Sloan: Doing my part, spreading the 'word'

If you had to fly a rainbow or Confederate flag in your yard — with no chance to explain the nuances of what they mean to you — which would you feel more comfortable with?

link Wendel Sloan

If someone slaughtered innocent strangers out of hatred, which symbol would you guess represented their beliefs?

To understand why 21-year-old Dylann Roof, a nominal Lutheran who almost backed out of killing nine blacks in a South Carolina church because of their hospitality, felt the Confederate flag embodied his values, I watched an online episode of “This is the Klan” on WhitePrideTV.com.

Anchored by Rev. Thomas Robb, Ku Klux Klan national director, and his daughter, Rachel Pendergraft, the “news program” typified the rhetoric inciting disenfranchised whites to blame “them” for their unhappiness.

The anchors constantly finish each other’s thoughts, but here is a combined sampling (edited for conciseness):

“(White) people are right. They’re suffering a racism today they think might have existed against minorities, but really didn’t, but is certainly existing against them.”

“(Media say) we have some kind of mental disorder because we resist authority and the effort for white genocide. Yet, Jesus Christ questioned authority and they said he was crazy.”

“You may be called a racist if you have a scholarship, live in a nice neighborhood, have a checking account or cell phone.”

“Back in the ’70s a friend told me about the homosexual agenda and how they’re going to force their way on citizens. I laughed and said, ‘You’re crazy.’”

“Just like George Washington laughing if you told him there would be a black president.”

“Now they want the privilege of marriage … as equals or normal.”

“People talk about white privilege as if it’s abhorrent. Our granddaddies and grandmas built this country. You should have some privilege.”

“White people need to stick together because no one else is looking out for us except God — and he expects us to do our part.”

“Talk to (white) people and spread the word and open their eyes.”

I am doing my part.

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