I am one of the few members of those who attended the Waco seminar a couple of weeks ago that actually remembers the Waco incident being covered by the media. In fact the tutor, Georoge Chryssides, may be the only other one in the class who remembers the incident at the time. What can I say - the benefit of being classed a mature student means that you can remember some of the incidents that are discussed in the lectures.
Anyway time to discuss the Waco incident itself. I recall at the time that news coverage of the seige at Waco was being shown on the media on a daily basis. I feel that the media coverage of the seige actually contributed to the unfortunate ultimate disaster at Waco. In fact there are many instances when the media coverage due to the publics appetite for news often applies undue pressure on public authorities for results which in turn often ends up in tragedy or wrong people being arrested and even convicted due to the public demands for justice. However, ultimately individuals are able to make their own decisions and therefore the FBI are far from absolved of their involvement in the seige which led to 93 deaths.
In regards to whether the deaths were suicide or whether the FBI had caused the fire which led to the deaths is something that I feel should have been given more attention. Some kind of independent and thorough investigation resulting in a publiction of the findings should have occured. The FBI should have been held accountable to such an investigation. The fact is that 93 deaths occured and to this day there is no real clarrification as to what really caused the fire that led to those deaths. That I feel is an injustice to those who died and to the families of those who died. What makes it worse is that this disaster occured in 1993 in Texas which is supposed to be a modern and sophisticated country. Quite frankly Texas has become famous for 6 things:-
1. The gun culture.
2. The death penalty.
3. The Waco disaster (1993)
4. The Kennedy assination in Dallas (1963)
5. George Bush (no need to say anymore)
6. Who shot J.R.? (again in Dallas, 1981)
Don't get me wrong the investigation that should have occured should also have covered things such as whether the alleged child abuse was occuring. No real conclusions have ever been made available regarding what caused the fire and many other issues regading Waco and therefore I feel that valuable lessons could have been reached out of such a tragedy to try and prevent such a tragedy occuring again. Instead multiple deaths and seiges are still occuring in New Religious Movements.
Anyway time to discuss the Waco incident itself. I recall at the time that news coverage of the seige at Waco was being shown on the media on a daily basis. I feel that the media coverage of the seige actually contributed to the unfortunate ultimate disaster at Waco. In fact there are many instances when the media coverage due to the publics appetite for news often applies undue pressure on public authorities for results which in turn often ends up in tragedy or wrong people being arrested and even convicted due to the public demands for justice. However, ultimately individuals are able to make their own decisions and therefore the FBI are far from absolved of their involvement in the seige which led to 93 deaths.
In regards to whether the deaths were suicide or whether the FBI had caused the fire which led to the deaths is something that I feel should have been given more attention. Some kind of independent and thorough investigation resulting in a publiction of the findings should have occured. The FBI should have been held accountable to such an investigation. The fact is that 93 deaths occured and to this day there is no real clarrification as to what really caused the fire that led to those deaths. That I feel is an injustice to those who died and to the families of those who died. What makes it worse is that this disaster occured in 1993 in Texas which is supposed to be a modern and sophisticated country. Quite frankly Texas has become famous for 6 things:-
1. The gun culture.
2. The death penalty.
3. The Waco disaster (1993)
4. The Kennedy assination in Dallas (1963)
5. George Bush (no need to say anymore)
6. Who shot J.R.? (again in Dallas, 1981)
Don't get me wrong the investigation that should have occured should also have covered things such as whether the alleged child abuse was occuring. No real conclusions have ever been made available regarding what caused the fire and many other issues regading Waco and therefore I feel that valuable lessons could have been reached out of such a tragedy to try and prevent such a tragedy occuring again. Instead multiple deaths and seiges are still occuring in New Religious Movements.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=-L0pYN9bCXIC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=waco+scholar&ots=OKXhA6nlQ4&sig=ikEtHIfUf0_yhdSUYLWAcJ9uHiY#PPA281,M1
I have selected two youtube short videos. The first is comedic and the second is quite poignant.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xJeeLgMDBU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S75N4r5VmuU&feature=related
I have selected two youtube short videos. The first is comedic and the second is quite poignant.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xJeeLgMDBU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S75N4r5VmuU&feature=related
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Tune in tonight for our interview with world-renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht. His expertise has also been utilized in high profile cases involving Mary Jo Kopechne, Sunny von Bulow, Jean Harris, Dr. Jeffrey McDonald, the Waco Branch Davidian fire, and Vincent Foster. Feel free to call in and talk to him on air. Check it out at 8 pm EST Wed. Dec. 5th at thirdrailradio.com.
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