Hate is in bloom

As I feared, the election is only 11 days old and the seeds of hate have sprouted already. Crosses are being burned, young school children are chanting things like, "Assassinate Obama!" In other places, black effigies are being hanged from trees. People are being assaulted because of the color of their skin, threatening notes are being left in mail boxes, homes and cars are being defiled with graffiti with racial overtones.


I almost expected that this sort of thing might happen in the deeper parts of the south, but it is happening in California, supposedly the most liberal state in the nation and in Maine--one of our favorite spots. Three black effigies were strung up in trees on Mount Desert Island, the home of Bar Harbor playground of the wealthy, a place were artists congregate to capture the unspoiled wilderness on canvas. I checked further and found out that the editor of the Mount Desert Islander, the small local paper, was just as upset as I and for some of the very same reasons. How could a place that prides itself on its liberalism be so bigoted? The editor has called for the local citizens to "out" whoever commited this terrible crime. I don't know if that will happen, but it should.

A couple of days after I read the AP piece, I was browsing our local News and Messenger and lo and behold, there was a letter to the editor form a fellow by the name of Tainter that was fairly dripping with racism and unadulterated hate. Here is what he had to say:

"Those of you who voted for Barack Obama snubbed honor, integrity, valor, wisdom, experience, sacrifice and duty to country. John McCain embodies all of these virtues along with military officer training; time and battle tested inner strength and resolve that few can match; and a lifetime of service to America.

He is a bona fide American hero who has proven himself time and again — we know that he will do the right thing. Today, I truly worry about what will become of America.
As a child, I was taught that patriots like John McCain were to be trusted, revered and put in positions of authority.

I was taught that personal responsibility was one’s civic duty and crucial to the success of this great nation.

Even the Democrat motto was “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Those of you that voted for Barack Obama dismissed the qualities of a true leader and patriot but instead fell for enticing rhetoric, empty promises, no experience, outmoded policies, questionable associations and the radical ideals of a socialist agenda.
Obama’s view is clearly that individuals are not responsible for themselves. You voted for “change?”

Two things will change. The first is that you will have less money. Not only will your taxes go up, regardless of what Obama said, but increased taxes on business will raise the cost of goods and services plus lower your 401(k) employer contributions.
The second change will be that Obama and the liberals will back peddle on all of those empty promises that suckered many of you in. You voted for “hope?” You had better hope that the terrorists and other enemies are not emboldened by the intellectual arrogance, naiveté, inexperience and inevitable perception of weakness in Obama. Biden predicted this!
Did you really fall for the enticing rhetoric and the disingenuous, leftist “mainstream” media hype?

I’m sorry, but you were had. Now we, our children and grand children, will all pay the exorbitantly high price of your irrational, “feel good” choice.
ANDY TAINTER
Manassas "


Here is what I had to say:

"Earlier this week, I wrote a letter to the editor with my thoughts as to why the Republicans lost the election in Prince William County, Virginia and across the nation. I believe they lost because of STRIDENT MEANNESS.

That letter has not been published, and that may be OK because Andy Tainter’s letter (Obama supporters have been had) on Nov. 14, makes my case better than anything I possibly could have written.

It has been some time since I have read a letter so filled with pure malevolence and meanness. Hate fairly drips from the page as Mr. Tainter excoriates President-elect Barack Obama and his supporters.

He has dragged out the same old accusations that cost the Republicans the election and unless they change, will cost them more in the future.

Interestingly enough, this obnoxious letter was printed alongside one written by Emily Cameron (Obama was well worth the wait) that was filled with hope, awe and fervent expectation.
It was front-page news as far as I am concerned. This country has made history; we have been witness to one of the greatest events in our time. Now as a nation, we must rally around this new president and help him bring our nation out of the chaos that he has inherited.
GEORGE S. HARRIS
Manassas "

These two letter have caused some discussion on both sides of the argument. You can see more at: http://www.insidenova.com/isn/news/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/article/we_must_rally_around_obama/24699/



If you want to see what started this blog--go here:


http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20081115/Obama.Racial/

It is still my fervent prayer that racism will die with this election, but the evidence seems to point in another direction.