I was at the customer service desk at Baesler’s waiting for the man in front of me to cash a check and I noticed he was wearing camouflage pants. So I asked him if he knew who first wore camouflage uniforms on the battlefield. So, I told him the Waffen-SS. And he said, “Really?”
To show off a little bit I asked him if he knew how many types of camouflage uniforms there are in the world. And I told him the last thing I read there were 333 different types of shirts, pants, and such. (There may be more or less today.) The gentleman said to me, “We’re wearing the type the Army doesn’t wear anymore.” He mentioned he was with the Indiana Militia. (Really?)
He said they were a civilian organization, but were in existence to help the people of Indiana. He then mentioned the regular Army is dedicated to protect the industrial military complex and, of course, to serve the United Nations.
It’s familiar rhetoric. I’ve certainly heard it before. We no longer have a communist hiding under every rock because since the fall of the Soviet Union, the communist bogeyman has dwindled in its scare effect. The Russians are still trying to get back to the table of big boys, and the Chinese are busy proving they are capitalists of the first order while disguising themselves as big, bad communists.
By this time, the gentleman had gotten his money and was leaving. I wished him good luck.
I’m fairly well informed about people, places and things, but that is the first time I had ever heard of the Indiana Militia. And even though I have now met one, I still know nothing about this organization.
I can’t imagine painting the United Nations as Peck’s bad boys. It seems to me those who are afraid of world government or worldwide organizations usurping our rights as a nation are just plain wrong. While the United Nations has troops in parts of Africa and in the Middle-East, I haven’t seen even a platoon in their blue helmets marching down Wabash Avenue. I don’t know if we need assistance from a marked, military-style militia, and I’m not sure it is legal and lawful for them to arm themselves as a military unit. Perhaps I will be enlightened by this organization so I can feel truly safe about it and feel as if they are, indeed, together to do something good for the State of Indiana.
At least now I know there is such a thing, an organization, a militia, and perhaps the next Indian uprising we have in the State named after Indians, the Indiana Militia will be prepared. I’m always amazed in chance meetings to learn about all the things I still do not know.
Ronn Mott, a longtime radio personality in Terre Haute, writes commentaries for the Tribune-Star. His pieces are published online Tuesday and Thursday on Tribstar.com, and in the print and online editions on Saturday.
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