Maybe Arizonans should worry about their white-supremacist problem

[babylonsister]

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/maybe-arizonans-should-worry-about-t

Maybe Arizonans should worry about their white-supremacist problem
By David Neiwert


It's more than a little ironic, isn't it, that Arizonans will work themselves into a frenzy -- to the point of passing a police-state ordinance like SB1070 -- because of a single case like the murder of border rancher named Robert Krentz, even though the crime is being widely blamed on Mexican drug cartel activity, which is actually a distinct issue largely separate from "illegal immigration". (Indeed, it's not even clear that in fact Krentz's murder came at the hands of Mexicans.)

And yet when a white supremacist drives up next to a mixed-race couple and opens fire with a shotgun because of their races, as happened last October, the case is greeted with a yawn. As was the man's arrest this week:

A man suspected of killing a 39-year-old woman in Phoenix in October was arrested in Livingston, Tenn., on Wednesday, a Livingston Police Department spokesman said Thursday morning.

Schmidt is suspected of opening fire on the woman and her friend last October in what Phoenix police believe could have been a racially motivated crime.

snip//

Wellmaker, who is Black, said the tattooed man yelled, "What are you doing with that White woman," according to Phoenix police at the time of the shooting.

The friends didn't respond and kept walking.

The tattooed man followed the pair for a couple blocks, police had said. By the time the couple reached Fourth Street and Puget Avenue, Wellmaker saw a white four-door newer model sedan with tinted windows drive past them.

In the passenger seat was the tattooed man. That's when Wellmaker said the passenger pulled out a shotgun and shot two blasts at the couple, according to police. One struck the woman and the second blast missed them.

snip//

Arizona has a white supremacist problem -- one that has been exacerbated by the nativist immigrant-bashing that has been part and parcel of the right-wing approach to the issue in Arizona. Instead of inverting the reality, at some point they're going to have to face up to it -- especially because, eventually, Latinos and homeless white people are not going to be the only victims.

[ixion]

1. Yep, and in the larger picture: humanity has a race problem. That is: humans think race matters

when it doesn't. This doesn't just apply to white folks. Racists come in all shapes and sizes.

The Great Irony, of course, is that we're all from the same, small gene pool.

[gophates]

2. we all need to worry about AZ's white supremasist problem

I, for one, would like to see some third-party monitoring. Maybe the UN or something, to be sure people of color get a fair shake there. We don't seem to be up to the task.

[Bobbieo]

3. Think the title should read - Maybe 'some' Arizonans should worry about their white supremacist

problem. I'm an Arizonan but am not a white supremacist and I resent the implication.

[babylonsister]

4. You took this the wrong way; no one was saying

Arizonans are all white supremacists, but the original article says there is a problem there. Instead of worrying about 'the Hispanic problem', folks might want to pay attention to white supremacists.

[Cirque du So-What]

6. I interpret the title differently

I see no implication that all Arizonans (ostensibly the white ones, anyway) are white supremacists. To me, it says that all Arizonans need to take seriously the problems caused by white supremacists in their midst. For my part, I would extend that warning to areas well beyond Arizona's borders. This map, compiled by the Southern Poverty Law Center, shows active hate groups throughout the USA:

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/hate-map

Even though the organizations enumerated on that map are not all white-supremacist groups, they account for the lion's share. No state is free from these groups, and that's why I'm so intolerant toward state/regional chauvinists who point their bony finger in scorn at specific parts of the country; every state harbors at least one of these groups - organizations that actively recruit for purposes of amping-up the violence in hopes of igniting an out-of-control conflagration. Instead of making fun of other states/regions, I suggest that everyone look first in their own backyard.

[geckosfeet]

8. No state is free of them - indeed the world suffers at their hands as well.

The hate and bile is perpetuated, and I fear it will once again foment into nationalistic movement on a scale larger than the horror show of the 1930's and 40's.

[Catshrink]

9. How about "America should worry about its white supremacist problem"

I also resent the implication that all Arizonans are white supremacists.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Catshrink]

11. You could have said this without the insult

It dilutes and detracts from any point you are trying to make.

[NNN0LHI]

5. Recommended

[madrchsod]

7. they are in every state in this union...

some are just more vocal and get more national press....