What Happened at Waco?

An exclusive interview with Waco survivor David Thibodeau, co-author of A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story

Michael W. Lynch | October 4, 1999

(Page 9 of 9)

Reason: You’re married with a kid now. How’s that?

Thibodeau: It’s great. I have a beautiful little girl.

Reason: Do you attend church regularly?

Thibodeau: No. We went for a little while. But it’s like when you have an understanding of the scriptures the way I do, why do you need to go to church? I still believe that a lot of churches are there to make money and give people good feeling. If you want good feeling, that’s great. But if you believe in the word of God you should take it literally. The word of God is not about a good feeling. Faith will get you through if you are having a bad time. God will also give you that bad time to test you and strengthen you. I like studying with a group still. They are rebuilding the church out there.

Reason: Is the community going to rebuild in Waco?

Thibodeau: They want to have a sanctuary out there where people can come and study.

Reason: Will you ever return to it?

Thibodeau: Sure, once in a while.

Reason: When I read your book, Koresh doesn’t come off as a good person. Do you think he was a good person?

Thibodeau: It’s hard to understand. I think he was a good person. But there are a lot of things that people wouldn’t understand about what he was doing. There were a lot of things that people wouldn’t consider good acts. But I believe that he had a role to fulfill.

Reason: The documentary, Waco: Rules of Engagement, has been very influential in reopening this issue. Do you have any problems with what it includes and what it leaves out?

Thibodeau: I think it’s very good. There’s so much material that a lot had to be left out. You just can’t cover it in two-and-a-half hours. Let’s see what happens when that new film comes out.