Lou’s Blog
Last Sunday, in our local newspaper there was an article printed about about the Rapid City Businessman’s Association holding a community picnic beneath a Klu Klux Klan flag (a confederate flag emblazoned with the words “White Power” and “Klu Klux Klan”). As I read that article I was reminded by a poem attributed to Martin Niemöller.
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me - and by then there was no one left to speak out for me.
The evil “isms” of this world depend on fear, niceness, and anonymity. When we are silent in the face of hate and violence, hate and violence flourish. Although it was horrific to think that one of our neighbors owned and raised a flag that so firmly stands against human dignity and the diverse beauty of God’s human creation, even more egregious was the deafening silence and inaction of 300 community members who attended. Silence is not always golden. In fact, sometimes silence is deadly to the values we cherish.
plou
5 comments:
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DID NOT ATTEND THE COOKOUT, I MUST FIRST START BY SAYING THAT THE NEWS IS MISLEADING. T HE BUSINESS AND PRIVATE CITIZENS WHO HELPED PUT THIS DINNER ON HAVE PUBLICLY APOLIGED TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY FOR NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO DETAILS. WE HAD THOUGHT THAT THIS ONE PERSON COULD HANDLE THE RAISING OF THE FLAG. WE WISH WE WOULD HAVE COUGHT THIS. THE FACT WE DID NOT DOES NOT MAKE US A HATE GROUP, KKK GROUP OR ANY OTHER. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY! WE HAVE DONE ALOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT WE DON'T BRAG ABOUT. THE FACT THAT WE THOUGT THAT WE WERE AMONG OUR FRIENDS, AND THEY COULD NOT BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION SADDENS US! YES WE WERE VERY BUSY KEEPING THE FOOD GOING AND GREETING OUR SO CALLED FRIENDS. WHAT HAS HAPPENED, WE CAN NOT CHANGE, BUT WE CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE! WE WILL MAKE SURE WE PAY MORE ATTENTION TO DETAILS! YES ROB THE BUSINESS PEOPLE HAVE OUTTED THE PERSON WHO DID THIS. FUNNY HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN SAY
'HATE GROUPS ARE APAULING" YET THEY CHOOSE TO "HATE" US! THOSE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROUGH STONES! AN DID YOU NOTICE AND MENTION OF THE LADY WHO BANDS US OF SAYING "I HATE THE AMERICAN FLAG! AND WOULD BAN IT THE SAME" OF COURSE NOT. IT WAS NOT PRINTED.
Nobody has publicly identified the raiser of the flag. This is a necessary step to exonorating those who are not guilty in this matter. By protecting the identity of the guilty party, businesses are admitting their acceptance of the racism and hate displayed.
Why don't you guys go and wash your sheets for the next rally.
FOR THE BUSINESSES TO IDENTIFY THE PERSON WHO PUT THE FLAG UP WILL NOT MAKE THE PEOPLE HAPPY. MAYBE THEY HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO LET THIS INDIVIDUAL PARTAKE IN ANY FUTURE EVENTS. WHAT DO YOU THINK THESES PEOPLE WOULD DO TO THIS PERSON IF THEY FOUND OUT THAT IT IS SOMEONE FROM ALDEN? AND BELONGS TO THEIR GROUP? ISN'T FUNNY ON HOW WE HATE, BANN AND JUDGE OTHERS WHEN THEY DON'T FIT "OUR" GROUP, WE CALL THEM RACIST, WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE? ARE WE NOT DOING THE SAME? FORMING OUR OWN HATE GROUP? JUDGEMENT DAY WILL COME FOR ALL! SOME WHERE IN ALL OF US WE ARE RACIST AGAINST SOMETHING. SHALL WE ALSO NAME THE PERSON WHO THOWS THE STONES AND SAYS SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN THE AMERICAN FLAG? MAYBE WE CAN ALL HATE HER TOO! YES ALL OF THE BUSINNES DO NOT LIKE WHAT HAPPENED, THEY DON'T AGREE OR BELIEVE IN THAT FLAG, BUT WE DO KNOW HOW TO PUT THE PAST BEHIND, MOVE FORWARD AND LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES. THEY WILL NOW PAY ATTENTION TO EVEN THE LITTEST DETAILS. FUNNY ON HOW THE RALLY IN T.C. TO LEAGELIZE DOPE DIDN'T GET ATTENTION, EVEN WHEN THERE WHERE BUSINESS PEOPLE THERE. WAS THIS OK WITH T.C. OR DO THEY KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THINGS IN A BETTER WAY THEN THE SMALL MINDS IN THIS AREA OF SMALL TOWNS?
ROB,
I DO AGREE, I SHOULD HAVE READ MY REPLY AND EDITED IT BEFOR I POSTED IT. YES I SEE YOUR TRUE COLOR AND YOU ARE AS BAD AS THE PERSON WHO HUNG THE FLAG!!! YES I AM FROM ALABAMA! WHAT A RACIST PERSON YOU ARE! NOW WHO IS THE ONE CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK?
Literacy in Alabama is very low, and thus you pretty much fit the bill. My reasoning was not based on biasedness, but on factual data.
You defending Stuart McKinnon and the others at this picnic in Michigan only pairs you with the very filth that repress people not due to their measured shortcomings, but because of their color.
P.S., Use the Caps Lock.
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