The Turner Diaries presents very interesting insight into the networks of apocalyptic groups. Its details and progression allows us to juxtapose the policies of the two opposing sides, and provides an opportunity for more thorough evaluation of the two extremities of this apocalypse-ridden storyline.

The inherent racism that pervades the mind of Earl Turner sheds light on a very important element of Macdonald’s end to the Old Era: motive. Hatred of blacks and Jews for that matter, coupled with an esteemed notion of the white race lays out the foundation for the Organization’s massive rebellion. Issues with eugenics and biology as a whole propels the fight of the Organization. The latter portion of this novel adds new depth for the subject of racial controversy and bigotry. We learn a lot about the origins of their “white man’s burden” from the stories and past experiences of characters that are slowly integrated into the text. For example, Elsa’s account of abuse and oppression by the black students at her new school presents a negative view of blacks, which prompts readers to reason and sympathize with this racial hatred. Furthermore, her liberal parent’s blatant disregard for this inflicted torture opens up a whole new subject: the fight against the liberalist cause. Of course, we connect with Earl when he presents this case to us. It seems utterly absurd that liberals would allow such horrible black behavior exist in their community, simply because they did not want to risk looking like racists. Thus, our analysis of the right and left wing parties of the Old Era falls into a new complex, upon learning that the ways of the System’s followers are nearly as far- fetched and irrational as those of the Organization.

Our understanding of the race relations in this novel can be linked to the role of women in this society as well. Undoubtedly, we encounter women in this novel, through words and names of gender degradation. When describing the two young girls walking with the Negroes who shot up drugs, Earl labels them “sluts” and “little bitches”. He then somewhat redeems himself by stating that, “I understand that the two girls were with the Blacks only because they had been infected with the disease of liberalism by the schools and the churches and the plastic pop culture the System churns out for young people these days. Presumably, if they had been raised in a healthy society they would have had some racial pride.” It is obvious that people of the Organization validate their cause and unjust means on the basis of racial integrity and pride. However, we must note that even this integrity is weakened when Earl denounces the defense of whites who fail to fight for their own race in an attempt to protect liberalist values. Yet again, this clash of politics and personal values becomes pertinent to our understanding of Macdonald’s apocalypse.

The strict regime of the Organization upholds a high level of rigidity that starkly resonates with that of other apocalyptic groups, including those of the Heaven’s Gate Society and The Peoples Temple. The members are dedicated to their work and will not rest until all duties are fulfilled. We witness the relentless fulfillment of duty that is expected of all the rebels when Earl is sentenced to fulfill a deadly task, retribution for not dying in what was meant to be a martyred mission for his Organization. Even when Earl was imprisoned by the System and apart from his rebels, he experienced a very similar lifestyle to that exemplified by Jim Jone’s congregation. He too, was not allowed to communicate with anyone, and did not have any access to news or media that would provide information about the outside world. In fact, there is a nexus between this hindered communication and that which was observed in the movie “Colussus: The Forbin Project”. Once Colussus took control of Dr. Forbin, he too was unable to communicate with anyone and had to fake a love affair in order exchange information with another human being. We can certainly note a correlation here; once the opposing force, whether it be a Liberal government, a congregational leader (as seen in the case of Jim Jones), or even a man-made computational machine such as Colussus, finally gains power, this force will isolate its subject from the rest of society in order to quell any threats of disloyalty or uprising. This constant battle between the two sides of the apocalypse proves to be filled with paranoia, violence, and social unrest.

It is clear that all social order and humanity is challenged by a planned apocalypse, such as that seen in The Turner Diaries. But while much of this challenge does indeed target the bulk of society, great damage is done on the individual basis as well. Earl frequently alludes to the loss of identity that he experiences under the Organization. We saw this when all members received new names and social security cards. “Identity under identity under identity-I’ve almost forgotten who Earl Turner is or what he actually looks like!” Coupled with this loss of identity is an aura of anonymity. The most striking instance of this concept occurred during preparation for one of the attacks, when the members were trained that anyone not wearing an armband was to be shot. At this point, the Organization is not only stripped of individual identity, but of all humanity as well. This tactic does in fact relegate the Organization to the level of Nazi warfare. I’ll have to credit Macdonald once more, in that he alludes to this allegory earlier in the novel, when Earl states that many of the System’s civilians have equated their attacks with those of WWII gas chambers. With this minor incorporation, the author manages to equate the entire apocalyptic battle with that of a world-wide war. It is this grand scale that truly puts the apocalypse at the brink of warlike thinking. In this society where the revolutionaries attempt to eliminate the “conspicuously evil”, one has to wonder if there is any good left.