Once again racism has reared its ugly head here in the Atlanta area. Granted … It’s not like it’s not present on a daily basis (which it is), but now it’s a little more overt. The stupidity and ignorance of people who like to consider themselves Big Thinkers is now showing up in the form of very scary (please read the words ‘very scary’ in an Elmar Fud voice) letters being left in people’s mailboxes. It’s sort of like the obnoxious little neighbor’s boy who sneaks up and rings your doorbell then runs away in an attempt to annoy you. It’s the same kid that cries like a baby when he gets pants-ed on the schoolyard.
First we reported on the letters being left in a subdivision in Clayton County. Now people are finding them in a Kirkwood neighborhood. For the moment authorities are saying they aren’t sure the incidents are related, but the rhetoric is the same. It’s the same tired ole taught using the ‘N’ word (often misspelled by these types of folks) and the raging diatribe about gays and any other segments of society they see as a threat to their existence.
So, how does a community deal with an infestation like this? I’m interested in your thoughts. Post your comments here on my blog, and I might read your comments on the air. Please keep in mind kids may be watching, so keep it tasteful.
Thanks
I *very* strongly suggest you contact Huffington Post or dailyKos with this story; either would welcome your blog, particularly because of this story’s political undertones (visible from the few bits of the letters’ content that could be aired).
These letters are of national importance because of their vile nature; their threats to Barack Obama; Sarah Palin’s recent rhetoric and crowd responses; and the great offense taken by John McCain against Cong. Lewis’ remarks, which now seem prescient. Please continue your investigations. The best way to deal an infestation is to expose it to light.
Bill,
I absolutely agree that there is no room for this behavior in our society. However, I would like to know why this takes on so much attention when it is directed at blacks and yet the 20+ years that “Reverend” Wright has preached so much hatred against whites gets swept under the rug. The fact that Mr. Obama remained in this church for 20+ years really bothers me. As a white person, I will admit to frustration that we are called racists when something like this happens, but when a black does it they are not racists. I would submit that Blacks are much more racists than we are, to wit, almost every black is voting for Obama simply because he is black. If whites vote for McCain simply because he is white, we are racists!
I also noticed that the attempt to pass a hate law was brought up (which I absolutely oppose) because, again, this was directed against blacks. Should not “Reverend” Wright be subject to the same standards? Would he not be subject to the same hate laws? If this had been a white preacher in a primarily white church, what do you think would have happened?
If both of us don’t stop this silliness, this country is in for some bad times.
You do a great job and I appreciate the chance to vent.
It’s so sad and embarrassing that while our armed services men and women of every color, creed, religion and race are risking their lives to promote democracy and bring/maintain peace around the world and safeguard our nation, we have some individuals here who have too much idle time on their hands, too much hate in their hearts, too little sense in their tiny heads, too little eyes to see the beauty and strength in diversity and too clogged ears to hear the clarion call for us to stand together as one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Further, as Americans, all of us are endowed with inalienable rights to enjoy, in peace, the spacious skys, the amber waves of grains, purple mountains, fruited plains, God’s grace and brotherhood and sisterhood from sea to shining sea. That’s America, Our Home Sweet Home.
Bill,
First of all, let me say that I really like the way you bring dignity, class,
and professionalism to the news broadcasts. Keep up the good work.
As far as the racist letters go; this is just another example of how pathetic and DESPERATE they are to intimidate people(not just A-As)from going to the polls & voting on 11-4-08. Wherever these letters came from(trust me, SOMEONE cooked up all of this)shows that he/she/they are keeping up with the political goings-on and fully understand their recent epiphany: a BLACK man is going to be their president and there’s NOTHING they can do about it(except attempt to intimidate potential Obama voters). Using scare tactics and euphimisms(“lynching” & “n” word ad infinitum)that people used 45-50 YEARS AGO smacks of nothing but fear, hate, cowardice and stupidity(why am I NOT surprised GA has no hate crime law…….YET? Then again, this is the same state that took 3-4 years to bring Brian Nichols to trial, but put Marcus Dixon in jail and nearly put a kid on death row for stealing ice cream sandwiches@a school that was closed). Frankly Bill, the NEXT White man who comes to an all-Black(minority)neighborhood and tries to do ANY of those things will be the first.
Obama is no longer just a “phenom” but our next president of the United States; because of/in spite of vermin like anyone connected to those letters. Some people just need to recognize………..or MOVE to another country where they can vote for & support who THEY want to. Again, keep up the good work and as a 37-year old African-American male, I am proud that your presence graces the TV landscape. Finally, I didn’t know that your dad was one of the Tuskegee Airmen until I saw Friday night’s broadcast and you mentioned it………..how cool was THAT growing up?
God Bless You & Yours,
Corliss P. Rush, Jr.
Carrollton, GA