No Respect for the Dead (Thurmond-related)

Backcountry Conservative ^ | 6/28/03 | Jeff Quinton

[dogbyte12]

Bob: I am sure that if you go to the DU site, there are people there who say that the people spewing hate are wrong too.

There were several freepers who criticized those making those comments. I am not even in the least bit suggesting that the vast majority of freepers aren't that hate filled.

I am suggesting that a large minority of people here are bitter, and spew hatred when a liberal dies and that we need to get our house in order before criticizing others.

I thought you wanted me to show an example of people spewing hate. If you want me to go through a text analysis on % of people spewing hate, versus those freepers who criticize them, I can do that. I would say off the bat, just from eyeballing it, that about 70% of freepers posting were respectful, but a good 30% weren't. Yes, a majority. However, the minority is so loud, and so filled with hate, that it does make those of us who don't engage in vile statements look bad in comparison. My guess is that our ratio of good to bad is better than DU's, but at the same time, I would still argue that our record here is nothing to write home to mom about. Being marginally better in this regard than DU is nothing to write home to mom about.

[Moose4]

At the risk of taking some major flames here...

From everything I've read, yeah, Strom Thurmond was a segregationist. But was he a racist?

Think about it. Segregation was the mindset in the early 20th century South Carolina that he grew up in. It was the law, it was all he knew growing up, it was what he learned as he studied the law. We can look back on it with the benefit of a century of hindsight and change, but how many of us white Freepers could be born in rural South Carolina in 1902 and NOT grow up a segregationist or worse?

Now, as to why I split "segregationist" and "racist". I don't know of any remark where Thurmond ever flat-out called blacks inferior, called for their deaths or lynching. He got the poll tax abolished, helping open up their right to vote. He aggressively prosecuted lynchings, which NOBODY down here did in the '30s. One of his acts as Superintendent of Education in Edgefield County in the '30s was to start a program that greatly increased literacy among poor blacks.

He was a segregationist, and that was wrong. We know that now. HE knew it later in his life. But a racist? I don't know. Maybe he thought he was dedicated to both parts of "separate but equal"--keeping the races separate but providing what he thought were "equal" opportunities for both.

Pitchfork Ben Tillman, now HE was a racist? Strom Thurmond? I don't know, but I do know this--Strom Thurmond was never a Klansman. Robert Byrd was. Draw your own conclusions.

Food for debate.

}:-)4

[AJ Insider]

Since when do two wrongs make a right?

Did you also find anyone being critical of the people making those Wellstone comments?

The fact that some supposed conservatives have already started dancing on Thurmond's grave show that people all persuasions politically can suffer from a lack of class.

[Bob]

Bob: I am sure that if you go to the DU site, there are people there who say that the people spewing hate are wrong too.

Don't those folks (the ones who aren't toeing the party line) get called a Freeper and banned? :=)

There were several freepers who criticized those making those comments. I am not even in the least bit suggesting that the vast majority of freepers aren't that hate filled.

Sorry but it sure sounded like you were.

I am suggesting that a large minority of people here are bitter, and spew hatred when a liberal dies and that we need to get our house in order before criticizing others.

Well, there certainly are some that do that. But, as I said, they do get criticized quite soundly when they do.

I thought you wanted me to show an example of people spewing hate. If you want me to go through a text analysis on % of people spewing hate, versus those freepers who criticize them, I can do that. I would say off the bat, just from eyeballing it, that about 70% of freepers posting were respectful, but a good 30% weren't. Yes, a majority. However, the minority is so loud, and so filled with hate, that it does make those of us who don't engage in vile statements look bad in comparison. My guess is that our ratio of good to bad is better than DU's, but at the same time, I would still argue that our record here is nothing to write home to mom about. Being marginally better in this regard than DU is nothing to write home to mom about.

No text analysis necessary. I think you've got the numbers about right. Thing is, you're looking at just one thread on one web site. The original post was talking about several (actually, probably dozens of) instances of this kind of crap being printed in major newspapers.

BTW, we're nowhere close to just being 'marginally better' than DU. Have you read much of the unmitigated garbage that they spew over there? It's scary that some people on this planet 'think' that way.

[BlueNgold]

I just saw an interview Bob Costas did with Lebron James and I found him to be very articulate when compared to your average HS Senior, much less your average HS athlete. The kids got a product people want to buy, thats the American way, no need bashing him or making a racial issue out of it. Maybe Tony Llama will finally discover me and I can get a $90MM Boot deal .. Im still hoping!

[dogbyte12]

BTW, we're nowhere close to just being 'marginally better' than DU. Have you read much of the unmitigated garbage that they spew over there?

Actually I avoid DU. It is not good for my blood pressure. Anyways, I apologize for not being clearer. I hope I cleared up what I was trying to say. We all miss the mark, but the very next instant is a chance to try again.

[steve8714]

wasn't Jim Varney on that plane? John-John? Francisco Franco? Elvis?
At least Wellstone's death didn't propel a clueless puppet into the Senate as did Mel Carnahan's

[Bob]

Actually I avoid DU. It is not good for my blood pressure.

Yeah, me too. :=)

Anyways, I apologize for not being clearer. I hope I cleared up what I was trying to say.

Thanks but no apology is necessary; actually, I may have been a bit out of line in my criticism of you - apologies for that.

We all miss the mark, but the very next instant is a chance to try again.

Thank God for that.

[delapaz]

wow thats interesting, especially as the gliders turned out to be way more dangerous.

[Squantos]

Agree.......polidiots alledgedly work for us anyway . I'll tell them who I render respect and honors too. Albeit they haven't responded to my suggestion that Clintoons headstone be fashioned in the shape of a urnial I still plan on paying my respects in my own manner as soon as that POS dies of old age.

Stay Safe !

[cyborg]

Maybe Thurmond was right 50 years ago

* Thurmond was not right. Endorsements have nothing to do with slavery and segregation. Do not begrudge someone doing something WE ALL wished we could, that is get 100 million for doing something that we really like to do.

[cyborg]

I heard a liberal talking about 'those people on the internet who sabotage internet polls' Could that be FR? Sheets Byrd will be thoroughly outed whether the libs like it or not. Ron Regan will be sainted. That's my feeling. I do not think there will be the attacks and the hatred people think there will be.

[cyborg]

He admitted his faults, he changed and made solid, sound moves to go forward. From what I've read, seemed like when he made the effort, integration was not the great calamity that many white southerners thought it was. After all, didn't he hire the first black aide in the south? At least you are honest in saying what you said:but how many of us white Freepers could be born in rural South Carolina in 1902 and NOT grow up a segregationist or worse?

*Plus 1902? That's like thirty years removed from slavery. This whole country was very different back then. I have read stories of italians getting lynched in the south during those time. Those were very strange times in America and I am glad they're over. No one could really know what it would have been like to have been white or black back then unless they lived it.

I've had the benefit/experience of having two immigrant parents not from this country. I've grown up with a black mother and white father who were together for 35 years before my dad passed away. Some folks can't get their arms around that kind of relationship because of things they've seen, been taught,whatever. I'm also not going to bash the South as many like to do, number because I've never been there, and number two I've met many nice folks from the South. If anyone goes looking for racists, black and white, they will find them.

Good post and no flames.

[nyconse]

Bashing Reagan would be a big mistake. He is an icon and beloved by many Americans. My Mother (a yellow dog Democrat) voted for Reagan:only Republican she ever voted for. She loved the guy.

[nyconse]

Bashing Reagan would be a big mistake. He is an icon and beloved by many Americans. My Mother (a yellow dog Democrat) voted for Reagan:only Republican she ever voted for. She loved the guy.

[OldFriend]

I agree, the media is afraid of us now.......they really have nothing to criticize Reagan for. The lowlifes will do all their best to smear him but they don't count.

[Captain Shady]

*Plus 1902? That's like thirty years removed from slavery. This whole country was very different back then. I have read stories of italians getting lynched in the south during those time.

I was almost ognorant enough to ask ," What Italians in the South back then?"
Then, I remembered the sad fates of two Mormon missionaries in Blacksburg , South Carolina back in the early 20th century. Seems they managed to get killed by the Klan. I've personally seen the door that the Klan shot through,since a LDS friend of mine kept it in his basement as a reminder.
Times can be tough when your race,religion,politics,etc. is unpopular.

[AJ Insider]

A Republican wound up being killed in Hodges in Greenwood County, SC... not sure if it was during Reconstruction or later on toward the turn of the 20th Century.

[AJ Insider]

The major swipe the media will take at Reagan in his obituary will be Iran-Contra.

[Captain Shady]

A Republican wound up being killed in Hodges in Greenwood County, SC... not sure if it was during Reconstruction or later on toward the turn of the 20th Century.Sad. Hopefully, a good deal of this kind of behavior is behind us. I love South Carolina,and it saddens me when our folks sometimes do things that most of us are raised to abhor.