From CBS Atlanta:
TEMPLE, Ga. -- When you walk into the Georgia Peach Oyster Bar in Paulding County, you feel like you've walked into a different era.
Behind the pool tables stands a mannequin in a Klu Klux Klan costume, but it's what's outside of the Patrick Lanzo's restaurant that has some people angry.
Lanzo put up a sign that reads "Obama's plan for health-care: N*&%*r rig it."
CBS Atlanta's Michelle Marsh asked Lanzo why he put up the sign.
"I've been putting up signs for 22 years and I've put up all kinds of political signs," said Lanzo.
“Why did you use the N word?” Marsh asked.
“Well, I’ve used it most of my life. There are different ways to put your opinion up, but that's just the words I choose,” Lanzo answered.
Despite the sign, Lanzo said he's not a racist.
He said he's just against what he calls a "sub standard healthcare plan," which he said President Obama is trying to push through.
Black and white people who live in the area say the sign is offensive and they want it down. Lanzo says he's exercising his free speech.
“I stand by my president, but I also stand by my First Amendment right to criticize him if I feel he’s wrong,” Lanzo said.
The West Metro NAACP issued this statement: This latest ploy for attention by Mr. Lanzo is not surprising. What is of concern however, is the total lack of leadership and action from the elected officials of Paulding County, who repeatedly have allowed this type of toxic public display."
Memo to all members of the Raaacism Industrial Complex:
Please read and study this picture and article above. This is what REAL racist opposition to Obama looks like. Notice, there is no use of “speech codes” like the word “socialism”. There is no trick photography required and not a subliminal message to be heard.
So to all you members and followers of the Raaaaacism Industrial Complex who applaud in agreement to the manufactured racism of Janeane Garofalo, Jimmy Carter, Rep. Hank Johnson and the like know this, you are helping to hide real racists like Lanzo in a sea of falsely accused racists.
UPDATE – Video Link Added
No doubt Lanzo is a straight up racist who is trying to hide in plain sight under the guise of free speech. The problem here is that Lanzo is taken as the typical example of all things white, southern and conservative.
Nothing could be further from the truth. As a 45-year-old black man who has spent the vast majority of his life in the very blue and very liberal place called New York City, I have experienced true racism first hand on several occasions.
Racism is an equal opportunity employer. To try to ground racism to one region or ideology by painting people with the big brush of racism is utterly foolish. Doing so creates the atmosphere for real racists like Lanzo to practice and spread their hatred.
A perfect example applying the broad brush is found at Pandagon in a post by a Jesse Taylor who actually links this post in trying to make his point.
Let’s stop here for a second. On the one side, we have a group that calls out racism where it sees it, and accepts that racists can actually be intelligent enough to try and mask their racism. On the other hand, we have a group that spends all of its time complaining that things aren’t racism, and making convoluted excuses for why actual racist things aren’t racist because they aren’t as racist as real racism. And in the middle, we have the guy calling the President a “nigger” who says he’s not actually a racist, just a provocative fellow who enjoys Klan gear and pissing off the NAACP. Which side do you think is making it harder to debate what is and isn’t racist?
Here you have someone who uses the broad brush to paint the ideological sides as one being race sensitive and the other race insensitive. We have all seen examples of some on the left who are quick to stir the racial pot for political gain (i.e. The Raaaaacism Industrial Complex). Make no mistake the people who do such a thing are every bit the hate monger Lanzo is.
Does Jesse Taylor not realize that in applying his broad brush he is allowing the very people who are “intelligent enough to try and mask their racism” to hide on his side of the ideological fence under the guise of racial sensitivity?
Again I repeat, racism is an equal opportunity employer. It can be found anywhere. Only by calling out individuals rather than groups, regions or ideologies can you really get at the heart of the matter.
Via: Memeorandum
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14 comments:
"You lie" is not racism ...
Disagreeing with a political position is not racism ...
THIS is racism.
This news article never appeared on my nightly news but it's also not surprising since I live near Philadelphia which never questions or criticizes anything the President does. Oddly, this piece was left OFF of the news yet it is a clear example of TRUE racism.
Interesting.
Excellent fisk.
We will know we are free of this garbage when we can openly refer to another's use of a racist word without having to put other characters in place of the actual letters...
...in the socialist realm words have magic power and certain words are so forbidden that they may not be uttered. In fact, they may not be thought of.
BTW, Yale Divinity school released an email to its students on the inappropriate watermelon contest they held recently.
Sometimes a Watermelon is Just a Watermelon.
Sometimes it is. But only when you eat it in the privacy of your room with the shades pulled.
Makes sense to me. Too bad so many have been crying wolf. Now the real racism slips by almost unnoticed.
Cliff,
"jury rig it" would make more sense. Given the makeup of the 535 members of Congress who do not write the legislation, don't read it and admit they can't understand it.
Cheers!
Great post Cliff. The term racism has been de-vaulued greatly by today's left, especially the more reactionary side. It is good to take note of true racism and point to it.
This story will be used as "proof" that all opposition to health care is racism.
The impact of this one ignorant fool will outweigh the hard work that so many of us have put into this effort.
VERY depressing.
Clifton: Dead. Solid. Perfect.
Yes, this is racism. The guy's dummy in a Klan costume and his use of the n word on a public sign -- you can't parse it any other way. Bigots do exist and they are disgusting.
Let me play devil's advocate. Was it a bad choice of words? You bet. But I'm not convinced merely using a word necessarily implies racism. Doesn't it depend on the context?
For example, when black rappers use the word in their lyrics, which many frequently do, are they being racist?
I'm not defending it, in fact I think it's low class and objectionable, but in this case the word was used in the context of the proposed solution to healthcare, not at the prsident himself. It's conceivable the sign maker could have used the same description no matter what the race of the president is.
Just found you blog. Thanks for the good work. - SCOTT
RightKlik makes a good point. This is the first I've seen of this story, but I bet it won't be the last. Mr. Lanzo's actions will serve as "proof" that we are racists if we oppose health care. Very sad indeed.
We are linking to and starting a Write In Campaign to nominate Barack Obama to win the Heisman Trophy.
http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com
What does that sign even mean? He is an idiot. And I agree with comments above that this type of crap hurts all of us who oppose policy, not skin color.
It is up to the people of that community to stop going to that bar.
The KKK costume in the bar is disgusting, but I must say I am confused as to why he would have images of MLK... Perhaps to point to to justify he is not a racist?
Imagine my surprise last year when I looked out my window at the medieval parade here in Italy, and saw this:
http://www.youtube.com/user/sarainitaly#p/u/8/jcX7GaX7UYo
I was floored... apparently they are medieval religious costumes, but they represent horrific ugliness. Could you imagine seeing this parade in America?
Seeing two groups of racists fighting it out, we get to see true racism at its core. Too bad one side is going to use it to promote that this one racist defines everything white, Christian, and South. None of which is true, but as I teach my children, disdain racism, no matter where it comes from or you will be a slave or enslaven to it. I wonder what the ACLU will do about any more KKK or Neo-Nazi marches that they support?
When you say "this is was REAL racism looks like" are you denying that there are subtle racists? And if there are, which I know you'll agree with, could there not be those "code words" which these people use to communicate with other people of a like mind?
I'm not saying that all southern, white, church going conservatives are racist but I don't think it's always as cut and dry as "I don't ever say nigger so I'm not a racist."
As an example in Februrary I took my son to his music lesson at a local music shop. Often I also take my 4 y/o daughter who sometimes does what 4 year-olds do; touch everything. I've always ran to stop her when she may break something but she has pounded on many a keyboard in there with no word from the owner.
This particular day I had my nephew with me who is 13, not 4, and black. While we waited he walked over to a keyboard and, much more gently than my daughter ever has, mimicked playing the keyboard and was quickly told "don't touch those, that's expensive stuff." It may be that his Kentucky accent made me jump to the racist thing quickly. A couple weeks later my daughter when back in and I purposefully let her hit the keyboards until I knew the guy was watching and still nothing.
Is that racist? And if so, how could I ever believe that his opposition to Obama is not tainted?
BTW now, no matter how frustrating it can be to teach your kid somethig, I give the lessons myself.
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