Scholars tackle ‘cult’ questions 20 years after Branch Davidian tragedy

[TexasTowelie]

Their apocalypse came and went on a Monday afternoon, 
20 years ago this week.

By the time David Koresh and 75 followers met their fiery end on a prairie near Waco on April 19, 1993, the worst possible image of Branch Davidians was branded on the public mind.

They were fanatics, kooks, cop-killers, members of a suicidal cult or, at best, brainwashed minions of an “Evil Messiah,” as People magazine dubbed Koresh in a cover headline.

Predictions that the Mount Carmel complex would be “another Jonestown” seemed vindicated as the incinerated remains of men, women and children were collected from the rubble of the inferno.

More at http://www.wacotrib.com/news/religion/scholars-tackle-cult-questions-years-after-branch-davidian-tragedy/article_a3fa463e-d1b4-5eda-b49e-95327bc276d7.html .

Cross posted in Texas Group.

[JaneyVee]

1. I remember watching this live when I was 12, it was day something of the standoff.

Tanks fired flames at the compound and I spent half the day crying and sad.

[longship]

2. "Tanks fired flames at the compound..."

I don't remember that. I saw tanks inserting tear gas through the walls. at the time it was said that the tear has might have ignited the combustibles that the Branch Davidians had dispersed around the compound. Also, the whole place became an inferno so quickly, the Branch Davidians had to have had a lot of accelerant around there.

That's what I remember seeing and hearing about it. I certainly don't recall any flames being fired into the compound. Lots of bullets maybe, but no flames.

[Warpy]

3. Exactly, and I remember the flames starting several different

places at once. Tanks were firing tear gas and starting to tear down walls that had been reinforced with bales of hay.

The whole place was a tinderbox and listening devices confirmed that the Davidians themselves had spread fuel throughout.

It was sick and sad. Those poor, violent, deluded people and their kids--what a waste.