant." He does
have the dubious distinction of being touted as a religion resource
by "Freedom Magazine" published by the notorious
Church of Scientology (aka "Cult of Greed" Time Magazine
cover May 1991). Some of the "experts" cited by Kelley
in First Things also appear in "Freedom Magazine"
such as Philip Arnold, James Tabor and Nancy Ammerman.
Ammerman has no experience dealing with the Davidians before or
during the standoff. Her report footnotes are full of well-known
cult apologists some currently serving on advisory boards associated
with cult groups. Ammerman made and has acknowledged errors and
misstatements in her report, calling into question her own credibility.
There is a pattern to Kelley's analysis. The government did everything
wrong, but not David Koresh. He was the persecuted leader of
a "new religious movement" responding to "the
finger of God," with happy, healthy well-adjusted followers
just tending to his "commercial ventures." Then cam
the government to persecute and destroy him.
Kelley seems to feel there is not a government conspiracy to cover
up the truth about Waco. The physical evidence gathered by specialists
can not be trusted because they too are part of the conspiracy.
This reads like theories propounded by fringe groups such as
the "Patriots" and so-called "militias," not
a "counselor on religious liberties" once associated
with the National Council of Churches.
Kelley tries to minimize Koresh's trial for attempted murder in
1987. Though he was let go by a hung jury, the prosecutor described
Koresh as "dangerous." Advising then that he was "building
an arsenal" and "preparing for a battle with someone."
According to published reports he had sex with a 13 year old
girl, estranged married couples, sexually exploited women members
and bilked at least one elderly couple of their life savings.
Kelley says David Koresh was touched by "the finger of God."
However, most people would surmise he was just "touched"
(i.e. sociopathic, paranoid and delusional).
Kelley claims that "arms…were primarily the Davidians'
commercial stock in trade." He excuses illegally converted
weapons, silencers and dismisses photographs of machinery used
to converted firearms as only a possible use. There is a saying
- "if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it just
might be a duck," Kelley's logic concludes it is an elephant.
Kelley contends that the Davidian children "were found to
be healthy, well-adjusted, and non-traumatized." However,
the definitive report about Davidian child abuse was made by Bruce
Perry, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of psychiatry at Texas Children's Hospital.
Dr. Perry examined the 21 children released from the compound
during the standoff and concluded they had been abused, traumatized
and were not well-adjusted. Proof that previous reports by Child
Protective Services were wrong.
Nancy Ammerman is quoted by Kelley saying the "notion of
cult brainwashing has been thoroughly discredited by the academic
community." The academic community has long accepted that
destructive groups manipulate their members. This is well documented
through numerous books, articles, reports and research. Both
the American Psychological and Sociological Associations have
passed resolutions assertion there is an ongoing dialogue and
discovery process concerning this subject.
The government did make mistakes at Waco. The ATF was too aggressive
and could have opted for a more cautious and considered approach
in serving their warrants. The FBI never really fully recognized
the cult dynamic central to the standoff and instead saw it as
a terrorist "hostage-rescue" situation, despite the
advice of experts. However, these agencies enforced the law and
could not walk away after federal agent were murdered (though
Kelley would have us believe they shot each other through "friendly
fire").
David Koresh caused the standoff, he was the one who decided to
violate the law which led to the confrontation with government
agents. When the warrants were serve he could have allowed a
legal search. Once the standoff began he could have ended it
at any time by simply telling his followers to put down their
weapons and come out peacefully. He refused to do either and
according to substantial audio and aerial infra-red surveillance,
decided instead to burn himself and his followers to death.
Kelley's poor research is demonstrated throughout the article.
He claims cult critics know "very little about the history
or dynamics of religion," Numerous clergy, religious scholars
and denominational leaders are cult critics. Over the past decade
as a member of two national committees of a large denomination
I have witnessed their work and commitment.
After seven years studying the Davidians, interviewing numerous
members, working with concerned families, the ATF and FBI, it
seems to me that Koresh's so-called religious "frame of reference"
shifter constantly and was subject to his moods and convenience.
He often contradicted himself. This negates the conclusion reached
by Arnold and Tabor that he "could be reasoned with if approached
within his own frame of reference." This conclusion is based
upon their assumption that Koresh has a consistent "frame
of reference." He did not and that is why, though that approach
was advised and tried, it failed.
Kelley prefers that phrase "new religious movements"
to describe destructive cults. However, cults like Koresh's Davidians
are hardly "religious movements," but rather the contrived
creations of individuals seeking to exploit others for their own
benefit. Kelley seems to think because they are clothed in religion,
application of the law and accountability amount to persecution.
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of Waco is how so much abuse
went on for so long while so little was done about it.
Cult apology has become a cottage industry. Whenever a cult tragedy
occurs these groups and their spin doctors go to work carefully
crafting apologetics. What's next on Kelley's list, the Aum sect
of Japan? Perhaps Kelley will ignore overwhelming evidence compiled
by the Japanese authorities proving that the group gassed thousands
and killed twelve. Kelley's logic might rationalize this as a
government conspiracy to get Shoko Asahara and persecute his peaceful
followers.
Kelley would like to lead us on trips into his fantasy world which
seems devoid of logic or reason. However, given the recent history
of radical destructive groups from Jonestown to Waco, the Solar
Temple suicide in Switzerland, Aum subway gassing and now the
Oklahoma bombing (apparently motivated by Waco conspiracy theories),
can anyone afford the price of traveling with Kelley?
Sincerely,
Rick Ross