Why the uproar if a bunch of white folks want to hang together and burn a cross?

[bfdd]

Edmund Burke

I agree with Edmund Burke, but what does that have to do with this situation? As much as I think they are retards, I think they are within their rights to be fucking retards and do retarded shit. As soon as that retarded shit starts infringing on others, like lets say they start a lynch mob, I'll be one of the first to take up arms against them. Burning a Cross? Who gives a flying fuck seriously. Tolerance has its up and downs just like Liberty, if you aren't willing to take the good with the bad, then you don't need to be preaching it.(the you isn't directed directly at you, but the plural you meaning everyone everywhere)

 

[bfdd]

Which is why I gave the quote I did. The hate these groups spew is like cancer. Just because it's out of sight, doesn't mean it's gone.
Never miss an opportunity to smack down and deride the hate mongers.

Hate is a cancer, love is the cure. You just want to spew more hate instead of letting idiots be idiots. Sad.

 

[soulcougher73]

I dont get it either. its on private property. If they want to go in the woods and burn stuff who cares. Last i remember we had the freedom to say what we want and express ourselves regardless of who it offended. If this was in public id care a tad more but not much. The fact its on private land make this 100% ok in my book.

With the freedoms we have sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

With the freedoms we have sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.

Always. You always have to take the good with the bad. Freedom of speech doesn't mean anything if you only apply it to speech you agree with. Freedom of speech is about protecting the rights of people that we don't agree with. These people can be free to be racist assholes and we can be free to call them out as such. But to try to limit their speech because we find it offensive? That's unAmerican.

 

[thraashman]

Always. You always have to take the good with the bad. Freedom of speech doesn't mean anything if you only apply it to speech you agree with. Freedom of speech is about protecting the rights of people that we don't agree with. These people can be free to be racist assholes and we can be free to call them out as such. But to try to limit their speech because we find it offensive? That's unAmerican.

But a lot of people also seem to be under the impression that villifying people for the horrible things they say is limiting their free speech. Freedom of speech isn't freedom from criticism for using it.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

But a lot of people also seem to be under the impression that villifying people for the horrible things they say is limiting their free speech. Freedom of speech isn't freedom from criticism for using it.

Of course not. Those people are fools making the same foolish argument from the other side of the coin; freedom of speech should only apply to things I agree with. It's absurd and it completely undermines the entire purpose of guaranteeing freedom of speech in our country.

 

[DCal430]

Well that would make you just as bad as they are.

Evil hate like theirs should never be tolerated. It is a cancer on society. Like any cancer, if not removed it will spread.

 

[bfdd]

Evil hate like theirs should never be tolerated. It is a cancer on society. Like any cancer, if not removed it will spread.

so if hate is a cancer why can't love be a cancer? or tolerance? oh is it cause cancer is bad? well what spreads like a cancer but isn't bad? srsly using scare words here for no reason but to be scary. you're better than that

 

[ericlp]

see what religion does?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I agree with Edmund Burke, but what does that have to do with this situation? As much as I think they are retards, I think they are within their rights to be fucking retards and do retarded shit. As soon as that retarded shit starts infringing on others, like lets say they start a lynch mob, I'll be one of the first to take up arms against them. Burning a Cross? Who gives a flying fuck seriously. Tolerance has its up and downs just like Liberty, if you aren't willing to take the good with the bad, then you don't need to be preaching it.(the you isn't directed directly at you, but the plural you meaning everyone everywhere)

Hate is a cancer, love is the cure. You just want to spew more hate instead of letting idiots be idiots. Sad.

Of course they have the right to be retards. My commentary has nothing to do with rights, it has everything to do with people of intelligence and good values standing up and telling the idiots their views are unwelcome, hate filled and, unAmerican. I see people every day who define right, wrong, good and, bad according to laws. Say wut? Why should society put up with what's almost universally defined as 'bad' in the name of tolerance? BTW, liberty and tolerance are NOT synonymous.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I thought it was on Private Land. Therefore they are Not publicly talking about it or demonstrating it. So it is none of your business.

You're not getting it. My distaste for their views have nothing to do with their right to have them, it has everything to do with good people voicing their displeasure, disgust and, derision for those views every time the hate mongers do anything in public such as post ads or flyers as in the article.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

It would be wonderful if they all were in a building having a meeting and it burns down with them in it. Hell i wouldn't convict the person who set the fire. Their deaths would be a great thing, a reason to celebrate.

Statements like these make you no better than the hate mongers you wish to be burned alive.

 

[sandorski]

Statements like these make you no better than the hate mongers you wish to be burned alive.

Not really.

 

[feralkid]

 

[Fern]

-snip-

So why is it such a big deal?

I would probably consider it a "big deal" if I lived there.

This is not a 'Christian gathering', there are KKK banners etc decorating the place.

I wouldn't want my city or county associated with that racism. I realize they have a right to their free speech, even if I don't like it. But so do those who oppose it.

Who wants or needs that kind trouble this sort of thing causes?

So, they have a right to hold their convention, and others have a right to voice their opposition to it.

And I'd be mighty angry if someone put up a flyer promoting this on my business (without my permission). It gives the false impression you support it.

Fern

 

[cybrsage]

I never understood why they burn the cross. What does that mean?

The KKK, in its first iteration (the current one is the second creation of them) never burned crosses. A famous writer wrote a book glorifying the KKK and added it in on his own accord - due to the Celts burning a cross when they went to war (or something like that).

Of course, the Celts burned an "X" shaped cross - but you know, details like that are not the strong suit of any hate group.

 

[alzan]

Evil hate like theirs should never be tolerated. It is a cancer on society. Like any cancer, if not removed it will spread.

In our society their hatred has to be tolerated according to the 1st Amendment. Were they actually committing a crime then they need to be arrested, charged and convicted as per other constitutional amendments.

I somewhat agree that hatred is a cancer on society; as to how best to combat it I'm not sure. While it may feel good and be constitutionally protected free speech to speak out against their hatred and and their groups ideals; I also think that it may give them a sense of empowerment to have society speak out against them.

The best way to combat their hatred and ideals may be to more calmly voice our collective distaste and work to educate more children and adults about the ideals of the KKK and other groups so that less and less people will be inclined to agree with or support their views. It is a longer, more arduous way of removing the cancer; but it will allow us to work within the laws of society and maintain everyone's freedom of speech.

 

[piasabird]

Might be neat to have a spycam to watch. Probably not much diff from a an african amer mtg.

 

[HeXen]

just who exactly is making such an uproar over this anyway? haters hating haters? lol
cause that's pretty much what it comes down to. A news article, someone hates based on that article and how its worded...now you have another hater for the icing.

makes no sense to me really. i don't give 1 chit about racist haters or any other as long as they hate legally.

 

[soulcougher73]

Might be neat to have a spycam to watch. Probably not much diff from a an african amer mtg.

"Forrest Gump: I'm sorry I had to fight in the middle of your Black Panther party."

 

[rayfieldclement]

I am non white. I don't have a issue with it if safety precautions are used.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

just who exactly is making such an uproar over this anyway? haters hating haters? lol
cause that's pretty much what it comes down to. A news article, someone hates based on that article and how its worded...now you have another hater for the icing.

makes no sense to me really. i don't give 1 chit about racist haters or any other as long as they hate legally.

You see, that's the problem. No matter what corporate America thinks, being 'legal' is not the definition of good, success or, reasonable behavior. Being 'legal' is the bare ass minimum for any scale. I always strive to be better and people who only want to tear something down or, 'get along,' instead of build something better piss me off. It's certainly their right to be lazy no account racist mutherfuckers and it's my right to call them out on it. I will do so at every opportunity and do my best to spread my viewpoint.

 

[SheHateMe]

"White Christians"...that's new..

*sigh*
I don't know how long I can't stay on this planet.

 

[berzerker60]

The dumbest argument that gets repeated over and over is when you call something like this stupid, hateful, and evil, to go "they have a right to do it shut up!!" Of COURSE they have a right to do it, and I have a right to point out it's stupid, hateful, and evil! That's how free speech works. Nobody has a right to say stupid things unchallenged, you just have a right to say them in the first place.

In this case, the KKK is a terrorist organization that has horrifically tortured and murdered more people than died in 9/11 and been party to much of the worst of this nation's history. It's fought tooth and nail to deprive a huge body of American citizens of their most basic rights through terror and spreading hateful lies. Al Qaeda has a right to meet and burn American flags on private land, too, and I'd support that right, but they sure deserve people pointing out how evil their ideas are at every turn.

Even if we imagined this WASN'T the KKK, just a bunch of rando historically ignorant people burning crosses for fun, it would be like a similarly ignorant group wearing around swastika designs because they used to be a symbol of luck back in the ancient world. It's still unacceptable. No one's saying they should be prosecuted to physically attacked, but they damned well ought to be told that their actions are unacceptable.

 

[micrometers]

Here's how these arguments go:

normal person: it's wrong.

internet asshole: why are those minorities so sensitive? Can't they respect freedom?

normal person: there's a sad history...

internet asshole: they should get over it.

Reality: stuff like this tars the reputation of Alabama, and gets in the way of business investment. It's also about who you are and what you want for yourself in the future. The KKK is a dead end, obviously. So yes, people should be outraged, but as someone who has never been to Alabama, this is another reason to not bother visiting there or spending any money there.

So you dumb fucks stay in poverty. Have fun.