Culture

Church Gunman Hijacks Rhodesian and South African Culture to Support Murder

Last night nine people were senselessly murdered at a predominately black church in Charleston, South Carolina during a prayer service.  The gunmen has been identified by police as Dylann Roof.  From his profile picture on Facebook (shown as the featured image of this article) we can begin to identify a possible motive.  Seen on Roof’s jacket are the flags of the former countries of Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and apartheid-era South Africa.  Both of those countries were run by white minority rule which changed in 1980 for Rhodesia and in 1994 for South Africa.

In the past, SOFREP has covered the conflicts in Rhodesia and South Africa, for what they are and for what they are not, without glorifying white settler governments.  Many would argue that things were better in South Africa and Zimbabwe under the previous governments, however, times and change and there is no place for race based governments in this day and age.

For Roof to latch onto Rhodesia and South Africa, presumably as role models, to justify his senseless murder of innocent people is as misguided as it is disgusting.  Anachronistic racial policies are nothing to admire.  Whatever one thinks about Rhodesian and pre-1994 South African policies, Roof is clearly a very lost and confused young man.

You've reached your daily free article limit.

Subscribe and support our veteran writing staff to continue reading.

Get Full Ad-Free Access For Just $0.50/Week

Enjoy unlimited digital access to our Military Culture, Defense, and Foreign Policy coverage content and support a veteran owned business. Already a subscriber?

Last night nine people were senselessly murdered at a predominately black church in Charleston, South Carolina during a prayer service.  The gunmen has been identified by police as Dylann Roof.  From his profile picture on Facebook (shown as the featured image of this article) we can begin to identify a possible motive.  Seen on Roof’s jacket are the flags of the former countries of Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and apartheid-era South Africa.  Both of those countries were run by white minority rule which changed in 1980 for Rhodesia and in 1994 for South Africa.

In the past, SOFREP has covered the conflicts in Rhodesia and South Africa, for what they are and for what they are not, without glorifying white settler governments.  Many would argue that things were better in South Africa and Zimbabwe under the previous governments, however, times and change and there is no place for race based governments in this day and age.

For Roof to latch onto Rhodesia and South Africa, presumably as role models, to justify his senseless murder of innocent people is as misguided as it is disgusting.  Anachronistic racial policies are nothing to admire.  Whatever one thinks about Rhodesian and pre-1994 South African policies, Roof is clearly a very lost and confused young man.

About Jack Murphy View All Posts

Jack served as a Sniper and Team Leader in 3rd Ranger Battalion and as a Senior Weapons Sergeant on a Military Free Fall team in 5th Special Forces Group. Having left the military in 2010, he graduated from Columbia with a BA in political science. Murphy is the author of Reflexive Fire, Target Deck, Direct Action, and Gray Matter Splatter. His memoir, "Murphy's Law" is due for a 2019 release and can be pre-ordered now.

COMMENTS

You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.

More from SOFREP

REAL EXPERTS.
REAL NEWS.

Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis.

TRY 14 DAYS FREE

Already a subscriber? Log In