When racism comes to roost

[Galdrun]

A couple months ago, a co-worker informed me that, while driving to work, she saw some people hanging a banner from the overpass that read "Blood and soil!" For those of you who don't know, that comes from the Nazi slogan, "Blut und Boden," which means that this land belongs to people of their race. Later, a different co-worker saw some folks handing out candy to kids while also handing out blood and soil pamphlets to them. Growing concerned with this information, I looked it up, and it seems that over the past two years my county went from having no established hate groups, to 2 hategroups + 1 alt-right group remeniscent of a polar opposite to ANTIFA. These groups are Vanguard America, Patriot Front, and Patriot Prayer (which has been organizing violent protests in Portland at least once a month).

Hate crimes have been doubling in my area, and it seems people have been more bold in their views and actions as of late. I can't help but worry for my friends and family with the implications this brings...

 

[JackRT]

A couple months ago, a co-worker informed me that, while driving to work, she saw some people hanging a banner from the overpass that read "Blood and soil!" For those of you who don't know, that comes from the Nazi slogan, "Blut und Boden," which means that this land belongs to people of their race. Later, a different co-worker saw some folks handing out candy to kids while also handing out blood and soil pamphlets to them. Growing concerned with this information, I looked it up, and it seems that over the past two years my county went from having no established hate groups, to 2 hategroups + 1 alt-right group remeniscent of a polar opposite to ANTIFA. These groups are Vanguard America, Patriot Front, and Patriot Prayer (which has been organizing violent protests in Portland at least once a month).

Hate crimes have been doubling in my area, and it seems people have been more bold in their views and actions as of late. I can't help but worry for my friends and family with the implications this brings...

I could not agree more.

Sinclair Lewis in "It Can't Happen Here," (1935) wrote --- "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross."

Sadly some of the words and actions of the President have actually empowered these groups.

 

[Galdrun]

I could not agree more.

Sinclair Lewis in "It Can't Happen Here," (1935) wrote --- "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross."

Sadly some of the words and actions of the President have actually empowered these groups.

The interesting thing about one of these groups is that they use that Nazi slogan as a rallying cry for their anti-immigrant sentiment. They never let folks know that it has those Nazi roots, just that it's a slogan for taking America back for Americans... It's sick.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

A couple months ago, a co-worker informed me that, while driving to work, she saw some people hanging a banner from the overpass that read "Blood and soil!" For those of you who don't know, that comes from the Nazi slogan, "Blut und Boden," which means that this land belongs to people of their race. Later, a different co-worker saw some folks handing out candy to kids while also handing out blood and soil pamphlets to them. Growing concerned with this information, I looked it up, and it seems that over the past two years my county went from having no established hate groups, to 2 hategroups + 1 alt-right group remeniscent of a polar opposite to ANTIFA. These groups are Vanguard America, Patriot Front, and Patriot Prayer (which has been organizing violent protests in Portland at least once a month).

Hate crimes have been doubling in my area, and it seems people have been more bold in their views and actions as of late. I can't help but worry for my friends and family with the implications this brings...

Oh, don't even get me started on the topic of racist people, Galdrun. Like everyone else, I'm not sure what to do about them, but I am fairly confident that if they don't repent of their racism, none of them will make it into the glorious presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. I will say one thing, every time I think about this topic, I'm reminded of that last scene in the classic movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

 

[HTacianas]

A couple months ago, a co-worker informed me that, while driving to work, she saw some people hanging a banner from the overpass that read "Blood and soil!" For those of you who don't know, that comes from the Nazi slogan, "Blut und Boden," which means that this land belongs to people of their race. Later, a different co-worker saw some folks handing out candy to kids while also handing out blood and soil pamphlets to them. Growing concerned with this information, I looked it up, and it seems that over the past two years my county went from having no established hate groups, to 2 hategroups + 1 alt-right group remeniscent of a polar opposite to ANTIFA. These groups are Vanguard America, Patriot Front, and Patriot Prayer (which has been organizing violent protests in Portland at least once a month).

Hate crimes have been doubling in my area, and it seems people have been more bold in their views and actions as of late. I can't help but worry for my friends and family with the implications this brings...

And history goes on to repeat itself.

One of the darkest mistakes ever made in American history was the implementation of Reconstruction at the end of the Civil War. Had the war ended, the slaves been freed and given equal rights, there would have been no Ku Klux Klan, no Jim Crowe, no segregation, and no need for the civil rights movement.

Rather than seeing that the goals of the war were achieved, people wanted to punish the South for the war, and especially the assassination of Lincoln. Instead of giving blacks the right to vote and become full members of society, blacks were given the right to vote and full membership in society while whites were stripped of their right to vote or hold office, and in many cases their property was taken away. Discrimination against blacks wasn't simply made illegal, it was replaced for a time by discrimination against whites. What should have been a decade or so of integration became more than one hundred years of bitter atrocities.

I see echoes of that same principle at work in society today. It isn't enough to be respectful of minorities, but some feel the need to punish the majority. When that happens there are those in more ignorant quarters who will push back on it the wrong way, then their acts will be used to further punish the majority and we'll have another hundred years of atrocities to deal with.

 

[Sam91]

I don't know what America expects when they allow politicians to openly speak hate and expect the masses to not follow in their values.

 

[Galdrun]

Oh, don't even get me started on the topic of racist people, Galrun. Like everyone else, I'm not sure what to do about them, but I am fairly confident that if they don't repent of their racism, none of them will make it into the glorious presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. I will say one thing, every time I think about this topic, I'm reminded of that last scene the classic movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Wait, the part where the guy's face melted off? Hah!

As for what to do about racism... That's tough. I feel like in many cases it's too late, since things were allowed to go out of control like they did from the reparation era to today. On the other hand, I'm optimistic for the future. At least when the light gets switched on, and the roaches start scurrying around, one can see where they are (and see them for WHO they are).

 

[Galdrun]

And history goes on to repeat itself.

One of the darkest mistakes ever made in American history was the implementation of Reconstruction at the end of the Civil War. Had the war ended, the slaves been freed and given equal rights, there would have been no Ku Klux Klan, no Jim Crowe, no segregation, and no need for the civil rights movement.

Rather than seeing that the goals of the war were achieved, people wanted to punish the South for the war, and especially the assassination of Lincoln. Instead of giving blacks the right to vote and become full members of society, blacks were given the right to vote and full membership in society while whites were stripped of their right to vote or hold office, and in many cases their property was taken away. Discrimination against blacks wasn't simply made illegal, it was replaced for a time by discrimination against whites. What should have been a decade or so of integration became more than one hundred years of bitter atrocities.

I see echoes of that same principle at work in society today. It isn't enough to be respectful of minorities, but some feel the need to punish the majority. When that happens there are those in more ignorant quarters who will push back on it the wrong way, then their acts will be used to further punish the majority and we'll have another hundred years of atrocities to deal with.

Err... You do know of the reparation era, correct? Back when people who were former slaves were continuing to be enslaved due to being indebted to their former masters, or assaulted/killed left and right by an embittered southern population? You know that the KKK was primarily formed with the old ranks of the confederacy... It's no coincidence it was formed one year after the confederacy fell with a membership of 90% or more former soldiers.

You should read the accounts of former slaves who lived after the civil war... it's chilling, and hard to read over.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Wait, the part where the guy's face melted off? Hah!

Yes, there was that and then some more, if I remember right. I just remember there's lots of Divine Lightning and lots of screaming going on. Not something we can show here, probably since it' an unsightly scene.

As for what to do about racism... That's tough. I feel like in many cases it's too late, since things were allowed to go out of control like they did from the reparation era to today. On the other hand, I'm optimistic for the future. At least when the light gets switched on, and the roaches start scurrying around, one can see where they are (and see them for WHO they are).

Yes, but then to some extent, when I see the kind of images that are proffered by the Illuminati-posse, I'm afraid for some of what's going down on that side, too. So, I hate to say this, but I think we're all in a boat-load of trouble---on both sides---if we all don't get our act together before the face of God.

If I read the Scriptures right, God is an equal opportunity discriminator. So, Nazis, Commies, and Illumi-naugyty-naughty-ist will eventually get what's coming around. And it won't be the Muslims we'll be worrying about; no I'm sure it'll look more like....Global Warming and Falling Asteroids coming to roost, just all over.

 

[Galdrun]

Yes, that and then some was what depicted in the movie, if I remember right. I just remember there's lots of Divine Lightning and lots of screaming going on. Not something we can show here, probably since it' an unsightly scene.

Yes, but then to some extent, when I see the kind of images that are proffered by the Illuminati-posse, I'm afraid for some of what's going down on that side, too. So, I hate to say this, but I think we're all in a boat-load of trouble---on both sides---if we all don't get our act together before the face of God.

If I read the Scriptures right, God is an equal opportunity discriminator. So, Nazis, Commies, and Illumi-naugyty-naughty-ist will eventually get what's coming around. And it won't be the Muslims we'll be worrying about; no I'm sure it'll look more like....Global Warming and Falling Asteroids coming to roost, just all over.

You know, I always wondered why there was such an aversion to depictions of violence for christian folks when the bible is full of... Well... Judges and David's conquest of Canaan comes to mind. =)

You know, I think the saddest thing about the end of the world will be to think about where humanity could have gone had it not screwed things over for itself so badly. That said, I do have the feeling we have some fight left in us yet. All you have to do is look at folks like the Eskimos or the Aboriginals in Australia to see just how resilient we are as a species in the face of extreme situations.

 

[HTacianas]

Err... You do know of the reparation era, correct? Back when people who were former slaves were continuing to be enslaved due to being indebted to their former masters, or assaulted/killed left and right by an embittered southern population? You know that the KKK was primarily formed with the old ranks of the confederacy... It's no coincidence it was formed one year after the confederacy fell with a membership of 90% or more former soldiers.

You should read the accounts of former slaves who lived after the civil war... it's chilling, and hard to read over.

Did I describe it as "100 years of atrocities"?

 

[MyOwnSockPuppet]

The interesting thing about one of these groups is that they use that Nazi slogan as a rallying cry for their anti-immigrant sentiment. They never let folks know that it has those Nazi roots, just that it's a slogan for taking America back for Americans... It's sick.

I think you mean anti-recent-immigrant sentiment by less-recent-immigrants, given that white is not the oldest skin colour in the US.

There are (to a degree, and without the violence (more limited to snobbery) in the two Polish communities in the UK - the generation descended from the Poles who immigrated after WW2 noticeably look down on the Poles who have emigrated from poland since the end of the cold war.

 

[Galdrun]

Did I describe it as "100 years of atrocities"?

Oh, I think the atrocities have been going on longer than 100 years if we are honest with ourselves. That said, the past is the past. I'm more concerned with where we are going as a nation now atm, honestly.

 

[Galdrun]

I think you mean anti-recent-immigrant sentiment by less-recent-immigrants, given that white is not the oldest skin colour in the US.

There are (to a degree, and without the violence (more limited to snobbery) in the two Polish communities in the UK - the generation descended from the Poles who immigrated after WW2 noticeably look down on the Poles who have emigrated from poland since the end of the cold war.

Aye. If it weren't skin color, it'd be anything else that differentiates people from each other. We seem to be rooted in our tribal inclinations as a species.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

You know, I always wondered why there was such an aversion to depictions of violence for christian folks when the bible is full of... Well... Judges and David's conquest of Canaan comes to mind. =)

I imagine that the character of Jesus has something to do with it all; we can see in the New Testament that not only did He have a stern side, but also a very loving and effectively helpful side.

You know, I think the saddest thing about the end of the world will be to think about where humanity could have gone had it not screwed things over for itself so badly. That said, I do have the feeling we have some fight left in us yet. All you have to do is look at folks like the Eskimos or the Aboriginals in Australia to see just how resilient we are as a species in the face of extreme situations.

Sure. This is true. The human species is resilient, but so is our imagination, and sometimes I'm afraid that we get too carried away by what we think our technology is going to actually do for us. So, sad to say, I'm one of those whose Biblical Eschatology doesn't leave me very optimistic about the future of humanity. But like many others, I can hope I'm just wrong about how I read it all.

As for racism, though. Racism sucks.

 

[Albion]

The interesting thing about one of these groups is that they use that Nazi slogan as a rallying cry for their anti-immigrant sentiment. They never let folks know that it has those Nazi roots, just that it's a slogan for taking America back for Americans... It's sick.

Not to make light of this turn of events, but people need to realize that if one side makes moves and gets away with them, it will generate its opposite number. Stop the one and you will stop the reaction to them. But who understands this fact that has played out repeatedly in history?

The militant Left as been active for at least a decade and caused a lot of property and personal destruction, usually with almost no consequence to their activists. So, as you noted, some new organizations have formed more recently in an alleged opposition to them.

What should be done is to stop all the violent extremist organizations, not talk like the small and scattered groups on the Right which have formed in recent days, and which have names that almost no one recognizes, is the problem, while at the same time giving a pass to the really threatening and well-financed groups like Antifa. They do not just hand out pamphlets; they assault people and destroy property instead.

 

[Ironhold]

A couple months ago, a co-worker informed me that, while driving to work, she saw some people hanging a banner from the overpass that read "Blood and soil!" For those of you who don't know, that comes from the Nazi slogan, "Blut und Boden," which means that this land belongs to people of their race. Later, a different co-worker saw some folks handing out candy to kids while also handing out blood and soil pamphlets to them. Growing concerned with this information, I looked it up, and it seems that over the past two years my county went from having no established hate groups, to 2 hategroups + 1 alt-right group remeniscent of a polar opposite to ANTIFA. These groups are Vanguard America, Patriot Front, and Patriot Prayer (which has been organizing violent protests in Portland at least once a month).

Hate crimes have been doubling in my area, and it seems people have been more bold in their views and actions as of late. I can't help but worry for my friends and family with the implications this brings...

Uh... Patriot Prayer may be on the edge of radical, but if there's ever a clash between them and Antifa then dollars to donuts it's because Antifa threw the first punch.

 

[Galdrun]

Not to make light of this turn of events, but people need to realize that if one side makes moves and gets away with them, it will generate its opposite number. Stop the one and you will stop the reaction to them. But who understands this fact that has played out repeatedly in history?

The militant Left as been active for at least a decade and caused a lot of property and personal destruction, usually with almost no consequence to their activists. So, as you noted, some new organizations have formed more recently in an alleged opposition to them.

What should be done is to stop all the violent extremist organizations, not talk like the small and scattered groups on the Right which have formed in recent days, and which have names that almost no one recognizes, is the problem, while at the same time giving a pass to the really threatening and well-financed groups like Antifa. They do not just hand out pamphlets; they assault people and destroy property instead.

Uh... Patriot Prayer may be on the edge of radical, but if there's ever a clash between them and Antifa then dollars to donuts it's because Antifa threw the first punch.

Err... I can't agree with what you guys say completely, but you make some good points. ANTIFA are a bunch of violent and bigoted thugs operating under the guise of some resistance movement. I think this represents our nation and where we are at as a whole, on some level. Honestly, the last time I can think of when the US was this divided was when Jefferson Davis was president. What we need is someone who can take it upon himself to heal the nation and pull us back together, rather than someone who will just rip it apart more, IMO.

 

[Albion]

Jefferson Davis was president?

Anyway, I hope your thinking prevails and a reaction sets in whereby most people decide that the drift towards more and more violence and character assassination cannot be excused, no matter who is doing it..

 

[Galdrun]

Jefferson Davis was president?

Anyway, I hope your thinking prevails and a reaction sets in whereby most people decide that the drift towards more and more violence and character assassination cannot be excused, no matter who is doing it..

President of the Confederacy, yes. =)