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Well, Wizard, I admire your candor but you are simply on the wrong side of history.

No thinking person allies himself with anyone or any group that is morally defective just because that person or group might have some political ideas that resonate.

That's why even IF one could make a case for seductive conclusions and proposals offered by the KKK, Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, etc. -- no honorable, decent person would find it acceptable to become an adherent or promoter of their viewpoints.

There is something particularly noxious and specious about using "State's Rights" as a device for denying basic human rights to your fellow citizens because of one's self-perceived racial superiority --- in much the same way that Communists used their theories of "inevitable" historical development to justify mass murder to advance "social progress".

Finally, with respect to Don West and Highlander Folk School: I haven't seen the evidence yet to confirm that he was a Communist Party member. I have about 70% of the FBI files on Highlander Folk School and his name wasn't even mentioned in the documents I have. However, as I pointed out in my original posting, Don West and Myles Horton were associated for a very brief period of time (about 6 months) before their relationship soured and a parting-of-the-ways occurred. So--what, one wonders, did Don West actually contribute in the context of his alleged "Communist" motivation?

Also--since I was asked, rhetorically, "where did the money come from?" to start Highlander....there is nothing mysterious about it.

Several books and doctoral dissertations have discussed Highlander Folk School (HFS) history in exhaustive detail and a major portion of Highlander's papers are archived at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin in Madison WI as well as the Tennessee State Library Manuscripts Division in Nashville.

Lilian W. Johnson donated her farm for the creation of HFS and Myles Horton sought (and received) modest financial assistance from acquaintances he met during his education at Union Theological Seminary (and elsewhere) plus within the labor movement. During the winter of 1932-1933, Highlander cash on-hand dwindled to $250. By April 1933, the school had 8 students---hardly an inspiring financial success!

History is often the story of determined individuals working against established authority or orthodoxy. Even Birchers should be able to appreciate how difficult it is to "go against the flow" of prevailing wisdom or customs.

Highlander Folk School did nothing in its long history to deserve the venomous attacks it received from racists and non-racists fearful of a society undergoing change. Unfortunately, as was so often the case, the John Birch Society chose to ally themselves with mean-spirited attacks that seldom were based upon facts---as even the FBI recognized over time.

No thinking person allies himself with anyone or any group that is morally defective just because that person or group might have some political ideas that resonate.

Well, you'd better abandon all political individual rights, then, because the men who enumerated them were slaveholders.

You'll also have to abandon all religion.

As for Highlander, it is obvious that you are determined to defend them. Go ahead. I can't stop you. I just think you are deep in denial.