Black Santa Claus draws slurs Downstate

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-santa02.html

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. -- Vandals have twice struck a home in this Metro East town where a black Santa Claus was on display in the yard.

Vandals on Friday stole the Santa and spray-painted a death threat and racial slur on the home of William Glass. Last week, someone tied a noose around the Santa's neck and hung it from a tree.

''I can't put my feelings into words,'' said Glass, who is black. ''I don't know what's going on. My words won't flow right now.''

[RC]

1. I wonder what a correctly portrayed Jesus would do to them?

A tall, blue-eyed Scandinavian he wasn't.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. oooo. that is a touchy one. even among "enlightened"

people I find that one touches a nerve.

[fishwax]

17. i've struck nerves with that one as well

it's remarkable how strongly some cling to their illusions ...

[XemaSab]

7. As it's been said before

Jesus probably looked a lot more like Osama bin Laden than Brad Pitt.

[jmowreader]

Jesus ACTED, for his time, a lot like Osama bin Laden too

Running the moneychangers out of the temple? Not letting them stone people to death? Healing the sick--man, don't you know you're supposed to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps and not take welfare from weird hippies? Oh man was this guy a terrorist for his time.

Why do you think we elect Republicans? This kind of activity is completely unacceptable! :sarcasm:

[TallahasseeGrannie]

9. Funny you should say that

because I have always thought OBL a particularly "beautiful" man physically.

However, one recreation of Christ I saw showed a man with very curly hair, probably kept short, and typical Jewish features: strong nose, dark eyes, etc.

I make stained glass windows for churches and did one for a black church of a very lovely black Jesus.

[jmowreader]

10. He has a charismatic presence about him, that's true

And that's one of the reasons Reagan picked him to help run the Soviets out of Afghanistan.

[acmejack]

3. Tolerence is alive and well in Amerika!

Good to see we have progressed so far...

[dogman]

4. Sounds like a real war on Christmas.

Will we hear arguments about political correctness on Faux about this?

[alphafemale]

6. Faux would come down on the side of the vandals.

They'd say the homeowner had it coming.

:grr:

[Ilsa]

8. Yeah, that's what he gets for celebrating Christmas while Black. eom

[KharmaTrain]

5. Ah....That's St. Louis...Nothing Like That Would Happen In Chicago

:sarcasm:

The goofy local Faux station ran a story a couple days ago of some rich, elderly couple who had their "baby Jesus" stolen...from the display on the front lawn. The camera pulled out and in addition to the manger scene were dozens of other knick knacks (every goofy item from the snow glow santas and frosties and snoopies to the wire reindeer to the inflatable jobbies)...surely the old man could afford to run to FIM and buy a new "Baby Jesus". Instead, the report was how these "poor old people" were suffering and praying for the return for their precious "baby" and what a terrible thing this was to happen to them in such a religious time. They even were offering a reward and had an email and phone number being advertised. I haven't bothered to check back and follow up.

:puke:

[dsc]

14. Maybe the Jesus had some sentimental value

I am glad I am not your neighbor if that is your typical response to people having stuff ripped off.

[Mr_Spock]

11. Well, isn't that special?

I don't want to give too much creedence to such childish behavior, but someone is raising children who aren't too bright.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Sadly, there are a lot of racists in Illinois in the suburbs

I've never quite understood it-but it is very ugly.

[kevsand]

16. I grew up in Fairview Heights,

and while there has been some tension there historically, it's generally been better than several other communities in the area. The entire region is a mess, actually. What you have is East St. Louis and a couple of other communities in the river valley (the American Bottom) which are mostly black and poor, and a number of white-flight suburbs up on top of the bluffs.

Belleville is the largest, and has had some federal problems with racial profiling on the part of its police force. O'Fallon (a growing community on the edge of Scott AFB) in the sixties actually had a billboard on the edge of town that said the sun doesn't set on a black person in O'Fallon. Fairview Heights is mainly the regional mall-world, and there has been growing tension there between all the minorities who come there to shop and the local residents.

These problems were always there, but have become more obvious over the last decade or so as minority families have started to move into the previously mostly white suburbs.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

13. Right wing Americans make me sick nt

[davsand]

15. Here's the local report on the incident:

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/local/13484700.htm

Black Santa display attacked
BY CAROLYN P. SMITH
News-Democrat
Someone lynched Santa.

Then they returned to mess with the reindeer.

About 10:30 a.m. Friday, William Glass noticed his Christmas decorations were in disarray. He was ready to blame the grandkids, but then saw it was more serious.

"Somebody tied a hangman's noose around his neck and hung him from the tree," Glass said of his Santa decoration. He filed a report with Fairview Heights Police...


Hanging Santa. THAT is un-Amurrican.

Laura