Huckleberries: Local American Redoubters have a catchy marching tune rather than a compound

Richard Butler and the Aryan Nations followed a “territorial imperative” to establish a white kingdom in the Pacific Northwest and built a compound. But the Aryans failed to achieve their goal.

Now, the religious preppers of the American Redoubt movement are answering the siren call to move to the Inland Northwest. They want to be in a place to defend themselves when all hell breaks loose elsewhere. Already, Redoubters have endeared themselves to – and embedded themselves in – the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee. And they even have a catchy marching song.

In a YouTube video dated Feb. 22, a couple of good old boys with white beards at the Lordship Church CdA sang “The Redoubt Song.” The words and music were written by Warren M. Campbell. The tune sounds like an upbeat version of the old Gospel hymn “Are You Washed in the Blood?” Others might say that it offers a hint of the old Johnny Cash song “I Walk the Line.”

Here’s one verse: “Have you found a place where liberty dwells/A place where God, guns and freedom reign/From the church and the home/No grander life can tell/Without a doubt/You’re in the Redoubt.”

As the late Dick Clark of the old “American Bandstand” might say: The lyrics are so-so. But the tune is easy to dance to.

Huckleberries archives

Twenty-five years ago (May 16, 1992), Coeur d’Alene had just passed the bond for a second high school. Tongue firmly cheeked, Huckleberries reported: “Coeur d’Alene chamber manager Pat McGaughey thinks the mascot for the yet-unnamed second Coeur d’Alene high school should be (drum roll please) – ‘Volunteers.’ We’re not talking about the true-grit volunteers of Tennessee here. In a letter to Coeur d’Alene schools Superintendent Keith Tolzin, McGaughey enthuses that he wants to honor those who volunteered their time and effort to pass the May 5 high school bond: ‘This name recognizes and honors forever the total community effort that was put into this much-needed facility.’ Huckleberries has a few suggestions, too. How about a mascot that would honor our tourism industry? Perhaps something like Lake City High Minimum Wage Earners? Or our pristine rivers and lakes? Contaminated Cutthroat Trout? Or the local media competition? That’s it! The Fighting Directories of Hagadone High.”

Huckleberries

Poet’s Corner: “The nutrients/are rich and rare,/and yet it’s much/like chewing air” – Tom Wobker, The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Reflections on a Tofu Entrée”) … Quotable Quote: “McCarthyism: We must get rid of all commies in government. Trumpism: We must get rid of all Comeys in government. How’d the first one work out?” – John Austin of Medimont, Idaho … Nic Casey, of Coeur d’Alene, has a message for that female driver who was clearly upset Tuesday morning, May 9, that he was going the posted speed limit: If you’re going to get miffed easily while driving, it might be a good idea to remove the HAPPY3X from your vanity plate … Poll: Huckleberries Online readers view Spokane with mixed emotions. A slender plurality (28.05 percent) describe it as “a bigger town to avoid.” But nearly as many (26.24 percent) view it as a good place for entertainment, shopping and dining. Then, there were the scaredy-cats (22.17 percent) who said Spokane was “dangerous after dark” … Hearing the results of the poll, Melissa Luck of KXLY tweeted: “Time to get out more, folks.” But, but, but, we’re in the redoubt. We’re afraid of of our shadows. Without a doubt.

Parting shot

If you have been to City Beach or Independence Point on the Coeur d’Alene waterfront in the last week, you’ve seen a water jungle gym contraption hundreds of feet into Lake Coeur d’Alene. It has a slide, swing, diving board and a platform for sunning. City staffers refer to it as “Tarzan.” A private party unilaterally placed “Tarzan” there after he was unable to get city permission to do so. The city and the Idaho Department of Lands have asked that the play thing be removed. It was still out there at noon Tuesday when I walked the waterfront. Prediction: The city will win this fight.