Ruby Ridge : The Truth and Tragedy of the Randy Weaver Family

Rating:
Summary: The unbiased truth from the beginning to...the future.
Review: I was raised in a rural part of Idaho, and was 17 during the summer of the Ruby Ridge siege. At the time all I got from the local media was that a crazy mountain man who had warrants for his arrest was holding Federal officers at bay on a remote mountain hours north of where I lived.
Eleven years later I read this book. It gave me the true story, from the beginning, of what really happened during that 11 day span that became such a historic event in our great state.
What it came down to, even past the feds having it out for Randy Weaver, was a Terrible lesson in miscommunication. When word got back to Washington, it was said that Randy Weaver had government agents "pinned down" by his "compound". The fact is, hours before, Federal agents had trespassed on the property, surprised Randy, his son, their dog, and their friend Kevin Harris. The result was the family dog being shot in the back, 12 year old Sammy Weaver being shot in the back as he ran away yelling "I'm coming dad!" and a Federal Marshall shot to death in self defense (I don't think there is much doubt who shot first).

In the days that follow, more blood would be shed; (Vicki Weaver is shot to death in the head by a sniper while holding her baby). Information would be re-scripted, re-tooled, and eventually covered up in many cases. One of the most compelling parts of the story is knowing why they stayed holed up in their cabin that long. Anyone that had ventured out before had been shot at!

Another interesting note that I did not know till reading this book was the neo-nazi connection. Weaver was not a neo-nazi, as the media portrayed him to be. He did however, know a couple of them in his passings in the area. The money and time spent to set up Randy so he would squeal on the Neo Nazi's was ridiculous. When he simply said "no, I don't want to have any part of it, I just want to mind my own business and be left alone". Now you would think they would honor this and let him be, but no. They changed the rules of engagement so that they could ultimately and hopefull slaughter all involved...and for what? Because they had different religious beliefs? What possible threat did one quiet mountain family have againt anyone?

On a lighter note, it was nice to see the new experiences that the oldest daughter enjoyed when moving in with relatives back in Iowa. Getting to see her first movie on a theatre screen (which led her to get a job in the theatre soon after) and listening to rock music was something many of us take for granted. This book is a must read if you are of an open mind. Despite religious or polotical views, everyone should read this book. It may change you're outlook on many things, if only for the better. I only hope there was a lessoned learned somewhere by those responsible, after what happened on a remote Idaho Mountain in the summer of '92.

Rating:
Summary: Disturbing and Important
Review: The book is both disturbing and important. It traces the tragedy of Ruby Ridge, Idaho from the very beginning, even before Idaho. It profiles Randy and Vicki Weaver when they first meant and follows through their marriage, their children and their move to Idaho. It explores their different beliefs in depth and both their problems and triumphs throughout their marriage.

It explains how the U.S. Marshall Service and the ATF first noticed Randy Weaver and why they were interested in him. Did they initially set him up? It explains what the reaction of the FBI was when they were called to the scene. How the government agencies invovled escalated the problem to a new level. How the lack of communication within the government made a bad situation worse.

It follows the aftermath of the seige and the shootings into the evidence gathering stage and through the trial. It follows the survivors and what they have become, their tribulations.

This is a very important book for everyone to read. It is about lack of tolerance in others beliefs. About the governments miscommunications and lack of sharing information between departments. This has been going on for years, way before 9-11. It delves into the fact that government agencies don't like to admit they were wrong and will sacrifice the little guy to protect the big guy. It show that there is hard working decent people working for the government as well as complete self serving, intolerant, career mongers looking for nothing but advancement and the connections to insulate themselves from the decisions they've made.

Randy Weaver and his family thought differently than many. They wanted to be left alone. And they were pushed and pushed to the breaking point. Attacked and surrounded and attacked again. The Weaver's paid the price for their beliefs but the government agents that overstepped their bounds have never been brought to justice or even held accountable with more than meager 15 day suspensions. The courts felt the government wrong enough to award a monetary settlement to the Weaver's. When will the total truth come out?

This is an excellent book full of information and presented well. It is engrossing and pulls you in from the beginning. It reads well. I recommend it to everyone.