Cross Burning - archaic practice that should be abolished

[Reba 2]

Can you believe that people Still burn crosses? This is not far from where I live now.

Chesterfield Man Sentenced For Cross Burning

By Staff Reports

news@morganton.com

Thursday, May 25, 2006

MORGANTON - A Burke County man will spend 20 months in federal prison for burning a cross near a neighbor's homes.

Grady Allen Carswell, 36, was convicted this week for the June 2004 cross burning near Gloria Dula's home on Bristol Creek Avenue in the Chesterfield Community.

Carswell, of 3282 Sheely Road, Lenoir, lived on Bristol Creek Avenue at the time of the incident.

In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Lacy H. Thornburg sentenced Carswell to three years supervised release and to pay Dula $2,196.57 in restitution.

"Cross burning remains a vicious symbol of hatred and cannot be tolerated," Wan J. Kim, assistant attorney general for the civil rights division, said in a press release. "All American families have the right to live where they choose, undisturbed by racist threats."

According to reports in 2004, Dula found a 12-foot cross engulfed in flames across the street from her house.

Carswell told Judge Thornburg that he was responsible for burning the cross, but says he burned it because of a land dispute with another neighbor and that racial discrimination was not the reason.

Thornburg rejected the argument, according to information from the Department of Justice.

When I read this today at work, I nearly jumped out of my skin! And then I asked my boss if the guy is related to him, because they have the same last name. He says no, they're not related.

Can you imagine, in the year 2006, looking out your window to see a freakin' cross burning in front of your house?

Man o man, I can't get out of this area fast enough!

[Fandango 1,439]

I don't know where I stand on this! Now don't get me wrong, I think it's vile....but freedom of speech, ya know? That's not just selective towards the speech we like. But then again, if it was done to instill fear & to overpower someone through psychological anguish (which I'm pretty certain it was), then that's wrong..it's a hate crime.

But as religious and as spiritual as I am, if it's against the law because it's blasphemous...as much as I'd like to applaud that, it's violating the separation of Church and State.

Gah!

[Reba 2]

But then again, if it was done to instill fear & to overpower someone through psychological anguish (which I'm pretty certain it was), then that's wrong..it's a hate crime.

see, that's the thing! Why would anyone use such at tactic for any other purpose? It ain't for makin s'mores!

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

some might argue it's freedom of speech, but i suppose that all depends on what ethnicity one is. every time i hear of such occuring i associate it with intimidation.

[babybunny 2]

some might argue it's freedom of speech, but i suppose that all depends on what ethnicity one is. every time i hear of such occuring i associate it with intimidation.

I agree!

in VJ world we call those responsible for buring the cross

CHOPF###Ks

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

some might argue it's freedom of speech, but i suppose that all depends on what ethnicity one is. every time i hear of such occuring i associate it with intimidation.

I agree!

in VJ world we call those responsible for buring the cross

CHOPF###Ks

that's one of the nicer terms i'd refer to a cross burner as. the rest can't be printed for fear of being banned

[babybunny 2]

in the wise word of my father he would say..KISS WHERE I TWIST....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Freedom of speech really only applies so long as it doesn't promote hatred and persecution based on that hatred.

You burn a cross in your front yard it sends a very clear, recognisable and unwelcome message to African Americans. For that reason alone it should be outlawed and does not form a part of reasonable free speech.

For the same reason in Germany, you will be arrested if you display Nazi insignia in public or recite nazi slogans.

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Abolish that #######.

edited to add: I'm sorry, but sometimes "rights" get taken too far...and therefore, they need to be ammended. M.

Edited May 27, 2006 by MichelleandCraig

[babybunny 2]

CLose this thread!!

[Fandango 1,439]

Freedom of speech really only applies so long as it doesn't promote hatred and persecution based on that hatred.

You burn a cross in your front yard it sends a very clear, recognisable and unwelcome message to African Americans. For that reason alone it should be outlawed and does not form a part of reasonable free speech.

For the same reason in Germany, you will be arrested if you display Nazi insignia in public or recite nazi slogans.

Yeah then why are the KKK allowed to have rallies?

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

CLose this thread!!

i'll second that motion. i can't see any purpose in it staying active

[Fandango 1,439]

Oh come on people, we can trust ourselves to have a matur discussion, can't we?

just to clarify, i am NOT saying that I don't think it's horrible vile disgusting and wrong. Make no mistake about that!

[Reba 2]

why close it? We can't have a discussion about controversial things around here? sheesh!

I posted this article because some here have questioned whether its really all that bad here where I live. And well, yeah, it is. Some don't seem to mind it all that much, they can turn a blind eye to the racism and bigotry, I can't. And I've heard quite enough of it, and every single shift I work I hear more. Then I see ###### like this in the local paper, and it sends shivers. I know these families! They order pizza from me, I've taken their pictures when I worked at the photo studio. It absolutely sickens me that someone in this day and age would even consider doing such a thing to one of their neighbours. And it makes me afraid to live here.

Yeah then why are the KKK allowed to have rallies?

In some areas I'm not sure they are allowed anymore. And if they are allowed, they can't wear their hoods (at least in NC).

Organizations may not hold their meetings while the members present are in costume. To discourage members of the Ku Klux Klan from operating within the state, certain measures such as this one were taken. The KKK was known for their use of white hooded costumes during meetings and demonstrations for purposes of remaining anonymous as well as inflicting fear on others. By making these actions illegal, the organization's power was somewhat weakened.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Freedom of speech really only applies so long as it doesn't promote hatred and persecution based on that hatred.

You burn a cross in your front yard it sends a very clear, recognisable and unwelcome message to African Americans. For that reason alone it should be outlawed and does not form a part of reasonable free speech.

For the same reason in Germany, you will be arrested if you display Nazi insignia in public or recite nazi slogans.

Yeah then why are the KKK allowed to have rallies?

Because our society tolerates the right of a bunch of uneducated racist fucks to act like uneducated racist fucks.

Yet at the same time, we are totally intolerant of islamic fundamentalists who preach support for Al Qaeda, for instance.

In the end its much the same, both groups are equally offensive and distasteful. Why tolerate one and not the other?