Duration 19:54

Waco (2018) | Based on a True Story

by The Cynical Historian

78 199 watched

2.8 K

Published 27 Sep 2018

As one might expect, YouTube was too cowardly to monetize this video. This is a divisive topic to say the least. The mere mention of the Waco Siege and Ruby Ridge will inevitably bring out the conspiracists, but my duty is not to engage with lunatics. I’m trying to understand how this show affects the viewer, whether negatively or positively, and whether it could be better. On both counts, this show comes out fairly well. ------------------------------------------------------------ references: Newport, Kenneth G. C. The Branch Davidians of Waco: The History and Beliefs of an Apocalyptic Sect. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2006. https://amzn.to/2LyzxGw Tabor, James D. and Eugene V. Gallagher. Why Waco? : Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in America. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1995. https://amzn.to/2NzKXKJ Congressional investigations: /watch/4abm9_k28Wa2m Events Surrounding the Branch Davidian Cult Standoff in Waco, Texas: Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary House of Representatives. 103 Congress, 1st Session, serial no. 95 (28 April 1993). https://archive.org/details/eventssurroundin00unit Website of the evidence gathered by TX Rangers: http://www.dps.texas.gov/director_staff/public_information/branch_davidian/indexfirst.htm Archive of Dallas News collection of evidence: https://web.archive.org/web/20010701000000* /http://www.dallasnews.com/specials/waco Reviews: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/true-story-waco-still-one-contention-180968002/ https://www.bustle.com/p/how-accurate-is-waco-david-koresh-the-branch-davidians-are-the-subject-of-a-new-compelling-miniseries-7994282 https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/01/waco-paramount-david-koresh/551330/ ------------------------------------------------------------ SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE VIDEOS: /user/CynicalCypher88 Support the channel through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CynicalHistorian or pick up some merchandise at SpreadShirt: https://shop.spreadshirt.com/cynicalhistorian LET'S CONNECT: https://www.facebook.com/cynicalcypher88 https://discord.gg/Ukthk4U https://twitter.com/Cynical_History ------------------------------------------------------------ Wiki: Waco is an American television miniseries based on the Waco siege that premiered on January 24, 2018 on Paramount Network. The show consists of six episodes and was created by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle, who wrote and executive produced it as well. ------------------------------------------------------------ #History #Waco #Review #WacoSiege #Accuracy #BranchDavidians #RubyRidge #DavidKoresh

Category

Comments - 556

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@gurusmurf59215 years ago Who shot first? Han shot first, everyone knows that. 335
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@Jarod-vg9wq4 years ago Literally everything about Waco and ruby ridge is a lesson how not to handle a negotiation situation or raid. 139
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@MrRjh636 years ago Stuff like Waco and Ruby Ridge in reference to Conspiracy Theorists reminds of the saying" Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity". 339
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@Wokegooglers6 years ago True fact! The guy at ruby ridge was never charged after the incident, and he was awarded a latge amount of money after he sued the US government for their siege and mishandling of it 207
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@L.J.Kommer4 years ago The ATF agents shooting those dogs was the most authentic part of the entire movie. 27
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@CynicalHistorian6 years ago Info and mistakes:
As predicted, YouTube is too cowardly to monetize this. It was uploaded 3 months ago, fought off a Content ID claim, just to have them demonetize it with a confirmed review anyways. YouTube does not respect educational content, and don't let them tell you otherwise.
- misspelled "aside" (thx Andreas for pointing that out) ... 197
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@chrisjohansson60216 years ago The ATF's incompetence and the crazyness of a sect all in one. A surreal episode in human history. 25
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@surprisedchar24584 years ago You’re missing a key fact when calling out the Davidians for being ready for a fight. They’d been tipped off about the raid before the ATF were on scene. This is why the who shot first question is so difficult to pin down: The Davidians knew they were about to have an armed force storm their compound. ... 15
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@kyleshiflet99525 years ago I believe Waco was human error on both sides 25
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@MaritimeHurricane6 years ago Great drinking game. Drink every time he says "Conspiracy Theory". Passed out before I could finish the video. 70
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@michaeltoss82046 years ago You should review Downfall from 2004. Its one of the most accurate films I've seen. 197
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@phillipschmidt62956 years ago I really love the great mix you give of humility and still having a point of view. Of not trying to convince your audience you are unbiased or impartial but rather you are attempting to provide a context that acknowledges the numerous perspectives and conclusions that have been made and the factual evidence used to support those claims. I think you effectively explain and demonstrate your passion and love for history despite the limitations and narrative we currently have. History is rarely as clear cut as often presented and you are great at acknowledging that ambiguity while providing an intellectual framework for thinking of past events that welcomes facts and analysis while avoiding desent into sentimentality. Great work. ... 48
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@nooblangpoo6 years ago ATF wants to know your dog's location. 39
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@andrewputnam27174 years ago I knew nothing about Waco watched this and was shocked. This showed how crazy everyone was while also having semi obvious fiction I thought it was great. 13
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@hellboy65074 years ago The handling of Ruby Ridge was absolutely insane. Guy holes up in a log cabin with his family with some hunting rifles.
BRING IN THE APACHE GUNSHIPS
GET THE AC130
CALL IN THE NAVY SEALS, GREEN BERETS AND MARINE CORPS
WE GOTTA GET THIS GUY AND HIS LOG CABIN ... 12
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@CasualHistorian6 years ago How proud of yourself are you for that We Didn't Start the Fire bit? 91
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@warriorwhacko6 years ago Happened to watch a live tv feed on the day the tanks came through the Dividians building. Even watching it live, I cannot tell anyone how the fire started. It wasn’t there, then it was everywhere. It was a super windy day, and the wind instantly had the building engulfed in the fire. Watching this happen live was horrific. Sadly no one may ever really know what happened that day. Thanks for talking about this, in spite of demonization. Really well done. ... 5
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@cyphermasq78706 years ago While certainly there is a lot of conspiracism that drives a whole heck of a lot of the militia movements, I don’t think it’s fair to say that people reacting the way they did to Waco and Ruby ridge necessitated that they adopt proper conspiracy theories to adopt more government-skeptic position.
A lot of the more militant libertarians who don’t contest the facts or argue that some sort of government conspiracy took place but that the mistakes that were made were terrible enough, represented enough of an abuse of authority and exhibited a sufficient lack of care for the lives they were taking and the citizens they were supposedly enforcing law upon that an anti-government reaction can be justified without ever adopting a conspiracy theory.
Now that isn’t to say that those positions are necessarily justified, and I get that you don’t need to or even should entertain every subset of every position you do or don’t hold, I just am sort of on the periphery of those positions myself so I figured I would voice an aspect of my perspective. ... 30
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@puff_the_dragon_man12843 years ago Branch Davidians: Engages in illegal and morally reprehensible behavior
ATF: I sleep
Branch Davidians: We have dogs
ATF: REAL SHIT? 3
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@blakeb1066 years ago My sister lives like 20 minutes away from there. If you are ever in Waco, you’ve got to go to the Texas Ranger Museum. 7
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@Nailspeed6 years ago hey there - just a small appreciation post for all your videos, amazing content. the walker analysis was spot on and actually what got me here.
hope to someday see/hear on your channel a history of the russian civil war - massive and murky as it is, it would be fantastic to have your view on this fascinating yet oft' times overlooked subject.
take care and all the best. ... 1
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@WarDogMadness6 years ago I was waiting for some one to do this series it was awesome but left karesh in a positive light a bit to much 23
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@internziko4 years ago What an amazing video. I can't believe i haven't found this channel earlier. 1
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@mondomendez51656 years ago Much praise towards the video, Cipher. Absolutely good work in your analysis. 3
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@1lovesoni4 years ago The radio host existence is fairly accurate.
My mother worked in radio in 1993 and she always mentions how riled up all the talk show host and radio personality types became during the stand-off. Everyone on-air had an opinion and they all focused heavily on Waco for weeks.
She claimed after the final siege it was nearly impossible to find any radio station, where Waco wasn't being discussed or reported on constantly (unless it was a music only channel).
It was a huge media circus and almost everybody got involved. Especially those in radio because they have a lot more air-time they can dedicate to such things.
That fervor built over almost 2 months. hit it's peak in the days following the final siege and lasted for about a week afterwards. It was pretty much the only story anyone reported on for a long while. ... 3
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@jonathanramos9026 years ago What do you think of that spike lee movie that came out recently blackkklansman? It's a pretty strange story to say the least 1
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@jaydenbrockington45254 years ago I laughed so hard when they showed ATF agents killing dogs, that’s been a joke in the gun community for so long XD 23
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@thejokingcat7833 years ago I imagine the guy on the radio is an analogue for Rush Limbaugh. 3
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@bryankollmorgen26969 months ago The biggest critique I have always had about the ATF handling of the Branch Davidian warrant was their approach.
They knew that they were serving a warrant on a group of heavily armed Millenerians. People that believe the end of Days is right around the corner. So their approach in serving the warrant is to provide them with their vision of the End of Days, complete with black clad men armed with automatic weapons.
Please note that I am not sympathetic to what was a group of doomsday cultists. What I am is critical of a government agency that somehow fails to take this into account, then acts surprised when it blows up in their faces. What then makes it truly appalling is to have a bureaucrat try to make it all okay by explaining that they were just following procedure.
Yup. Truly not the government’s best look. ... 2
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@eldorados_lost_searcher6 years ago Okay, you get a like for the Senator McCarthy meme. 21
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@multilad8166 years ago There is one minor inaccuracy, and the footage was shown multiple times through documentaries like the Final Report. In the firefight between ATF agents and Davindians, there was an ATF agent on the lower roof near an upper floor that attempted to go in through a window, but he was shot and fell. In the miniseries, he fell off the lower roof to the ground while in reality, he fell on his side but was still on the roof and was possibly carried by other agents.
... 12
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@jamesgeorge75796 years ago I literally heard of the Waco Siege for the first time less than an hour and a half ago, and now there's a video about it in my feed. 5
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@nicolechampeau84325 years ago What is the piano song in the background, I would like to use it...
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@jgotcha43264 years ago Waco is a very complicated topic to tackle and you did great job doing so. that being said i do feel a little mixed with the statement about militia groups being far right when there are militia groups across the politacal spectrum such as the john brown gun club being a communist group oath keepers being right of center paleocons and dont get me started on anarchist militia groups. Like waco militia groups are a very gray as a topic ... 5
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@GunBreaux6 years ago Amusing and introspective, thank you for another well made video. 1
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@skapilgrim71576 years ago Waco was a really good series I am really into cults,and the director made this into a true piece of art. 4
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@Beastkingzetta6 years ago LADY WHY DID YOU SLEEP WITH SUPERGIRL's HUSBAND !?!? 9
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@fremenchips6 years ago You should do a review of Amadeus, I'd like to see how you parse the difference between the creators deliberate historical inaccuracies, vs. narrative techniques of an unreliable narrator and how the film uses historical persons to tell a universal story of the destructive power of envy. Also it's one of the best films of all time. ... 4
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@Chriscaf246 years ago what is that from
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@D2attemp4 years ago I bet every viewer started laughing when they saw that scene. 2
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@k4b44l6 years ago an american leopard 1? filmed in canada? 7
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@theshenpartei6 years ago Yes I have been looking into this a while 1
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@NimhLabs4 years ago ... I'm just distracted that the actor playing David Koresh looks kind of like Hackerman from Kung Fury... 3
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@holyfreak84 years ago It´s not related with the subject of this video, but would you make a video about the first season of "American Crime Story" the fisrt season that covers the trial of OJ Simpson. 1
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@milkchocolategaming71194 years ago A couple of critiques. The first is regarding the Davidians not knowing that a raid was imminent is that the press showed up roughly 30 minutes before hand tipping them off that something was up because the ATF had wanted the whole thing to be broadcast. Also the fire starting is largely taken from David Tibado’s book which says they were relying largely on fire for sources of heat and light in the compound at the end of the raid. And the radio show is taken from a Dallas radio that was sympathetic to the Davidians during the raid ...
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@ljummingen6 years ago Where can you watch this series? I would love to know.
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@lordpuppydudley6 years ago You're going to hell 😂😂😂 3
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@danthefan286 years ago Personally, I think the fire was just a freak accident. Maybe something like a candle fell over, maybe it was a gas leak, but personally, I don't know. 1
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@jamesriley82136 years ago You should review Gladiator, not sure if it claims to be historically accurate though
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@kaiserwilhelmii6744 years ago Currently watching this. Wanted to see the accuracy of it all. 1
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@antediluvianspy17085 years ago "Only far right extremists believe this." A bit absolute for a historian, brother. I support you and your channel but it's human nature to question others and question authority. Its only school that beats that out of us. But now, more people are privy to more information makes that less possible. Love the channel, I am not a far right extremist nor do I believe that the objective is possible to come to in history. I'm on your side. But some people are just lost and ignorant. Not far right neo Nazi scum, lol. ... 39
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@upintheairstudio6 years ago Yo Cypher I know I've suggested this before but do a "Based on a True Story" video on Snowfall and Kill the Messenger (the movie about Gary Webb and Dark Alliance) they're both fascinating stories. 3
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@WickedNemesis6 years ago Is the radio announcer William Cooper?
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@JHohenhauser6 years ago I just watched a biography of David Koresh last night, is this a coincidence or something else?
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@HTHTucoTheRat6 years ago Please do a historical review of "55 Days at Peking" (1963). I would love to see a good abridged history of the Boxer Rebellion and movie. 1
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@SosoTheCircusBear6 years ago This might sound like a retarded question but what did they use the tanks for?
Sorry for my ignorance 3
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@johnyricco12206 years ago Can you review the German movie John Rabe? 1
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@jacoblee89224 years ago I was around 12 y.o. When this happened and I just moved from Waco a year before. I only bring this up to share that the music they were blaring at the Davidians was Metallica if memory srves me.. 2
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@basilofgoodwishes41386 years ago Hey Cypher, would it be too much asked if you could also do some Historical series like HBO Rome and Even Vikings.
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@TheHoagie134 years ago Yeah, as a FELLOW Guardsman who served for 8 LONG Years, 2-147th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 34TH INFANTRY DIVISION "RED BULLS", a 25U/Signal Corps/S6, in Saint Paul Minnesota, I agree with you Battle...... 1
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@count_bodies_like_sheep92964 years ago I went ahead and downloaded both books that the miniseries is based on. I read the book written by the Davidian and have come to notice that while the series alludes to the pedophilia and polygamy, it sort of left out the fact that David Koresh also hit his children. ... 1
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@TheGreatAmphibian3 years ago At 2.30 you say that koresh had sex with pre-teens. I can't find any source saying this - and it was contradicted by the statement of the local sheriff in rules of engagement. Could you source thisplease? Or Corte t it, if it is wrong? ...
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@fireshack64854 years ago I agree with you that this series definitely had a slant toward the Davidians. Reading Gary Noesner's book after watching this revealed that a LOT of information was left out. Noesner is on record with his assessment that Koresh was very unstable and unreliable during negotiations. Koresh's messianic complex became obvious shortly after discussions began and he had no intention of leaving. Also, the fact that the FBI had the entire building under audio surveillance was conspicuously left out of the series. Recorded conversations among the Davidians that the FBI was hearing in real time were quite revealing on what the actual conditions were inside the compound. The negotiation team was not operating in a tent adjacent to the compound but in an aircraft hangar at a nearby airport. Did HRT screw up this operation? Yes, in a major way and that is why FBI leadership ordered significant changes in all future hostage negotiations. ... 1
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@sjsabattis4 years ago You should do the Wounded Knee "incident" of 1973
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@leathery4206 years ago They made a Waco movie? The hell? They make one on Ruby ridge yet? I mean the FBI at least acted somewhat accordingly for Waco, where as Ruby Ridge was just a total shit show on the FBI's part. I guess the surviving members of the weaver family might not want it made into movie, but that's 4 people, not several dozen like with Waco. ... 3
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@cristerowarrior14506 years ago Vernon Howe was not named David Koresh. David Koresh was a Title like Messiah, Christ, king of kings or the holy one of god. 3
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@riccardotassoni98256 years ago Why is there a Leopard 1, german MBT, at ?
It wasn't more practical for Paramount to obtain Americans MBTs or APCs or IFVs?
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@malic_zarith4 years ago I just saw a 2019 movie called The King where the historical inaccuracies are just insane. They definately were making fiction. At least Waco tries to be a little accurate.
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@dunamoose34464 years ago Talking about Waco is like trying to talk about the Troubles 1
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@jayj45606 years ago Well done dude, tough subject. We can all agree it was a real clusterfuck. 1
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@CHEESYHEAD6846 years ago David Koresh looks just like a young Michael Franzese. 1
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@Ml4zobass5 years ago It is my understanding that the firearms were being sold legally through a branch member's gun business. 1
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@moldovanpotato4 years ago Am I the only one that is annoyed by the thing that the tanks are leopard 1/Canadian C variant even tho irl it was M60s 1
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@justinpipes856 years ago Great episode. This is one of the earliest new stories I remember. I was eight when Waco went down. 1
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@Peoples_Republic_of_Devonshire5 years ago I fucking love that song
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@fuzzydunlop79286 years ago GREEDO shot first, Cipher. Goddamn, I thought you were supposed to be some kind of an HISTORIAN or something? I know this stuff happened long ago in a galaxy far away, but that just means it had long-lasting and expansive repercussions. ... 4
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@r.j.lombardi1113 years ago Look one tv- mini series you should do is the 5hour cut of Das Bott (1980s one) 1
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@pmhops776 years ago I'm glad you posted this. I haven't had cable in years and forgot about it, but now remember seeing the ads for this and wanting to see it. I tend to fall on the "conspiracy theory" side of a lot of issues. However, I always seek out the truth (ie, The Towers absolutely fell due to fire and impact damage, however there were a lot of weird coincidences surrounding the events of 9/11). It always angers me when people blindly follow wild and unbased speculation (explosives in The Towers) instead of focusing on hard facts (the people/company that owned The Towers took out a new insurance policy on the property shortly before the attacks). PS, I know 9/11 has nothing to do with this topic. I'm just using those examples to illustrate my reasoning when approaching conspiracies... Great vid! ... 2
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@stormiewutzke41902 years ago I am kinda new to your channel and I like how you do things. The old I get the more I realize that nothing is completely true or right and everything has some sort of subjective tint at least. Unfortunately even though I like this imperfect way of thinking about the world it makes it harder to fit in my head and I feel disconnected from everyone who "knows" what makes the world turn. ...
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@RomanianJ964 years ago If you want a different term for future use, Religious Studies uses the term "New Religious Movement" (NRM) to describe such groups due to the negative and derisive connotations attached to the term "cult" ...
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@lawrence95066 years ago The whole of the event was very high on the ridiculous scale.
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@ethankellogg80872 years ago The sad consequence of conspiracy theories being deleted in the comment section is that I lose my favorite source of entertainment. I bought this popcorn for nothing!
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@raseli40665 years ago with what kind of gas?
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@cristerowarrior14506 years ago Everyone should look at Steve Hassan’s speech at NIU in the 1990’s
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@TheHoagie134 years ago "SAPERE AUDE"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOO!!! You go, Battle! You Tell 'EM!!! 1
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@pillarsofserpents4 years ago sad all those people had to die because Koresh was coward 9
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@tballstaedt78074 years ago I have a background in LE as well as some experience around federal LE. I don't know how you feel about federal law enforcement but it is tenuous at best and often ends in the worst possible outcomes. The Waco and Ruby Ridge fuck ups were paradigm shifters. The feds are now much more careful about how they handle dissenting groups like this. Their reaction is far less authoritarian in appearance and far more measured and careful. I for one see that as a very good thing. For example, look how the standoff with the Bundy brothers in Oregon turned out. The only fatality was Lavoy Finnicum who plainly attempted to draw his weapon on the federal agents who were executing a lawful warrant and acting in permission and cooperation with the neighboring county Sheriff. If Finnicum was'nt such a hot head he would be back home now with a full pardon fraternizing with his wives. ... 1
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@semblt4 years ago Do Leonard Peltier and attack on jumping bull compound.
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@l_shaun_bunds_l4 years ago You leave out how often and horribly the negotiators were completely without integrity or how they basically fulfilled themselves as Babylon, shooting blindly while children slept, killing people with impunity that were unarmed, making threats to stay away from windows, etc... they are both to blame in the end. There is no way around it ...
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@Corium16 years ago The conspiracy surrounding this event go wild and rampant.