Burning Cross Left at Home of Interracial Couple on L.I.

[seriousstan]

Awakened by a loud bang and the ring of their doorbell, an interracial couple peered out the front window of their Long Island home at 3 a.m. yesterday and saw a cross burning on the front lawn.

They said they immediately called the Suffolk County police, but by the time officers arrived, rain had doused the fire. The police removed the cross, which was three feet tall and made from the slats of a picket fence. By yesterday afternoon, the only remaining trace was a charred circle of grass outside the building, a two-family house in the southwest corner of Lake Grove.

Detective Sgt. Robert Reecks said that the police and the F.B.I. were investigating the incident as a hate crime, but that there were no suspects.

It was the county's first cross-burning since 1998, when a black family in Amityville returned home from church and found a burning cross on their lawn.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/22/nyregion/22cross.html?ei=5006&en=afd9377348d45e27&ex=1101790800&partner=ALTAVISTA1&pagewanted=print&position=

[fleabert]

1. that is so sick.

I wonder how long it will take the police to figure out which house in the neighborhood has pickets missing.

[ooglymoogly]

50. the repukes are just beginning to get their groove

[LauraT28]

2. Be advised..This is truely the end of the world..Get ready..

This is what I really think now..It's just over...People feel it..There is something under the radar that is making people crazy, like the feeling that judgement day is just around the corner. We deserve everything that is to follow.

[AndyTiedye]

7. It Isn't Under the Radar, It's Right There On Faux TV For All to See

[jwirr]

34. Laura, I was raised Lutheran

and one of the things I like about that churches reflections on the end of the world is that we are discouraged from deciding the exact date or even the exact means. We concentrate on God's work on our behalf. We leave the end times entirely in God's hands. I think that many in the past must have thought that they also knew it WAS the end - Europe during the Black Plague years comes to mind as does the Dust Bowl Days and the Great Depression. Even in Biblical times Thessalonians warns people not to just set around and look up at the sky. Luther when asked what he would do if he knew for certain that the end was coming tomorrow said he would plant an apple tree. His faith was in God not in his own actions, while those like bushie think it is their job to bring about that end. All they bring about is less faith in God and disaster. Luther was telling us to go on with our lives (in a Christ-like way) and trust that God would do the rest. I for one am not going to get bogged down in the quagmire of the end times. I am going on with my life.

[okieinpain]

43. wow, a true christian. there aren't many like you around any more.

[genieroze]

58. These fundies think the apocalypse is coming any day now.

They are willing to make it happen. I read somewhere, humm, where was it now? That God only knows the time of Christ's return? Oh yes, it was the Bible. To bad these fundies don't read it but let their brainwashers tell them what it says. Trust in God, not in Bush.

[magellan]

3. New century

same old ignorant reich-wing hate.

[saracat]

4. Well, well, how Christian. Welcome to Bushworld. How sad.

I am so sorry. People are idiots. They truly are.

[The Zanti Regent]

5. So the Klan is still doing the hunk a Burnin Love thing...

But that's OK according to the Nazi RepubliKKKan Party!

[LiberteToujours]

6. Get with the times, haters

Gays are the new reason for all of America's problems.

[ooglymoogly]

51. honey i'm home

[OKNancy]

8. Hold on - This is in a Blue State

From what I hear people in Blue States don't do this kind of stuff. This only happens in Red States where every single person is a Republican.

( I'm being sarcastic, of course)

[annabanana]

9. Long Island has a regrettably fascist history..............

There were strong Nazi sympathizers (the Bundt) leading up to WWII. There is regular, though intermittent, violence against immigrants, and it is historically a repug stronghold, with small blue exceptions.

[Speed8098]

12. "There is regular, though intermittent, violence against immigrants,"

Please show where there is "regular, though intermittent" violence against immigrants.

I have lived here for over 25 years and while we have our share of crime, I don't see the "Regular" violence against immigrants that you speak of.

Do you live here?
Have you heard of Farmingville?
Yes, there was a violent attack some years ago, but it was an isolated incident.
Please provide a link to this "Intermittent" violence.

and it is historically a repug stronghold

:wtf:

Here in Ronkonkoma, I am surrounded by Democratic neighbors. The only re:puke:'s are in the extremely rich neighborhoods.

Nassau County Executive = Democrat Tom Suozzi
Suffolk County Executive = Democrat Steve Levy

[OKNancy]

15. ...and it kind of pisses you off doesn't it

when people paint with a broad brush about where you live.?

[catnhatnh]

40. Ronkonkama

Aren't you the folks with new and improved "Turkey Bowling"??Who was the victim of that "Intermittent Violence"??

[Speed8098]

86. First of all, it's Ronkonkoma

Second, that attack had nothing to do with immigrants, which is the subject of this post.

Aren't you the folks with new and improved "Turkey Bowling"??

Turkey Bowling????

Is that an attempt at humor? If it is, it failed.

This poor woman is still in a coma. There is nothing funny about what these kids did. That could've been my wife. She is in that area all the time.

The fact is, that was a random act comitted by some stupid kids.

Not a racial attack.

[TomClash]

13. Two LIberal Dem Congressmen

NY 1 and 2 are occupied by liberal Dems.

[TomClash]

14. History More Klan than Nazis

After WW II this waned as more and more people from the City flocked to the Suffolk suburbs.

[bunny planet]

36. Agreed, I grew up on Long Island, there is real working class bigotry

against immigrants (the 'wrong' color immigrants) there as well as bigotry from the Horsie, monied, WASP set out in Suffolk county. Then there's classism in the Hamptons. Not a great place for tolerance. I left as soon as I could.

[BlueManDude]

10. Your point will no doubt be echoed by RW columnists

something tells me we're gonna hear alot more about this in the next few weeks.

[flordehinojos]

11. burning cross courtesy of bushco and his goons.

[OKNancy]

16. One doesn't have to be a right-wing columnist

to see that there is too much exaggeration about the differences in red and blue states. I noticed the gun/hunter deaths this morning were in Wisconsin, another blue state.
I live in Oklahoma, but I would like to remind people that 550,000 people voted for Kerry. We are not all knuckledraggers any more than the people of Long Island are all KKK.

[BlueManDude]

28. I wasn't disputing your point

just that I'm certain the Michelle Malkin's etc of the world will use this as someway to attack liberals/Dems. Remember the Susan Smith case in So Car where Newt made some comments blaming "liberals" for the atrocity.

Boomer Sooner.

[VegasWolf]

39. Nancy, we're not talking about intelligent adults here, we're

talking about the news media. They can only think
red and blue, purple confuses them. In college,
if you can't do math, and you can't handle english,
history, philosophy or any other formalized study, what
do you do, why you go into communications. These
people are generally the bottom of the barrel when
it comes to IQ.

[Guaranteed]

55. Red/Blue is totally beside the point. This is bullshit, and should

not be happening anywhere, ever.

[QC]

17. LOL! I was thinking the same thing!

Surely this story must be a lie, since we all know that all residents of "blue states" are nice liberals, and there's free tofu and Birkenstocks for everyone.

[CookieD]

19. Republican pocket of a blue state. n/t

[DrWeird]

37. Really?

They have interracial couples in red states? I thought that kind of thing was still illegal.

[OKNancy]

54. ???

I can't tell if you are being weird or funny, but of course there are interracial couples, at least where I live. I have lots as a matter of fact as students....their children, that is.

[drdtroit]

83. There's very little blue on Long Island. n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. Jesus Christ. Long Island!

They use to be diplomatic about racism. This is just so...Dixie.

[sangh0]

41. NO they weren't

Long Island has a long history of racism. Al D'Amato got his start by exporting black people out of Island Park and into Long Beach. He had HUD take over homes in IP, and then build replacement homes for them in Long Beach.

[The Backlash Cometh]

42. I suspected as much.

My in-laws from Long Island took many, many years before they started showing their true stuff. Makes you wonder how NY can be Democratic with people like that making up most of the burbs.

[sangh0]

45. NYC is the home of many hate crimes

and NY State often comes close to the top in the SPLC's hate crimes surveys

[Romulus]

46. thanks for saying what needed to be said

NYC was also where a large proportion of the "anti-Arab backlash" crimes took place post-9/11.

As a former New Yorker who never looked back 14 years ago (as soon as I could move away from home at 19), I am not/was not surprised with this latest arson case.

[sangh0]

48. That's why NYC has so many ethnic neighborhoods

WE have a Chinatown, Little Italy, Koreatown, etc all because the other groups didn't want them living amongst them.

[TankLV]

64. Umm - not really.

There are lots of neighborhood grouped by ethnicity because people from the "old country" find it a lot easier to adjust and live in their adoptive country with people they are familiar with - people who SHARE the same traditions, language and culture. It is usually not until the first generation that is born here that takes first to the suburbs and then to the entire country at large.

My family is all 2nd generation immigrants. That is exactly the reason for all the "neighborhoods".

Go check out Toronto to see the obvious falcity of your assumptions. They have many vibrant and rich neighborhoods there - and they are by no means the result of being FORCED to be segregated there by white people. That is the way is used to be in most cities in the US up to the 40's or so.

Sometimes, one shouldn't spout things they have absolutely no personal knowledge about, ya know?

[sangh0]

68. DO you live in NYC?

Where I live, realtors enagage in "racial steering". Not only that, but for decades, the NYC Housing Authority also did.

And I've been to Toronto, and it's nothing like what I'm talking about.

Also, I didn't say anyone was FORCED to move somewhere. Yes, they chose to congregate, but as I said in the previous post, they felt it was best given the hostile reactions they had experienced.

Sometimes, one shouldn't spout things they have absolutely no personal knowledge about, ya know?

SO when are you going to stop? I've spent several months in Toronto, and lived in NYC all my life.

Growing up in NYC, the house across the street from me was firebombed because the realtor showed the house to a black couple. Does that happen in Toronto?

The reason why the realtor showed the house to a black couple was because they had just been fined for racial steering. After it blew over, the realtor went back to racial steering. They got caught again, and when the realtor promised to stop discriminating, their office was fire-bombed five times. Sound like Toronto?

NYC is usually in the SPLC's top 10 listing of places with the most hate crimes committed. Toronto?

There were two race riots at my high school during the 4 years I attended. Toronto?

In Jr High, the parents withdrew their children from school over busing. Toronto?

[sangh0]

71. And it wasn't just when I was a kid

There were race riots over the draft in NYC during WWII.

[The Backlash Cometh]

65. To be fair...

My mother in-law is now deceased, but she said that in her time, there were Little Germanys and Little Italys and that her marriage was considered a mixed marriage even though both of them are what we would today consider white.

[sangh0]

69. WHen I was younger

a Jew marrying an Italian was considered a mixes marriage. They were referred to as "JeWoppas"

[The Backlash Cometh]

72. JeWoppas! LOL!

Or is it inappropriate to laugh?

That generation really never stopped being racists, even though they intermarried. After years of debating with my in-laws over racial issues, my mother-in-law finally said, "What you have to understand is that the real whites who dominate are protestants."

I think she was referring to the evangelicals?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

80. We call 'em Matzoh Pizzas in Mass.

Italian-Irish marriages are still common, and children of those marriages are called "half-and-halves".

[Bake]

74. I'm sad that it still happens at all, but glad it wasn't Mis'sippi!

Bake

[arwalden]

20. George Bush* Must Be LOVING This!!! Welcome To Bush's America!!

[Danmel]

21. These things happen everywhere

Look, you're kidding yourself if you don't think that this could happen ANYWHERE in the United States. There are racists everywhere- it is unfortunate that this happened on Long Island. I live here- it's not something I like to think my neighbors would do. (Although I don't live in the part of Long Island where this happened, it is still too close to home for me to feel safe from this type of hatred).

As to Long Island being a Republican stronghold, that was more true 20 years ago. Most of the Long Island Congressional Delegation is Democratic- Bishop, Israel, McCarthy- the only republican who comes to mind is Peter King. Both county executives are Democrats and the legislatures of both counties have strong democratic representation. In the Town of Huntington, where I live, we have a Democratic town supervisor (albeit one who was originally a Republican) and both counties went Democratic in the Presidential elections of 2000 & 20004.

So, as a good general rule, it is better not paint anyplace with a broad brush- we have nice liberal cousins in Columbia, South Carolina and I know right wing racists who live in NYC.

That said, I'm embarrassed this happened on my home turf.

[Nevernose]

22. Wisconsin had the highest KKK membership, e.g.

And Chicago is the most overtly racist town I've ever been to (still a great town, though).

[theboss]

49. Actually, I've always felt Boston was worse than Chicago

But it could just because no one even attempts to cross neighborhood lines in Chicago.

[bunkerbuster1]

23. This is why we don't need hate crimes legislation, right?

After all, simply fining for tresspass and misdemeanor arson should be sufficient if they nail these wrongdoers, isn't it?

</asshole>

[Champ]

27. As for the hate crimes argument I'm with it

Trespass and misdemeanor arson isn't what they did, what they did was cast a shadow of fear over that paticular household. (I know it was sarcasm, I'm just stating my opinion on hate crimes legislation) No one should have to experience something like that which is why hate crime laws should be enforced.

[bunkerbuster1]

29. THIS ought to be the progressive take-away from this sad story

that without specific laws protecting American citizens from domestic terror such as that practiced by the Klan, then the worst a cross-burner has to face is a small fine.

[Carson]

24. Those damned racist, ignorant Yankees.

Sorry. After hearing so much bile as of late aimed at Southerners (as if we here somehow have the monopoly on such actions), I couldn't resist.

It was a very sick and sad action. My heart goes out to the couple.

[Javaman]

70. Have grown up on LI, you are right...

Racism is alive an well but very much underground on LI. That's one of the reasons I moved away. Narrow minded suburbia.
Back in the 1960's, when I was a kid, the farmers, when driving there plows through the various neighborhoods, would raise their buckets as they would pass a "sympathizers" home.
This was a signal to the surrounding houses that they were being watched.
From that point on that "sympathizers" house would be the target of various crimes, until the moved.
They have since moved underground but still exist there.
Northerners or Southerners, racism has no place anywhere.

[grumpy old fart]

25. They found the Bush/Condi love nest???

[Kool Kitty]

84. A Bush/Condi love nest?

EEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Champ]

26. I just don't understand

How can anyone truley feel this hatred in their heart? Brainwashed? Someone from the other race beat them while they were kids so they take revenge on the entire race? My g/f happens to be a black woman but that fact hardly crosses my mind because that isn't what I see, I see a strong beautiful human being, someone who is respectful and doesn't expect much because she never had much growing up. She is a great person and it makes my blood boil that many others will just see the color of her skin and make their judgment based on something so immature it is ridiculous. I swear it hurts my head to think about why people think this way. Today is a sad today for that couple, it is 2004, this kind of thing should not be happening. It is a hate crime and should not be tolerated, I hope they found out who the ones were responsible because now the couple likely feel threatened until they move or quite a few arrests are made. Sorry I had to rant but I hope there will be one day when color, sex, orientation, race, nationality, etc won't mean a thing and I won't have to read stories like this EVER.

[Endangered Specie]

30. Wait a minute... this happened the the United States of CANADA!

NOT "Jesusland"

You yankees apparently have your share of nuts too after all.

[Romulus]

47. hee hee (eom)

[Arkana]

31. Oh my God

How sick can you get? Hope they catch/already caught the sumbitches responsible.

[Gregorian]

32. I'm so ashamed to be white.

It's ok everybody, they've rolled the racial timeclock back seventy years. Yeehaw! Let's spread our whiteness all over the place, with force if neccisary.

I can imagine the horror of finding that on their lawn. Fuck you whoever did that. And fuck America for being such a piece of shit now.

[Kimber Scott]

44. I'm not ashamed to be white

any more than I'm proud to be white. I didn't choose my color and I didn't do anything to make those idiots set a cross on fire in front of that couple's house.

If you lump yourself, by color, into a category of racists you are by default lumping all other colors into a stereotypical category based on their color. Some people are ignorant, racist, hateful beings - no matter what color they are, and, for that matter, no matter what country they live in, or what church, or political party they belong to.

I will not be ashamed to be American, or white, because of the actions of others. I will be who I am, because that's all I've got, and I will behave in manners I can be proud of.

My black husband lives the same way.

[Gregorian]

53. Thanks.

My reaction is partly due to the realizations I am having after watching a show on Abariginees, last night. We are living so far beyond our means, it's sick. Literally, we drive, smoke, drink, cut down forests for our lavish homes. And these people in the outback are happier. Happier without water, power, and walmart. It's an Anglo problem. We have convinced ourselves that happiness comes with wealth. But it's not true. And furthermore, our wealth has impoverished others around the world. THEIR trees are gone. And they are not happy about what has been done in our names.

But you are so correct. I realize that it has nothing to do with color. Although it sure looks that way. The truth is, it cannot be categorized in advance. I'll keep my mind open.

[Marxdem]

63. Go to Japan or China

Its not just a white problem.

[Kimber Scott]

75. If an Aborigine (sp) were to immigrate here

I can pretty much guarantee you, he would assimilate rather quickly into our system. Work and reward is a universal. It just takes different forms. Some societies revere those with the most goats. It's the way people are made. I think in our society we tend to be quite glutonous. If we had to live on what we earn, things would be much different. I get frustrated and embarrassed at myself at my society, sometimes, but everything is relative. We only know what we know. Just like Abariginees only know what they know. But, wherever you go, a man is a man. A woman is a woman. We all want the same things. Cultural differences aside, I believe all humans are programmed to want more. It's up to us as individuals to consume wisely.

[cal04]

33. living on Long Island

I think this is the most disgusting act. I can't believe that people so close to where I live, could do such a thing. I hope they catch whoever did this.

[PatriotGames]

35. I saw that on the news. It makes me so sad.

[everythingsxen]

38. Oh my god!

A burning lower-case 't', that sands for 'get out'!

Ok, seriously... this is pretty fucked up though.

[Bonobo]

52. I grew up in Suffolk County and had pennies thrown, swastikas scribbled

on my desk. "You killed Jesus!" epithets screamed at us, Parents not letting us date others. Strong Italian catholic neigborhood. Some Irish. Most bigots.

[AspenRose]

56. Just as an aside: Isn't Sean Hannity from Long Island?

I thought I read that somewhere....

If L.I. is known for occasional and random pockets of bigotry, then that may explain some things.

[THUNDER HANDS]

62. yeah, so is Bill O'Reilly

we're not exactly proud of this fact.

[clown]

66. yup

Hannity grew up in Franklin Square, O'Reilly says he's from Levittown (my hometown), but he's actually from Westbury

[genieroze]

57. How Bushco of them

Reich wing cross burning jerk offs. That's SOOOoooooo Christian of them.

[wordout]

59. This is worse than any act of anti-semenism

Blacks are Black.

[AlienGirl]

76. What?

What the heck do you mean--I don't understand your post!

Tucker

[TankLV]

60. And so it begins.

And you all thought the LAST four years were bad!

[THUNDER HANDS]

61. these were teenagers I bet

The kids out here are seriously FUCKED UP.

[donheld]

67. I guess blue states do have the Klan

of course we knew that. Discusting.

[NVMojo]

73. another religious zealot whackjob, and we kill muslim zealots?

[dhinojosa]

77. What does a burning cross signify anyway?

I never understood that....Does Jesus burn or what? This has no logic even in the biblical sense.

[Nevernose]

78. Inbreeding? Too much free time?

And who came up with the idea in the first place? I'd have loved to have been there when some drunken, toothless redneck first went out to his garage and said "Hey boys, what say we build a giant replica of the cross they crucified Jesus on. Then let's set it on fire in some guy's front yard."

[struggle4progress]

79. kick

:kick:

[Mr. Mousie]

81. Q: What's orange and looks good on a Klansman?

A: FIRE!

[halobeam]

82. I live on Long Island... it's just like a mini red state.... really scary

that it's in NY... you'd really never know it. By this article, it just goes to show ya, how seriously ill some people are. I've been here all my life and it's just as bad now as it ever was. KKK used to run the same town I live in.. Newsday had an article last year about the most segregated counties and towns in the country. We were third.

As I get older, and I learn more, I am more and more ashamed of where I came from. Very sad indeed.

[Sleepless In NY]

85. Mini red state? Not me, I'm proud of Long Island

If this was an everyday occurance, I'd agree with you, but we both know it isn't. Its the exception, rather than the rule. Republican control of Long Island is long since past. Both counties now have Democratic County Executives. Interesting fact about Long Island, it has the highest property tax in the country. Probably some of the highest real estate values too. Yet it's a very diverse area. Taxes here began to soar during the Republican reign, no less. Thats why I always laugh when I hear Republicans talk about saving "your money". They are now proving they cant do that on a national level, either. These same counties carried Hillary, Gore and Kerry.

Grew up on Long Island, must have missed the KKK! LOL! Can't remember a single lynching. Also have to laugh about the remarks about Manhattan, if there is one place on earth where more different people live and yet still manage to get along, let me know..ok?

As for crimes against Muslims after 9/11, facts dont bear that statement out either. I think most people here realize that Muslims, Jews, Christians, etc. perished together on 9/11. I saw more people pull together after 9/11, then pull apart.

My sympathies to this family, a very disgusting incident, but certainly not a common one, I hope who ever did this is caught and punished severely. Its a sick, hateful act.