Cross Burning- We Haven't Come So Far After All

[TN_Vixen]

Story here: http://knoxnews/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_943580,00.html

My son plays basketball on the North side of town in a more racially diverse area than where we live. The other day I was aware of so many more interracial relationships and harmony than is apparent in most areas of E.TN. Just a day after feeling heartened by this, I learn the KKK is still going strong here and continuing to reap hatred and intolerance.

 

[Lady Violet]

You'd think people would wake up and see what a better world this would be if everyone just accepted that we are all different. Unfortunately, some people would rather sleep.

Btw, your link doesnt work.

 

[TN_Vixen]

hm- link works for me, but here's the story anyway

ET mayor has cross burned in yard

Hate crime reported days before Klan rally

By J.J. Stambaugh, News-Sentinel staff writer

A wooden cross was burned on the front lawn of Newport Mayor Roland Dykes' home early Wednesday, and federal authorities are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
The cross was reportedly found leaning against Dykes' mailbox just after midnight when it was seen by a passing motorist, according to police accounts.

FBI spokesman Scott Nowinski confirmed that the U.S. Department of Justice is leading the investigation. He declined to speculate on whether the incident was connected to a Ku Klux Klan rally set to take place in Newport on Saturday.

Dykes is the first black mayor in the history of Newport, a town of 7,100 residents and the seat of Cocke County government.

Dykes, a masonry contractor, served on Newport City Council for 12 years before he was appointed mayor following the death of former Mayor James Robinson in July 1998. Four months later, an overwhelming majority of voters elected him to the post.

Dykes couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.

The Klan announced several weeks ago that it was planning a Jan. 19 rally at the Cocke County Courthouse to celebrate the birthday of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and to protest the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Attica Scott, executive director of the National Conference for Community and Justice in Knoxville, was dismayed by news of the cross-burning.

"I'm at a loss; I really don't know what to say," Scott said. "I don't think our community in 2002 is really prepared to deal with these kinds of issues."

Scott went on to say that she's worried about what may happen at Saturday's rally, where tensions were already expected to run high.

"I've talked with people who plan to go to Newport to protest the Klan march, but I'm concerned because we haven't had the kind of training that our leaders who were part of the Civil Rights movement had," she said. "We don't know how to handle this kind of hatred head-on."

She continued: "Our community wants to ignore that this kind of racial hatred still exists, and now we have clear evidence that it does exist."

Cross-burning episodes have taken place on only a sporadic basis in East Tennessee since a wave of incidents in the 1970s. In the early 1990s, a black family chose to move from their home in North Knox County after enduring a cross-burning and other forms of harassment, Scott said.

It wasn't immediately clear what impact the cross-burning would have on how law enforcement officials plan to handle Saturday's rally. Several groups have announced plans to stage a counter-demonstration at the courthouse, while Newport officials and black community leaders have been urging people to instead attend a "Diversity Festival" at Cocke County High School.

"I'm always concerned (about safety), but the Klan has promised a peaceful demonstration," said Newport Police Chief Clay Webb. "What we're trying to do is get everybody to go to the Diversity Festival and not have everybody down there to look at them so (the Klan) won't come back."

The rally was reportedly organized by the Tennessee White Knights of Yahweh, a Morristown-based chapter of the Ku Klux Klan.

The chapter's Grand Dragon, Scott Fultz, didn't return phone calls. In a Jan. 7 interview with the News-Sentinel, Fultz said that Klansmen from Kentucky and Georgia are planning to attend the rally, along with local members.

Also, the Alabama White Knights are advertising the event on their Web site. According to the Alabama chapter, the rally will feature a "huge crosslighting ceremony" along with a "robed Klan march" and security provided by "robed Klansmen on horseback."

Police have indicated that any attempt to burn a cross in public may violate local, state and federal laws, including hate crime statutes that carry stiff legal penalties.

In recent years, the Klan has staged a number of high-profile rallies in the organization's birthplace of Pulaski, Tenn., as well as towns in Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia.

No one from the Klan has indicated why Newport was chosen as the site of the rally. If the event goes forth as planned, it will be the most public demonstration by the organization in the middle East Tennessee area since 1978, according to News-Sentinel records.

 

[tn_8tiv]

Ignorance remains the number one cause of hate crimes such as these. Stupid, ignorant Rednecks whose brains are about as big as their dicks will always look for ways to show their "macho" personality. Their vocabulary consists primarily of four letter words and their actions border on the same ideals as those of Osama bin Laden.

It would be great if we could just ignore these stupid bastards but they are like a cancer...just keep growing. I grew up in Middle Tennessee and it was during an era when segregation was observed. I remember well all of the violence and hatred of the 60's. Fortunately, I moved to California during this period and coupled with my military background, found out that people are people regardless of their skin color, religion or ethnic background.

I'm of Native American descent and believe me, I have experienced much of problems associated with people of different cultures. My ancestors were treated harshly, moved from their homes and are discriminated against even today. (Our revenge is to build casinos and take all of their god damn money!)

No, we haven't had to face the KKK and for this I'm glad. I agree TN_Vixen, we all should work to eradicate this form of Terrorism from the face of the earth.

Sorry for the soapbox but this kind of bigotry gets my blood boiling.

 

[SGTBIGDOG420]

some people should not be let out of the house its these silly ass redneck basterds who give a real cracker a bad name. but I do have one problem with this story, why is it that white sepremist are the only one who get investigated for "A HATE CRIME" while this is obviusly a hate crime there have been others that were just as obvius that were declared not to be one example I recall very well was when 4 or 5 young black men (in there teens) decided to beat the next white they saw and did end up beating a 20 somthing retarded man to death yet that wasnt a hate crime according to the news reporters and police even though these men said in there statment that this was their plan. I think all racially motivated thinking needs to stop and we all need to realise their is only one race.............THE HUMAN RACE.

 

[tigerjen]

For God's sakes its the 21st Century.......I can't believe
the KKK and cross burnings.....among other hate
crimes....still occur. I think its disgusting! It is important
to be educated on diversity and its issues.....and that
there are many different people in the world.....if everyone
was the same, the world would be dull!

Thank goodness for the ADL (Anti-Defamation League)
which educates and works to put a stop to hate crimes!

Unfortunately, there are people in this world still out
there who are still "asleep".......:angry:

 

[alltherage]

Like everyone else I hate racism and bigotry. I am less fearful of the kkk and extremist groups than I am of some of our so called leaders. I am thinking of the Jerry Fallwells and Pat Robinsons of the world. The statements they made immediately after sept 11 indicated that they believed that homosexuality and abortion had caused god to abandon the united states. I wonder what statements like that do in the minds or those with a hatred which is already cooking. Bias and ignorance is everywhere. Regan ignored aids as long as he believed it was just a gay man disease. The air force forces air women to dress in arab garb when off base in saudi arabia. This is ordered dispite the fact that the saudi's don't require more than conservative dress for western women. If I took the time I am sure I can come up with a thousand instances of race or gender or orientation bias in this country. The odd thing is that when I do the extreme fools who burn a cross don't scare me nearly so much. At least I can see them coming.

 

[SINthysist]

I feel the same exact way about the behavior of the NAACP during the last election. There are way more militant, leftist, African Americans than there are Klanners. We've pretty much stomped the shit out of the right-wing militant Caucasions, not to mention the Indians...

 

[tigerjen]

Like everyone else I hate racism and bigotry. I am less fearful of the kkk and extremist groups than I am of some of our so called leaders. I am thinking of the Jerry Fallwells and Pat Robinsons of the world. The statements they made immediately after sept 11 indicated that they believed that homosexuality and abortion had caused god to abandon the united states. I wonder what statements like that do in the minds or those with a hatred which is already cooking. Bias and ignorance is everywhere. Regan ignored aids as long as he believed it was just a gay man disease. The air force forces air women to dress in arab garb when off base in saudi arabia. This is ordered dispite the fact that the saudi's don't require more than conservative dress for western women. If I took the time I am sure I can come up with a thousand instances of race or gender or orientation bias in this country. The odd thing is that when I do the extreme fools who burn a cross don't scare me nearly so much. At least I can see them coming.

It's Pat Robertson ....
Anyway, I can't stand him or Jerry Falwell......what stupid remarks they made
in regards to 9/11, saying that homosexuality, abortion etc. were the reasons
why G-d "abandoned" the US. what's really sad is that they are Americans, and
they said those darn words! Terrible! In my opinion its best to ignore what they
say to an extent, because a good majority of people don't agree with them anyway.

Opinions?

tigerjen

 

[SINthysist]

Clinton said things in a similar vein, only aimed at "white, conservative" America.

 

[alltherage]

It's Pat Robertson ....
Anyway, I can't stand him or Jerry Falwell......what stupid remarks they made
in regards to 9/11, saying that homosexuality, abortion etc. were the reasons
why G-d "abandoned" the US. what's really sad is that they are Americans, and
they said those darn words! Terrible! In my opinion its best to ignore what they
say to an extent, because a good majority of people don't agree with them anyway.

Opinions?

tigerjen

I guess I already do to some extent. I got Pat's name wrong didn't I?

 

[alltherage]

Clinton said things in a similar vein, only aimed at "white, conservative" America.

Such as?

 

[tigerjen]

I guess I already do to some extent. I goPat's last name wrong didn't I?

It's okay....dont' worry about it!

 

[privy2u]

Want to talk about hate?

Well I hate that racism is still alive in our country. I know it's far to much to ask the it totaly disappear in my lifetime though. Racism has been around for centuries but since the major ground swell of active protests in the 60's (my frame of reference) we have made great strides in education and understanding in most of the American population.
The hard-core racist people around her are mostly backwoods rednecks who refuse to surrender to the concept that their forefathers were wrong. Ignorance is an anchor that slows the struggle against racism, but have faith that there will be a day when racism is only a chapter in our history books.


privy

 

[alltherage]

It's okay....dont' worry about it!

danks

 

[SINthysist]

alltherage

Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001

Clinton Joins the Blame-America-First Crowd

Bill Clinton says that terror has existed in America for hundreds of years and the U.S. is "paying a price today" for its past sins.

This is what the millionaire speech maker said Wednesday at Georgetown University, according to today's Washington Times:

"Here in the United States, we were founded as a nation that practiced slavery, and slaves quite frequently were killed even though they were innocent.

"This country once looked the other way when a significant number of native Americans were dispossessed and killed to get their land or their mineral rights or because they were thought of as less than fully human.

"And we are still paying a price today."

This is from the man who is causing a black heritage site in Little Rock, Ark., to be demolished so his presidential "library" can be built.

The impeached ex-president blames today's Muslim terrorism on Christians of long ago.

"In the first Crusade, when the Christian soldiers took Jerusalem, they first burned a synagogue with 300 Jews in it and proceeded to kill every woman and child who was a Muslim on the Temple Mount. I can tell you that story is still being told today in the Middle East, and we are still paying for it."

Fox News Channel tonight showed a clip of him sounding like a stereotypical Guilty White Liberal: "Those of us who come from various European lineages are not blameless."




There's more of this ilk...

 

[seulreveur]

"Just a day after feeling heartened by this, I learn the KKK is still going strong here and continuing to reap hatred and intolerance."

YIKES!

 

[s1ng2m3]

Flapjacks and pancakes

Hmmmmm......

I wonder if it has anything to do with the saturated pancake house market in that part of the country? Too many carbos?

Not to make light of a serious issue. But it makes you wonder about the people you see every day in your routine. Seemingly decent people by all outward appearances, but with something tragically wrong.

How can Americans be surprised about religious violence when it happens in our own backyard.

What is the difference between religious and racist bigotry? If you ask me, very little. It isn't what burns, so to speak, it's the burning. The process... the same hatred directed at different targets.

 

[TN_Vixen]

Re: Flapjacks and pancakes

Hmmmmm......

I wonder if it has anything to do with the saturated pancake house market in that part of the country? Too many carbos?

I knew there was a reason I didn't eat the pancakes . ;-)

 

[Weird Harold]

You'd think people would wake up and see what a better world this would be if everyone just accepted that we are all different. Unfortunately, some people would rather sleep.

Unfortunately, the KKK and other organizations of that ilk don't sleep. Small minded people are frightened by the very thought of equality because they would no longer be ale to feel "superior" to those they hate and would put down. They are slowly but surely losing ground to the forces of reason.

Frightened people do desperate things, and try to destroy what makes them afraid. There is very little fundamental difference between the KKK, Aryan Nation, and Al Queda.

 

[Thumper]

Syn

Let me guess...

Slavery was an idea conjured up by a "vast left wing" conspiracy to make whites feel bad about themselves?

The Crusades are a figment of the Muslim imagination?

Native Americans in reality were treated fairly and justly?

Damn! Learn something new everyday.

African Americans comprise around 12-20% of the US population. A significant portion of them would have to be "militant" to equal the Klan membership.

It was only 45 to 50 years ago that blacks were treated as second class citizens under the laws of the time....now it seems white America wants them to sit down and shut up.

"Hey! Whatta ya bitchin about? We threw you a bone."

The Klansmen are still too cowardly to take off the sheet.

 

[SINthysist]

Let me guess...

Slavery was an idea conjured up by a "vast left wing" conspiracy to make whites feel bad about themselves?


No, but it has made an excellent vehicle in which to hide the new rascist philosophies of the left as they know a house divided against itself cannot stand.



The Crusades are a figment of the Muslim imagination?

Twice in History, Christiandom has had to defeat the Moors and then the Turks as they tried to spread Islam at the point of a sword. One crusade for profit, one crusade to liberate a traditional Christian Holy city, and one crusade for God know's what reason, one of those strange abberations of History.



Native Americans in reality were treated fairly and justly?

By whom? The white man or the Lacota Souix? The Cherokee kept slaves.


Yes there may be some new things you can learn.



Yes, and what percentage of the American population is currently a member of the Klan? Less than the membership of the N4AP. Its true, its true!

And what is different the white sheet of the Klansman, or the political white sheet of Affermitive action and Political Correctness? Hiding is hiding.

You use the klan like a bogey man, and slavery as a bogey man. So who are you trying to scare with them?

 

[tn_8tiv]

Let me guess...

Slavery was an idea conjured up by a "vast left wing" conspiracy to make whites feel bad about themselves?


No, but it has made an excellent vehicle in which to hide the new rascist philosophies of the left as they know a house divided against itself cannot stand.



The Crusades are a figment of the Muslim imagination?

Twice in History, Christiandom has had to defeat the Moors and then the Turks as they tried to spread Islam at the point of a sword. One crusade for profit, one crusade to liberate a traditional Christian Holy city, and one crusade for God know's what reason, one of those strange abberations of History.



Native Americans in reality were treated fairly and justly?

By whom? The white man or the Lacota Souix? The Cherokee kept slaves.


Yes there may be some new things you can learn.



Yes, and what percentage of the American population is currently a member of the Klan? Less than the membership of the N4AP. Its true, its true!

And what is different the white sheet of the Klansman, or the political white sheet of Affermitive action and Political Correctness? Hiding is hiding.

You use the klan like a bogey man, and slavery as a bogey man. So who are you trying to scare with them?

Hey Sin, you're missing the whole point of this discussion I believe. It's not about slavery, or your political bent...it's about intimidation and crimes caused by hate because of the color of a person's skin or because of their religious beliefs. These run the gamut, many of which you have referred to.

If we are to have the freedom to express our views and pursue those inalienable rights - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we should be able to accept the views and ethnicity of all those around us.

 

[Guest]

Kooks of the Klan Fascinate Yankees

Big-time media seems obsessed by the Ku Klux Klan. Give them anything that has a sheet or a pointed hat involved in it, and it's time to pull out all the stops.

David Duke wasn't about to be elected in Louisiana, but he was a former Klansman, so he wound up on front pages across the country.

And David Duke was a Southerner, as well. A white Southern male with a Ku Klux Klan background can get more press than Mario Cuomo flipping a coin to see if he's going to run for president and then putting off the decision again to go for two out of three.

The Northern media are especially fond of the Klan as the basis for a news story. It's their geographical ignorance showing. What many Northerners know of the South they learned watching The Beverly Hillbillies or Mississippi Burning.

I was on the phone with a New Yorker, and he asked me, "What time is it in Atlanta?"

"What time is it in New York?" I asked him back.

"4:30," he said.

"You're not going to believe this," I said, "but Atlanta is in the same time zone as New York. It's 4:30 here, too."

Where did he think Georgia was? Next to Texas? One of those talk-show hostesses came to Atlanta. Apparently she couldn't find any Southern left-handed lesbian cross-dressers who were being denied their right to marry goats, so she rounded up a few Klansmen, or people who said they were in the Klan in order to get on television.

Several years ago, Larry King came to Atlanta to do his show and I was asked to appear on the second half. The first half, Larry King interviewed some kook from the Klan.

"How can you do this to me, Larry?" I joked with him. "Everybody watching this show sees me following a nut in a robe and a pointed hat and they figure my outfit's in the cleaners or something."

The Klan hasn't had any influence in the South in decades. What few members remain are too stupid, for one thing. What wears robes and pointed hats and has three teeth? Fifty-eight members of the KKK---which is about how many you could turn up given a year, a gasoline credit card and a road map of the South.

During the horror of Atlanta's murdered and missing children experience in the early 1980s, the rest of the world wanted the Klan involved. A Northern reporter walked in my office one day and asked if I knew how to get in touch with Atlanta's grand wizard. "I'm certain the Klan is involved in this," he said.

"Call 1-800-GET-REAL," I told him.

But what a story it would have made had the Klan been involved. The Ku Klux Klan killing black children in Atlanta, which is in Georgia, which is in the South. Think of the books. Think of the movie, starring Northern actors and actresses trying to fake Southern accents.

Forget the Klan. Want something to worry about? OK, how about black men murdering other black men day after day? Getting laid off from your job? The Soviet nuclear arsenal winding up in the wrong hands? Or, the fact that the booger you wound up with under the sheets last night has AIDS.

Even Klansmen probably have enough sense to use Kondoms.

 

[SINthysist]

That means you have to accept the point of view of the Klan. Of course you cannot condone any of thier acts of criminality, but thier hate speech is free speech. And I think I am on point. Someone is outraged and shocked that people like the Klan exist, in this day and age (a politically correct point of view). But every racial group has extemists.

But most discussions are centered on white hate while denying, non-white hate.