The people of Knoxville demonstrated one hell of a great way to disrupt and basically neuter a KKK rally. The 100th ARA (Anti Racist Action) clown block came out to cheer them on in their own special way. Here is an excerpt from the days action.
“White Power!” the Nazi’s shouted, “White Flour?” the clowns yelled back running in circles throwing flour in the air and raising separate letters which spelt “White Flour”.
“White Power!” the Nazi’s angrily shouted once more, “White flowers?” the clowns cheers and threw white flowers in the air and danced about merrily.
“White Power!” the Nazi’s tried once again in a doomed and somewhat funny attempt to clarify their message, “ohhhhhh!” the clowns yelled “Tight Shower!” and held a solar shower in the air and all tried to crowd under to get clean as per the Klan’s directions.
At this point several of the Nazi’s and Klan members began clutching their hearts as if they were about to have a heart attack. Their beady eyes bulged, and the veins in their tiny narrow foreheads beat in rage. One last time they screamed “White Power!”
The clown women thought they finally understood what the Klan was trying to say. “Ohhhhh…” the women clowns said. “Now we understand…”, “WIFE POWER!” they lifted the letters up in the air, grabbed the nearest male clowns and lifted them in their arms and ran about merrily chanting “WIFE POWER! WIFE POWER! WIFE POWER!”
Here are a few links to support these people, and remember, to ridicule a hate group in such a creative manner is one great way to take the wind from their sails.
I wouldn’t call a cropped photo of 12 idiots the people of Knoxville, but I would call you what you are, “queers”.
Comment by Watcher — September 7, 2007 @ 10:55 am
What do they think they’re doing, or rather, what will have changed from them doing this? As far as I can see they’re just putting more attention on the event which is KKKcentric
Comment by Derek — September 7, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
This is absolutely awesome, spectacular really. This will work to make the KKK look like what they really are, a bunch of shouting morons.
Comment by Seigfired Shauffen — September 7, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
Genius. Best idea ever
Comment by jedge — September 7, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
lol@butthurt nazi
Comment by Suo my Nona — September 7, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
Ah mockery… the best way to show people how bloody stupid they look when they’re being sincere in their stupidity. Very well done.
Comment by Michelle — September 7, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
its obvious that the author of this article is against the kkk rally and all in all i doubt it had such a profound effect anyway . a couple of people dressed as clowns arent gonna disrupt a rally such as this one and by doing what they did just gave the kkk more publicity .
White FTW
Comment by lame — September 7, 2007 @ 11:53 pm
wow this is so amazing…its a joke that the KKK still exists, and we need actions like this all throughout the country so that these inbred uneducated bigots who don’t even deserve the title of human being (thats right i pretty much think all the racists in the world are animal retards) should be ridiculed and scoffed right out of our country, b/c if every one of them died, the world would be a much better place
Comment by mike — September 8, 2007 @ 12:38 am
Brilliant!!!!!!
Go on th clowns!!!!
Oh and Watcher… Piss of you gay bashing nazi puke ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Jamjam42 — September 8, 2007 @ 1:52 am
what a great idea! how much do you have to suck at life to hate someone you don’t know based on something a person has no control over?? lame, hopefully genetic evolution takes care of these losers soon.
Comment by Stephanie M — September 8, 2007 @ 2:29 am
Wait, are they Nazis or the KKK, because there’s a difference.
Comment by Dave — September 8, 2007 @ 2:43 am
Heheee. Nice happening!
A few years ago, sensible people wrecked a neo-nazi march i Denmark by making a mock-sponsorship for it. They arranged donations to humane charities based on the distance the nazis would walk – So every kilometre they marched triggered donations to causes they certainly do not believe in… THAT was excellent!
Comment by Dan — September 8, 2007 @ 4:27 am
lol spot the rasist everyone!
Comment by HATETHEHATERS — September 8, 2007 @ 5:27 am
That’s pretty cool. And it’s only one picture so of course you don’t see EVERYTHING, but yay go clowns?
Comment by Luchene — September 8, 2007 @ 6:10 am
So, I guess Watcher is on the KKK’s side? Fight hate with funny, and show the hate-mongers for what they are–pathetic.
Comment by Teresa — September 8, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
Lol!!!
Comment by nicolle — September 8, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
KKK rally???????????????
I thought it was a rally to protest that horrific,god-awful,hate filled,RACIST 2 day multiple rape,torture and mutilation murder of two young White kids by a gang of black criminals?
Comment by tyreen blaque — September 8, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Some years ago, in a Nat’l Geo article about the life of Martin Luther, I read his advice on Satan. It was to laugh at him. This would completely completely stun and confuse him. His pride or ego, is so immense that he can’t conceive that someone would hold him in such low regard as to laugh at him. Entirely appropriate to ridicule this particular kind of evil.
Comment by lynda — September 8, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
You got it, Stephanie M.
We can’t use hate to fight hate.
Let’s all laugh.
Comment by S — September 9, 2007 @ 9:25 am
Intolerance of Intolerance IS Intolerance.
If you believe in free speech or freedom of expression then you must allow everyone, especially people you do not agree with, their right to express themselves their ideas, hate, or love. To stereotype and degrade a group of people because they have different beliefs than you (for example if they are Neo-Nazis) is bigotry. Furthermore to use what you perceive as the flaws, weaknesses, and inadequacies of such a group to elevate your own ego through a sense of superiority is to act exactly as Nazis do.
Unless you respect and understand the beliefs and differences of all other people you are no better than the Nazis you ridicule and degrade with so much hate and misunderstanding.
Comment by truth — September 9, 2007 @ 10:15 am
I can agree with you to a point, truth.
“If you believe in free speech or freedom of expression then you must allow everyone, especially people you do not agree with, their right to express themselves their ideas, hate, or love.”
But the counter-protesters weren’t denying the KKK the right to march or speak. They were simply using their own right to do the same thing. It’s not the clowns fault if the original protesters didn’t have the courage to stick to their (proverbial) guns.
I don’t have to “respect and understand” the beliefs of the KKK. Those beliefs are not worthy of my respect. And if I can shout them down, so much the better. The first amendment simply states that I can’t use the government to shut them down.
Comment by PaganPup — September 9, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
Truth? Ha, ha, ha. Making fun of racists because they are unhinged is hardly intolerance. It’s fucking hilarious. And how were anyone’s free speech rights violated here? They were simply countered with other free speech.
Racists are scum and they deserve nothing but absolute ridicule. And they offer absolutely NOTHING to understand or respect. So eat a shit sandwich, Truth, and have a shot of tequila to wash it down.
Idiot.
Comment by Captain Obvious — September 9, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
I’m with “truth” here. This bashing of the intolerant is another example of intolerance. I don’t agree with the KKK or their message, but I also don’t support those who stand in the way of people trying to voice their opinions regardless of how controversial they are or how they conflict with my beliefs.
Hypocrisy is running rampant on this page.
Comment by David — September 10, 2007 @ 9:09 am
You’d think differently if you were stripped naked and then dragged behind a pickup with a confederate flag on it down a gravel road. There’s nothing controversial about racism, so shut the fuck up. Fucking moron.
And, AGAIN, no one’s free speech rights were violated here so quit pulling that card and go find a white sheet with a hood.
Comment by Captain Obvious — September 10, 2007 @ 9:19 am
were they illinois nazis? i hate illinois nazis!!
Comment by ron — September 10, 2007 @ 9:33 am
[...] the blog Pork Banana, funny! The people of Knoxville demonstrated one hell of a great way to disrupt and basically [...]
Pingback by politicalpartypoop.com » Blog Archive » Some stuff I looked at today… — September 10, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Who gave the idiots (read: racists and racist-apologists) Internet access, and why are they commenting here?
You’re fired!
Comment by iomatically — September 10, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Truth & David,
You are both wrong. Yes, the Klan has the right to protest and say whatever they feel. I also have the right to counter-protest, and even ridicule them for their said beliefs.
Free speech works both ways. In fact, it’s the only way that free speech can work.
Comment by Bildo — September 10, 2007 @ 10:38 am
If somebody comes at you with a knife, is it hypocritical to use violence to defend yourself? I’m sorry, but as a gay man, telling me I should respect the beliefs of people like this (or the more mainstream groups) is kind of ridiculous. Maybe you straight white Christian males can debate about respecting all beliefs, but some of us actually have to deal with this whether we want to or not.
Comment by Chris — September 10, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
Respecting them is one thing, tolerating them is another. You don’t need to respect their beliefs, hell I certainly don’t. They’re ignorant and stupid as hell. Tolerating them is what should be done. If they want to hold a rally? What happened in Denmark was a great way to make their plans backfire. This demonstration was also pretty good, but I have to say that it did indeed give them a little more publicity. Oh well, I’d definitely help out with something like this anyway.
Comment by thanato — September 12, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
Clown Power! (and I love what Dan said happened in Denmark, too!)
We certainly don’t have to respect the beliefs of any group founded in hate for another group. We do have to respect their right to free speech, and the KKK’s rights were not infringed upon by a counter-rally.
What the clowns did was creative and magnificent.
We have a moral obligation to stand up and be heard whenever these hate groups come to town. If we don’t, then any and all publicity goes to the hate group. By showing up to protest what the KKK stands for, the clowns garnered even more publicity – for their cause, not the KKK’s.
The people who failed to stand up against the Nazi Party in Germany paid a heavy price, and allowed hate to prevail to the level of Holocaust. So, rather than worry about whether a protest only gives the hate group more publicity, let’s remember what the price of silence was in Europe.
Comment by Candace — September 13, 2007 @ 7:32 am
This is exactly the kind of discussion I was hoping to start, thanks everyone.
My point was not that the first amendment rights of the people involved were violated, nor that the clowns overstepped their own. My point was that most of the posters on this page seem to be full of deeply planted hatred toward these people you call racists and haters. But if you step back and look at this objectively you will see that your hatred is little different from the Klan, or Neo-Nazis: You hate people for holding strong beliefs or a belief system that they have likely been taught their whole lives and that is remarkably different from your own. This is why you hate them. Now remember that the Holocaust was, in large part, an expression of the exact same hatred of people for the same reasons. Jews, and many many other minority religious and ideological groups were persecuted, belittles and eventually murdered simply because they had been brought up with a different belief system and chose to stand by their beliefs. Now I am not suggesting that you all would like to exterminate the KKK members, though many of you likely would, I am just pointing out that the same kind of ideological hatred towards a group with different beliefs that your expressing here is strikingly similar to both their hatred and, as history has shown, hatred that when taken too far can have terrible human consequences.
Comment by truth — September 14, 2007 @ 9:52 am
You didn’t start a discussion, truth. You tripped over yourself trying to be Jesus Christ with an ignorant “turn the other cheek” bullshit statement.
First you state:
“If you believe in free speech or freedom of expression then you must allow everyone, especially people you do not agree with, their right to express themselves their ideas, hate, or love.”
Then you state:
“My point was not that the first amendment rights of the people involved were violated, nor that the clowns overstepped their own.”
Either you aren’t capable of scrolling a web page to review your original statement, or you’re back peddling. I’m guessing the latter.
And you are also suggesting that it’s not okay to hate KKK members just because they have “different beliefs.” Um…last time I checked, being brutally beaten to death has nothing to do with beliefs. Here’s a KKK murder for you:
I guess you’re right. These people are okay. We shouldn’t mock them in their rally, because they deserve the right to be heard.
You are a fucking moron. Plain and simple. This has NOTHING to do with free speech or wanting to respect differences in other people. This is about your being an ignorant fool. Give it up, shitface.
Comment by Captain Obvious — September 14, 2007 @ 10:23 am
History itself has defined the KKK (with plenty of documentation) as a group of murderous cowards. I submit to this “argument” that it is ok to fight these people in any way possible, as I for one do not intend to allow them to kill again based on their precious “beliefs”. Perhaps it is wrong to hate people solely based on their beliefs, that is an argument that has little place in this discussion, and would be better placed on some KKK forum don’t ya think? The fact that this creative group of people turned a hateful demonstration into a comedic event, only throws the last bit of water on your misplaced “argument” or should i say recruitment attempt? Please thank these delightful clowns for their cunning bravery in confronting this hate group head on for you as you sit in your isolated bubble pondering the “truth”…that is unless you are a KKK troll. As far as any arguments about publicity go, I’d say the clowns got much more publicity than the sheets.
Comment by rswelling — September 14, 2007 @ 11:07 am
white power, niggers.
Comment by . — September 14, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
Truth drooled and spouted:
“Now remember that the Holocaust was, in large part, an expression of the exact same hatred of people for the same reasons.”
The mass murder, attempted annihilation, of a group(s) of people for beliefs and not their actions is now just an “expression”? The simple manifestation of an ignorant thought process?
It’s an act and a huge leap from simple thought. Anyone associating themselves with like groups, groups with a history of violence towards people for thinking different, says loud and clear, if with somewhat clouded judgement, that they support what has been done in the past. They condone it and are likely ready to be part of the next round of assault on innocents.
That’s why, while I’ll respect them on a very basic human level, I will never associate with Christians, Muslims, or Vegans either.
Comment by shizack — September 15, 2007 @ 4:33 am
my name is truth and i’m a big tool. i like to raise questions like, why is it okay to hate hate groups because they are hate groups? wouldn’t that make you a group of haters? furthermore i’m a douche. who’s to say that hate as a belief is any lesser than love, after all, in the words of the late bill hicks: “I just think it’s interesting to see how people act on their beliefs, you know what I mean? ‘Cause your beliefs, they’re just that, they’re nothin’, there’s how you were taught, and raised. That doesn’t make ‘em real…. realize that everything you learned is in fact just learned, and not necessarily true.” each person who experiences self righteousness should be humble and realize that there is no one-truth in the universe, and that all beliefs by there very nature are neither correct nor in error.
i’m a big farty pants.
Comment by untruth — September 17, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
Truth/untruth:
Quit your crying. Don’t start defending the rights of hate groups—who’s rights haven’t even been violated—and then whine because people get on your case.
This series of events can be summed up pretty quickly:
1. Evil people who kill others based on the color of their skin hold a rally.
2. Good natured people crash the rally and make fun of them.
3. A newspaper reports about it.
4. Pork Banana blogs about the article.
5. You cry because KKK members have a right to express themselves.
6. You are rightfully taunted and made fun of because you are, indeed, a douche.
7. You cry again because you say you didn’t say what you said.
8. You are again cursed to hell.
9. You again cry and mock other people because you are, indeed, a douche.
Who’s a douche? Huh? Come on, truth. Good boy. Go get your ball. Get it. Good boy.
Comment by Captain Obvious — September 18, 2007 @ 9:12 am
Wow! You must be american. It never ceases to amaze me how close minded and utterly devoid of reason people who consider themselves “liberal” can be. This guy “truth” tries to raise something for intelligent discussion and all you have is contempt and ignorance. “my name is truth and i’m a big tool” “truth drooled and spouted” WTF are you people under 12.
Comment by Andy — September 19, 2007 @ 12:28 am
to captain obvious. everyone is a “douche” this includes you. so while truth is running to get the ball because your to lazy to play fetch.. i guess you can get this doggy snack.
P.S. i didnt read anything. i just see people talking shit.. and was bored. so i felt i must degrade myself at this moment and go down to their lvl of idiosy by talking crap here… ahhhh.. the joys of the internet. able to speak ones mind and not give a shit what others think. being able to think your right and no one else is.
one of the oldest phrases around.. wich i still love to this day
“Argueing over the internet is like competing in the special olympics, doesnt matter wether you win or loose, your still retarted”
fact is
KKK used their right to get together and speak their mind..
the clowns did the very same thing
KKK didnt like it and got pissed
clowns thought it was funny and continued to mock the KKK
KKK isnt right with all their racist BS.. but in this instance, neither were the ARA or what every they are called. but both groups still got to speak their minds as they wanted to.
two wrongs dont make a rite… but in the world we live in.. a wrong leads to a wrong, leading to more wrongs.. gets a rite somewhere in there.. but everything is still fucked up
its a fucked up world we live in. to many wrongs to count, not enough rites, everyone speaks their mind.. and people get pissy about it.
oh well.. thats the world we live in.. and the internet we serf =D
Comment by no one — September 19, 2007 @ 7:26 am
its amazing how blind most of the posters here are…
truth raises a good point, you all hate them so much that you are no better than them, in fact there were posts mentioning killing them all?
would you really want to exterminate the KKK? where would it end? after the KKK do you kill all the neo-nazis and other groups?
what then? kill the tree-huggers for stopping logging?
where do you stop, once you start exterminating groups of individuals for expressing their beliefs?
who decides who’s beliefs are good and who’s are evil?
is it the government?
Comment by LDSJohn — September 19, 2007 @ 7:48 am
Who said the clowns “hate” the KKK? Your assumptions betray you. “truth” raised an obvious, no so clever point, which no one really argues with, along with initially some completely false accusation about people’s freedom of speech being truncated in some way, in an attempt (one can only guess) to get people to feel sympathy for the KKK or at least question what their beliefs actually are. People shouldn’t hate other people because of their beliefs…duh. Again I suppose I must re-state it’s because of their actions on their beliefs that they demand and receive confrontation.
“who decides who’s beliefs are good an evil”
The beliefs of the KKK are well known because of their actions which are well documented…which anyone as an apologist or a recruitment specialist will probably argue is totally fictitious. I tend to believe the documentation.
*as far as the abusive nature of some folks goes, I am allowing pretty much all comments here that are not spam, Liberal and Conservative groups are made up of all types…to state you are “shocked” that some “Liberals” are narrow minded, or might be using language which offends you is laughable. Read ANY boards on either side of the great debate between “Liberals and Conservatives”, you’ll find plenty of slop, potty, and immaturity. The Internet is full of youthful indiscretion, which is of course part of it’s charm. Oh yeah, stop using the labels the rich and powerful want you to use, in order to divide the populace. People can and should have both liberal and conservative views on issues.
Comment by rswelling — September 19, 2007 @ 8:33 am
While I agree that freedom of speech should be protected, the fact that there may have been one person in the crowd who was on the edge of ascribing to the KKK philosophy of hatred, and whose mind was changed by the actions of the clowns says it all for me. These clowns are heroes in my book!
Comment by jetman — September 19, 2007 @ 10:44 am
Who said I was liberal? And what does this conversation have to do with politics?
No, over 12 because I can add a question mark to the end a sentence I capitalized.
I indeed may be a douche, but at least I’m a douche who won’t defend people who murder other people for fun and to promote extermination. And thanks for your valuable participation.
Yeah, let’s compare murderers with comedians. Good call.
Oh, you’re a real winner. Again, let’s equate hate crimes with comedy. Making fun of people who commit racially-motivated murder isn’t two wrongs. Let’s just say for the sake of argument that Timothy McVeigh was announcing his intent to bomb a building and some clowns showed up on the other side of the street to make fun of him. Still two wrongs?
Hey there, tangent. How’s it going? I don’t recall saying anything about “exterminating groups of individuals.” Did I say that? No, fuck wad, I said the ARA had a right to make fun of them. I also said that no one’s free speech was violated here. That’s my point. I’m not condoning murder, I’m saying the ARA had every right to do what they did and that truth can shut the hell up about how the poor little KKK members weren’t allowed to express themselves, which in fact they were. They were simply outnumbered by smarter, louder people.
Truth says “If you believe in free speech or freedom of expression then you must allow everyone, especially people you do not agree with, their right to express themselves their ideas, hate, or love.” Um…they were allowed their right to express themselves.
Truth says “To stereotype and degrade a group of people because they have different beliefs than you (for example if they are Neo-Nazis) is bigotry.” Well, then, I guess we’re all bigots when it comes to murder and rape, right? So we shouldn’t be bigots when it comes to a rapist, because he simply “believes” that women are evil and need to pay a price. It’s just our beliefs that differ, right?
Good question. Then (again) racially-motivated murder is just something we should live with, I guess. Certainly we can’t declare KKK murders as an act of “evil,” right? Because then we’d be drawing a line, and that would be bad. And the poor, rights-restricted murderers would have to go home and cry because someone yelled louder than them on the street corner. Boo-fucking-hoo.
Comment by Captain Obvious — September 19, 2007 @ 11:13 am
Unfortunately too many people are closed minded. The Klan has the right to believe what they believe and they have the right to hold rallies. Quite frankly they are the only group of people in this country fighting for what’s right. They no longer preach hate really. Just equal rights. It’s the minority groups trying to get special treatment that are the real problem.
Comment by Steve — September 19, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
I’ll bet that when you eat your shit sandwich on Wonder Bread you truly enjoy it. You might even lick your own anus for dessert.
Comment by Captain Obvious — September 19, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
“Unfortunately too many people are closed minded. The Klan has the right to believe what they believe and they have the right to hold rallies. Quite frankly they are the only group of people in this country fighting for what’s right. They no longer preach hate really. Just equal rights. It’s the minority groups trying to get special treatment that are the real problem.”
Wow.
Wow.
Comment by Joe — September 19, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
Hey Steve, they were chanting “white power.” Did you miss that part?
Comment by Joe — September 19, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
wow this is so amazing…its a joke that the KKK still exists, and we need actions like this all throughout the country so that these inbred uneducated bigots who don’t even deserve the title of human being (thats right i pretty much think all the racists in the world are animal retards) should be ridiculed and scoffed right out of our country, b/c if every one of them died, the world would be a much better place
To “Mike” of September 8th
I’m pretty sure opinion is a right still? Yes I agree that times are different but honestly “animal retards” now lets grow up (using a meantl handicap as an insult)
Some one listen too their liberal parents a bit too much.
And yes your right true racism is not funny.
Comment by ERIK — September 19, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
Ha fucking Ha the editor of this article is a fucktard Nazi and KKK are two totally different groups and all the people on this forum that are saying how the KKK kills people…uhm yeh like decade or two ago lets looked at the last murder from this group…exactly shut the fuck up
Comment by ERIK — September 19, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
to “truth”:
Intolerance itself is not inherently a bad thing. Unjustified intolerance, a staple of racists, is inherently a bad thing. (Justice and justification being inherently good things, and lack of justification and injstice being inherently bad things)
I do not have to tolerate anything the KKK says or believes in order to respect the united states’ bill of rights. I can’t stop them from expressing their views, but there’s no guarantee anywhere of security from counter-expression on any level, and there’s certainly no guarantee of compliance or agreement with their statements or expressions.
The basic reason racism is bad is that it attaches negative attributes to people who in truth don’t necessarily have those attributes. If people are rallying in public behind that particular belief, then it is clear that they either hold that belief or actively support it themselves. If holding said belief makes a person less benevolent in your eyes, then you are perfectly justified in saying so to anyone in that whole group (the one rallying behind the belief in question). These citizens of Knoxville did just that by mocking the KKK.
Comment by kirk — September 19, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
I only want to argue with people who can spell and use correct grammar and punctuation. If you don’t do these things, you come across as an idiot. First step, capital letters come at the beginning of a sentence.
The internet – making people stupid since 1856.
Comment by Snurk Lord — September 19, 2007 @ 11:40 pm
Anyone remember the Henry Rollins spoken word bit titled ‘Klan Chaos Disruption Team’? The basic tenet was that, if he was president, he would organize people to do exactly this: the Klan would march any and everywhere they wanted to, but alongside clowns on tricycles, jugglers, openly gay men in provocative costumes, and all sorts of other things designed solely to see how was sillier…
Comment by Steve — September 20, 2007 @ 12:23 am
also, @ Erik: you’re right, Nazis and Klansmen are different breeds of racist. That being said, ‘decades ago’? It’s no big deal now, it’s been a few years. Remember that there is no statute of limitations concerning murder.
Comment by Steve — September 20, 2007 @ 12:25 am
What if pedophiles were to hold a rally? How right would that be? I mean, they too are entitled to their own beliefs, aren’t they? We must be tolerant and try to understand and tolerate such “differences”… What would you say then, truth?
Also, Captain Obvious, I am truly surprised that someone who can make so much sense in some of their statements can also resort to such plain and lowly insults including suggestions of eating own shit. Care to explain?
Comment by Marina — September 21, 2007 @ 5:50 am
I didn’t realize there was either a legal or ethical statue of limitations on murder. How many of these murderers were never prosecuted and continue to walk in KKK rallies? Water under the bridge, right? Wrong.
Thank you, Kirk.
This indeed may have been the source of inspiration for the ARA.
Exactly my point, Marina.
Sure. But only because you’ve (inadvertently) offered a compliment with your observation. I have a history with rebellion and teenage angst, but I was “saved” when I found a love for the power of eloquence in written and spoken word. Alas, I can’t shake the sailor mouth as I have a parallel love for the sound of foul phrases. It’s a dichotomy I’m doomed to retain for the rest of my life.
Comment by Captain Obvious — September 21, 2007 @ 9:09 am
You guys are idiots if you can’t see what the point of actions such as this are. They are mocking them in PUBLIC. How much trouble do you think these rednecks will have finding more members if they get publicly humiliated everytime they go out to burn a cross or shout out quotes from mein kampf.
Comment by olstar — September 22, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
The whole point of this is: You have the right to free expression, nobody can take that away from you. That being said, you shouldn’t open your mouth unless your prepared to deal with a bigger mouth that has an opposing viewpoint. I think the half-assed statements that Truth made weren’t necessarily founded in bigotry, maybe he had good intentions, but good intentions don’t excuse ignorance. We don’t have to accept these people, just like they choose not to accept anyone who isn’t a racist, white christian male or his submissive, brain-washed wife and kids. A group that hates hate-groups is a hate-group though. You wanna make a really funny statement? Have guys in tight black leather and high heels start tickling the Klanners with the ends of riding crops and flirting with them. ROFLMAO!
Comment by RaMan — September 24, 2007 @ 3:02 am
Wow. I stumbled upon this site and the comments have been interesting to say the least.
“A group that hates hate-groups is a hate-group though.” There’s quite a difference though. Like if the cause is righteous and in response to a hate group. So if the aforementioned Pedophile Group holds a rally and I go out there and “hate” per se, I’m gonna be okay with that.
Okay, someone please make me laugh some more now. thanks.
Comment by The Zoner — September 25, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
Well I agree with the clowns, but as I do not live in Knoxville, I hope that the local media didn’t skew the story to shed a pseudo positive light on the KKK.
Comment by andrew — September 26, 2007 @ 10:58 am
In response to ”Mike ” Sept 8th.
You attack the KKK, which is fine, but you use the term ”Retards” so maybe you need to examine your own attitudes
Comment by Jim — September 28, 2007 @ 11:21 am
although i love the idea and think that the KKK is truly wrong and hurtful to the good citizens of the world it is strange to ponder on the ideal that people exclude the KKK in a country born from free speech, its being fascist towards, well, fascists. strange.
i personally hate political correctness which has increased 1000 fold under the Labour government over here in the UK, it is ridiculous that i cannot celebrate Christmas as i might upset an ethnic minority. Firstly, they are the minority, there is a reason why the majority has more people in it. And secondly, they came into the country, adapt to our culture, and we’ll accept you openhearted, i have no problem with people celebrating rammadan and wearing head scarves and the like, but when it intrudes on the culture they have immigrated to, it is always, under every circumstance wrong.
Comment by James — September 29, 2007 @ 2:59 am
Those of you saying that people against the KKK are just as bad for hating them want to listen to themselves!!! By condoning their atitudes and actions it is YOU who is as bad as they are!!! No body says we all have to get along in this world but no one should have the right to ridicule someone and kill people on the basis of their race – noone chooses to be whatever race they are, they are just born into it……should they be killed because of that? No race is better than any other – if you all think they are then tell me why? Ignorance breeds ignorance and I pity your children if you inflict your sick, warped acceptance of racism onto them.
Comment by Carr — October 2, 2007 @ 6:35 am
“these inbred uneducated bigots who don’t even deserve the title of human being (thats right i pretty much think all the racists in the world are animal retards) should be ridiculed and scoffed right out of our country, b/c if every one of them died, the world would be a much better place”
“Racists are scum”
“Who gave the idiots (read: racists and racist-apologists) Internet access, and why are they commenting here?”
Long live tolerance!
Nobody is comparing the acts of the KKK to the acts of the ARA, and from the sound of it truth (I can’t help but imagine that guy from GTA sitting at a computer) wasn’t even talking about the ARA, he was talking about the people on this and other boards saying things like the above quotes.
“Racists” do not exist. Some people, because of their upbringing, personal experiences, peer groups and education, hold racist views to more or less of an extent. In fact, probably everyone in the world holds some views that someone else would class as bigoted. Opinions & beliefs can be racist, to use the word to describe a person is meaningless – how do you determine racism? What level of racism on a scale of 1-10 makes one a racist? 1? 10? Some arbitrary figure in between?
The mindset that some posters (including myself) are analogising to racism is the idea that a particular group of people is to be pigeonholed, hated, stereotyped and blamed for everything that is wrong in the world.
Comment by John — October 3, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
Oh really? Hey, that’s an excellent question for a great philosophical debate. We should sit down and decide whether or not people are racist and if so on what level. Because that’s what really matters here. After all it’s “meaningless” to label a person a racist.
So are the white students at Jena High School in Louisiana who hung nooses as a warning for black students who sat under “the white tree” racist? I guess not, because racists don’t exist. Right? Oh, it’s just a mindset because of their upbringing and personal experiences. Okay, got it.
But wait, those KKK members at the rally were shouting “white power.” That kind of statement is pretty acceptable, right? Well, in any case that kind of statement certainly wouldn’t be spewed from a racist. Because racists don’t exist.
I’m sorry to break it to you, John, but racists do indeed exist. They’re more than mere boogeymen. And some of the most notorious racists in America are called the Ku Klux Klan. Others are blind, John. And some of the least notorious but equally ignorant are called people who post statements on blogs that claim racists do not exist.
Right, right. Okay. So the aforementioned white students at Jena High School aren’t causing any problems. I seem to have missed the part where anyone blamed them for all the problems in the world. But I do seem to recall that they did cause a big fucking problem, John. A problem created because they are racist. And they do exist. Or maybe you think it isn’t a big deal? Maybe Robert Bailey Junior, Theo Shaw, Carwin Jones, Bryant Purvis and Mychal Bell are the racists?
John. I’m sorry, but you are imperceptive. Look around, man. Look around.
Comment by Captain Obvious — October 3, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
Tolerance of intolerant murderers is intolerable.
@John
Why was it you chose to exclude the “white power niggers” or the “queers” comments from your list of intolerant comments above? Just curious, did you feel those were tolerant, or did you simply let them slide because you agree with them? Maybe they felt so natural they just slipped on by eh? Let’s try to include ALL the intolerant comments so we don’t seem too openly biased when we try to make our rambling circular psuedo intellectual arguments to pollute the real issue here that the KKK preaches white power and murders people ok?
One way you earn the dishonorable title of “racist” is to support a group that has murdered people to satisfy their “racist views”, is that good enough for your scale? It’s a 10 in my book. I blame the KKK for that…not all the ills of the world, they are not remotely competent enough for that task, after all they did just get owned by a group of “queers” in clown costumes…
Comment by rswelling — October 3, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
Obvious – please read everything I said, obviously racism exists, I merely said that it’s meaningless to refer to a -person- as racist, as opposed to specific views that they hold.
Rswelling – I didn’t include those quotes because they’re obviously bigoted, I didn’t think it was up for debate. I would appreciate it if you didn’t level accusations of intolerance at me based on no evidence whatsoever just to get a rise out of me or dismiss my opinions. I have no respect whatsoever for the views, and nothing but contempt for the actions of the KKK, I just prefer to look at any social issue from a rational, non-reactionary standpoint. If “pseudo-intellectual” is the best I can manage, I’ll just have to live with that.
Comment by John — October 3, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
Well at least this time you addressed the issue which SHOULD BE THE VIEWS OF THE KKK AND HOW TO STOP THEM. You have no respect for the views of the KKK, you simply want to research, and debate the word racism…on a web board posting which seeks to honor the actions of some people fighting against the KKK in a creative manner, by attacking the people here for being too angry and intolerant of the KKK. Good luck! I’m glad my implied accusations got you to attempt to clarify your post.
Comment by rswelling — October 3, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
To CaptainObvious – Yay for potty mouthed smart people!!!! So far you’re the only person on here that’s made me laugh and think at the same time. Everyone else has just made me laugh and then get pissed. Thank you for doing what you do!
Comment by mateenisis — October 3, 2007 @ 6:42 pm
Well I’m glad you’re glad. Personally I’ve always preferred “Sorry, I don’t understand your point. Could you clarify it?”, but if ‘implied’ accusations of bigotry work for you, have fun with that.
I should also mention, which I forgot to after getting carried away having a go at some of the existing comments, that the clown thing = f*ing genius. Reminds me of a story I read (possibly in Freakonomics – not sure) about a “Superman Vs the KKK” radio show that had kids all over the country putting pillowcases on their heads so their friends in red underwear could beat them up, much to certain fathers’ angry embarrassment…
Comment by John — October 4, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
Ok I take back my implied bigotry, please accept my apologies…I’m still waiting for you to explain why anyone should be tolerant of the KKK.
>Long live tolerance!
Comment by rswelling — October 4, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
You know what’s more fun than mistakenly calling someone a bigot? Troll the internet looking for threads about the kkk so you can jump into a heated discourse and choose to call out a few people for having a strong reaction towards them, you know, instead of reading the story, and praising the people who are fighting them on the front lines. It’s fun and i guess it makes you look smarter than those apparently mis-directed firebrands…Then try to muddy the discourse further with some diatribe about how there are no racists, only people with racist views…you have fun with that…Don’t forget to act all butt hurt when someone mistakes you for a bigot, that’s apparently most fun of all.
Comment by rswelling — October 5, 2007 @ 8:47 am
Mateenisis: It’s no nice to hear “yay for potty-mouthed smart people!!!” I wish more people had potty mouths. Cuss words are so fucking beautiful, and the enrich the character of our already piquant language.
Comment by Captain Obvious — October 5, 2007 @ 9:03 am
Rswelling (who else?): And for nearly a day it was all so cordial. Perhaps if I really spent my time “trolling the internet” I’d have seen and replied to your earlier comment and you wouldn’t have felt the need to get personal. OK, let’s see…
1. I accept your apology and we can forget about the bigot thing.
2. What gives you the idea I was looking for threads about the KKK? I got here via the magic of Stumbleupon, as it happens.
3. I understand some of the comments I mentioned originally were strong reactions in a heated discourse; I don’t think that invalidates my point, and I wasn’t trying to look smarter than anyone. If -you- thought I did, thanks!
4. I praised the ARA in my last post, and explained how I always intended to before getting sidetracked. I did so because I actually agree with them though, not out of some enemy-of-my-enemy obligation. Incidentally, I did read the story. Test me if you like.
5. I’m not sure how a few questions about how people react to racism, and why people hold bigoted views, is muddying a discussion about racism.
6. Your earlier question about tolerating the KKK – I was only referring to tolerance in the sense that if you start telling certain groups they aren’t allowed to speak publicly, you’re on a slippery slope, and that to get anywhere with dangerous groups you have to be willing to talk to them – just look at Northern Ireland.
7. My butt’s fine, ta.
Everyone else: I looked up that radio show; apparently an activist called Stetson Kelly (great name) infiltrated the Klan and found out all their rituals, secret passwords etc, and the producers included them in the show. Theres a bit about it here –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Superman_%28radio%29#.E2.80.9CClan_of_the_Fiery_Cross.E2.80.9D
Not sure how effective it was, but a pretty original method nonetheless.
Comment by John — October 5, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
> I praised the ARA in my last post, and explained how I always intended to before getting sidetracked
After i called you out on it yeah…
>Your earlier question about tolerating the KKK – I was only referring to tolerance in the sense that if you start telling certain groups they aren’t allowed to speak publicly
This has been addressed numerous times here in this thread…pretty sure no one who’s thinking believes they shouldn’t have the right to speak out, it’s a non issue, they have the right to speak out. This is not a vague argument about some fictional group. You listed a bunch of comments from angry people on one side of the argument and suggested they should be tolerant of the KKK. I disagree. ANYWAY this is boring and we’re basically on the same side of the argument, thanks for that link it was really interesting.
Comment by rswelling — October 5, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
Wow, now we’ve stopped arguing it’s like no-one else has anything to say…
Comment by John — October 8, 2007 @ 5:37 pm
Well good for the KKK and all the white pride and white POWER organizations. They are standing up 4 the rights of whites in this country, which are getting trampled all over by this crooked Jew infested government.
White people are the most discriminated race in the world these days. Black people say black power! or black is beautful, and people cheer them , pat em’ on the back. White man says white pride or white power they wanna throw them in jail, oo thats terrible! U shouldn’t be proud 2 be white!!! NO WAY!! U evil white people. What is this world coming 2.
Comment by uncle sam — October 16, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
awesome, go clowns!!!!
Comment by atomed — October 29, 2007 @ 4:56 am
I don´t think this clown thing gave the KKK publicity, it just shows how they are, a bunch of ignorant retards.
Comment by juanjo pelas — October 29, 2007 @ 5:00 am
What a great way to make a stand. I love it. :0)
Comment by Matt — November 5, 2007 @ 6:11 am
Posting in an epic comment thread.
Comment by Goo — November 6, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
I love threads like this. Capt. Obvious, yelling at people is never going to get your point across. John, I think there are more pressing matters than the semantics of the word “racist.” rswelling, don’t you have something better to do?
Additionally, the point about how racists “don’t exist” is funny. When my little sister was 3 years old, she very boldly announced that old people aren’t real. Hilarious, but obviously false. Saying that there are no racists doesn’t make it so.
Also, truth’s comment about how intolerance of intolerance is intolerance is true. Do yo remember the phrase, “Hate only breeds more hate?” I don’t support the KKK in any way, shape, or form. I sincerely wish that such ignorant thought processes never came into existence. But now that they have, we must deal with it. Mock them, argue with them, criticize them, but they still have the right to say what ever they want. Ultimately, they are responsible for their actions. But so are you. You can’t blame your actions on their intolerance. What they do is wrong, but advocating the extermination of KKK members and Neo-Nazis is wrong also. Murder is murder, no matter what the reasons and NO human EVER has the right to determine if another has the right to live or die.
Also, don’t fool yourself into thinking that you can actually change what anyone else believes. To quote someone I respect very much, “You’re entitled to your opinion, even if it’s wrong.” They may, in some distant future, find that what they believe is wrong. But it will happen because they have experienced something that so completely affected them that it changed their very thought patterns. It will NOT happen because you had an argument with them. But remember that by the same token, it may one day happen that you will learn to hate someone because of the color of their skin or their ideological point of view.
In response to the person who posted about not wanting to associate themselves with Christians, Muslims, Vegans, etc., be sure you aren’t confusing fundamentalism and radicalism with the actual beliefs of the religion or group. Christianity and Islam don’t preach violence. They preach peace. Vegans don’t believe in violence or anything strange. They just don’t think you should be eating animals or animal byproducts. Don’t judge an entire group of people based on a few fanatics.
Comment by Anna — November 9, 2007 @ 10:10 am
Unfortunately since this is my website…and my post…no, I have to moderate the comments to keep out the spam. Thanks for the insult though, you seem to have quite a bit of time on your own hands. It is a rather ridiculous thread at this point.
Comment by rswelling — November 9, 2007 @ 11:08 am
why don’t you multicultists go down to the ghetto some night…
you will wish some kkk guys were with you.
the event, the demonstrtion ws held for the two victims of rcist negros.
the scum in dresses mocked the deth of two humn beings.
ps. some keys on my comp dont work….sorry.
“HUMAN LAW CANCELS OUT STATE LAW” ADOLPH HITLER.
YOU THINK YOU’RE SECURE….. KEEP BSHING WHITE PEOPLE…..
KEEP UP YOUR MRXIST SHIT….. DONT FORGET THE KKK LOVES GUNS….
HIPPIES DON’T….NOT GOOD FOR HIPPIES WHEN THE TIME TO SETTLE UP COMES…. FUCK YOU …..
Comment by lincoln rockwell — November 14, 2007 @ 12:46 am
This post… HAHA … oh God.. what good entertainment..
Oh and whoever doesnt think that the KKK is full of assholes, is kidding themselves. Whoever you are, they hate you. They hate everyone and would kill you if given the chance. Its simple survival to want to fight back, you dont have to be ashamed of saying that the KKK is pathetic and disgusting.
P.S. I am a white male… and let the hating begin!
Comment by WTF?! — November 20, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
I always wondered why when white people are/might be racist or hold some white supremest meeting (I am of heavily mixed descent) It makes some news post/channel? However when other races such as African/Americans do the same thing its black pride and not racism at all. How come other races get to be just as filled with anger and hatred such as the Yahweh cult and trust me thats not an isolated incident.
Comment by Wonder — November 22, 2007 @ 9:39 pm
I’m sorry, but a lot of people here seem to be in favour of the rally, or are trying to justify it. That is ridiculous. There is no way to justify racist, outdated, horrible vies. I am white, but I would never think of my colour as superiority in the way that the KKK do. They are disgusting creatures, and defending them makes you as bad as they are. Stop trying to be on the side of the horrendous pathetic assholes that are the KKK. Its perfectly reasonable to have a go at the KKK – trying to empathise with them just makes you sound like a cock too.
Comment by TheGreatDekuTree — November 25, 2007 @ 6:29 am
KKK are the stupidest people ever. They make National Socialists look like rocket scientists by comparison. Er, not talking about Jewish rocket scientists here, but good Aryan ones… oh, sod it.
Comment by Don Black — December 2, 2007 @ 2:05 pm
Anyone who would say this is pointless must be somehow unfamiliar with how the KKK was robbed of a great deal of power back in the day. You guys ever hear of SUPERMAN? Yes, well originally the radio broadcast of superman used to use terms that the KKK used in order to ridicule them. That’s just what happened, many members felt ridiculous to be associated with some kind of a fairy tale and enrollment sharply dropped. P.S. to be a queer you would have to be strange, I guess because I’m not a hick being a nazi seems more queer to me than being a clown. And if you were trying to call the clows gay, you’re also wrong because being gay involves loving a member of your own sex, not dressing like a clown. But, nice try anyway, go back to your school yard and push around the other fourth graders, deutsche bag. And honestly if you really buy into the whole “let people be rascist or your impeding free speech” deal, then you should really stop watching FOX 5 NEWS. There’s a difference between ruining free speech and being intolerant to ignorance. I really can’t believe there are still people out there who think race actually makes you different, other than the superficial qualities, than anyone else. I guess I am INTOLERANT TO IGNORANCE, and I would prefer to keep it that way. Yeah and about the Jew comment, Jews still can’t even get into country clubs during peak hours. When’s the last time you saw a Jew sitting at the president’s desk? You really think that jews run the world? You’ve got to be shitting me, there are hardly any jewish CEOs. Look at the world’s top ten richest men. And c’mon, find me a law that’s anti white… the only one that I know you dumbass bigots are going to shoot for is affirmative action. Before you do, I should let you know that the only example of affirmative action that is used in this country is in our prison systems, where blacks are over represented not because they commit more crimes, but because they are more likely to go to jail for the same crimes that white kids wont go to jail for. Also a couple more things you guys should know…
1) Jews don’t have horns
2) You create the jew so that you have someone to make you feel better about what a shitty person you actually are, because how can you be bad if the “jew is the evil one” (Jean Paul-Sartre)
3) You may be more genetically similar to a person from africa than a person from your country of origin
4) The only difference between races are genes that code for skin color, eye shape, etc… the same ones that code for different hair colors, eye colors, etc… but do not affect intelligence or performance in any way
5) Any statistic you try to quote about a race generally misrepresents the control group and the variable group, so you should avoid those one liner thing you use to prove that race superiority exists
and finally
6) We are all living on a spec sooooooo tiny that if everyone on this post died tomorrow, nothing would matter and the universe would still go on. So get over yourselves, smoke up with your manses and chill the fuck out. We are human beings and everyone has the universal right to just chill. If you think you dont like black people, try making a black friend, you might be surprised at how much you (on a personality, and not socialized scale) have in common.
Comment by Chris — December 10, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
Well put Chris ; That comment couldn’t have been put in any other better way
Comment by Mr.Watts — December 16, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
Awesome and inspired!!! From across the big pond I salute you..
This article will be sent al over the world and inspire others to get out there and oppose bigotry in a spirit of fun and more important ‘power’
Well done the clowns!
Comment by Mo Mooney — January 13, 2008 @ 5:31 am
I personally think that being bigoted against bigots is pretty much the only acceptable form of bigotry there is. The paradox is divine.
I take pride in both my bigotry, and my hypocrisy. I am a bigot because I hate bigots, and devoutly believe they should all be tossed alive into a deep pit with a lot of saltpeter.
We can take bets on who survives the longest, and use the funds for humanitarian charity donations.
If people need something to hate, why not hate itself? You ever notice how you never read about racists being strung up in trees for being racist? Why do you suppose that is? Perhaps hatred of bigotry is a gentler form of hatred. Or perhaps no one cares when it happens.
Comment by Winged Wolf — January 23, 2008 @ 2:01 am
Brilliant Strategy. I will support the clowns. Genius.
Comment by Austix — March 26, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
I think Watcher is just mad that his KKK rally was interrupted after he spent so long planning it.
Comment by kamikaze goldfish — December 14, 2008 @ 9:00 am
Referring to one of the above posts about Superman vs. the KKK: I wrote a paper about race relations some years back, and I read Stetson Kennedy’s book The Klan Unmasked as part of my research. It’s an incredibly interesting read, and the glimpse into the daily life of the Klan was horrifying. The bit about putting the Klan’s secrets on the Superman radio show was hilarious though. Imagine some Klan member walking outside to see his son playing Superman and making fun of the KKK…priceless.
Comment by Persephone — December 14, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
I’m all for expression of speech, from both sides of the rally but this article is ridiculous. It sounds like an unbelievable email chain letter. How about some objectivity and reporting the factual events without colorful embellishments? Fucking idiotic. In fact, I bet there was almost no influence from the clowns and the assuredly the KKK members really weren’t “clutching their chests as if about to have heart attacks”. Not that I support the KKK, I just hate this stupid article being reposted in about a million blogs online.
Comment by Doug — December 14, 2008 @ 11:03 pm
Haha. The comments are way more interesting than the article itself. But then again, that’s usually the case anyway, isn’t it?
Comment by Orbit — December 15, 2008 @ 1:00 pm
everyone is racist. if you can perceive any difference between beaners and porchmonkeys, then you are racist (to a degree). everyone will have a subconscious bias, whether positive or negative, to a person of ANY given race (including your own). these biases may have come from nature, as a fear of the unknown, or from nurture.
think about it. it won’t make sense to all of you.
P.S. fuck being ‘pc’ all the time. being afraid of the word nigger doesn’t make any sense.
P.P.S. FUCK OFF all you ‘properly educated’ lemmings who think you’re better than someone because you type properly.
Comment by honestly — December 15, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
if anyone wants to discuss any of this feel free to email me at tinboingo@gmail.com.
esp CPT obvious for being the shining example of a bigot.
he doesn’t just belittle others posting their opinions, he likes to break down their post and mock/belittle/misconstrue what they meant to make himself seem/feel smarter and better than anonymous voices.
Comment by honestly — December 15, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
I has it.
>>>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nda_OSWeyn8
Comment by Your answer. — December 17, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
So what, just because they’re all self centered bigots, they don’t get the right to peacefully assemble? I wonder if it made them feel good, the clowns that is. Like they were doing some great justice for humanity, When, in fact, all they did was raise tensions with a group known to fight back.
Comment by ddsd — December 17, 2008 @ 6:11 pm
I think these guys did a good thing. While the 1st ammendment guarantees racists organizations the same rights to free speech, that doesnt require the rest of us to roll over. If someones ideology opposes your own you have to step up and make yourself heard, otherwise you lend legitemacy to their cause. With an organization as ethically and logically backwards as the Klan, this tactic is perfect. Sure, they have the right to talk but we have the right to stand right next to them and talk louder.
Comment by hero — December 17, 2008 @ 7:18 pm
“Intolerance of Intolerance IS Intolerance.
If you believe in free speech or freedom of expression then you must allow everyone, especially people you do not agree with, their right to express themselves their ideas, hate, or love. To stereotype and degrade a group of people because they have different beliefs than you (for example if they are Neo-Nazis) is bigotry. Furthermore to use what you perceive as the flaws, weaknesses, and inadequacies of such a group to elevate your own ego through a sense of superiority is to act exactly as Nazis do.
Unless you respect and understand the beliefs and differences of all other people you are no better than the Nazis you ridicule and degrade with so much hate and misunderstanding.”
Haha, nice try. Intolerance of intolerance is intolerance. Yes. Duh. There is a huge difference though that you’re conveniently ignoring whilst attempting to appear clever.
Racist intolerance like that displayed by the KKK and other “white power” organizations is not tolerating and/or hating a person just for their skin color, ancestry, etc. Purely on physical traits that are both out of the control of the person, and irrelevant to their personality.
Those that don’t tolerate this bigotry are letting the actions of the person speak for themselves. Judging after the fact. We all do this, and there’s nothing wrong with it. A guy tells bad jokes, I’ll call him unfunny. Another says he hates blacks, I’ll call him a racist. This does not make me a bigot.
Judging a person for their actions vs. judging an entire race for what amounts to no reason at all is not the same thing. Your comparison is ludicrous.
As far as beliefs go: no, I don’t have to respect what you believe just because you say “that’s my belief.” I don’t respect Tom Cruise for believing in Xenu, and I don’t respect the KKK member for buying into his ignorant and hateful nonsense, either. What I will do is respect your right to believe whatever you like and express it without the government silencing you. There is a big difference I think, and one that is often ignored by self-righteous people that want to cry persecution the moment someone disagrees with them.
And to the person that claimed this wasn’t a KKK rally, but a protest of some black youths that terrorized and murdered a white girl, D- for effort. That was really weak. When people show up yelling “white power”, they are not coming to the defense of the girl. They are exploiting her to try to further their own hateful agenda. It’s really sickening. Just as disgusting (albeit in a different way) as the murderers.
Comment by Chris — December 19, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
The clowns were also peaceful in their approach, they, too, have the right to free speech, if they wish to fight back, let them.
Also, I am fairly certain that the KKK has interests in causing harm to those they find “inferior”. I am not sure, but I believe that harming others because of your beliefs violate more than just RIGHTS!
Comment by Jack — December 19, 2008 @ 4:34 pm
Wow, this really made me think. I wont get to deep into the topic of if we should be tolerant of hate mongers. To me it just depends on your definition of tolerance as it applies to the situation. I tolerate them in the since that I don’t kill them, or attempt any direct confrontation. But I don’t think anyone is wrong for calling them names on the net, after all it isn’t hurting anyone. If people want to vent their frustrations about hate groups on this page I honestly don’t see the problem with that. Sure name calling may be a little immature, but so what? And as far as the clowns go…I think its great. Mockery is a great way to shut someone up who is getting on your nerves. I do it to creepy guys in bars all the time. And as far as the publicity issue is concerned…who cares? Do you really think there are normal people out there that have not heard of the KKK? That a non-racist is gonna see this on the news and be like “oh crap! The KKK, that’s for me!” No. It will make non-racists laugh and racists pissy and pretty much wont affect much else.
Comment by britt — December 21, 2008 @ 8:50 am
I live four blocks from where this terrible crime happened, and i assure you this was not a racial crime, these four morons simply needed a ride back to their home and carjacked these poor people and it got out of hand and they killed them….nothing to do with skin color, the kkk showed up in Knoxville for one reason only ..press oppertunities
Comment by In the know... — December 25, 2008 @ 5:00 am
That is AWESOME, yes they are calling attention but what’s wrong with calling attention to something that is ludicrous like the KKK. It’s not banished because people don’t pay attention and initiate change to stop these brain dead redneck idiots. Good for them. It’s a great way. Mockery, the best thing to take the wind out of their sails.
Comment by Kate — December 30, 2008 @ 6:09 pm
Genius. They aren’t focused on giving the KKK attention, they are just trying to make the KKK uncomfortable, which could easily make them less likely to be assholes…I mean…demonstrate, in their town again. If every town they went to did nothing but mock them, they would do less of these outings. Good idea! CLOWN POWER!!!!
Comment by WisconsinGuy — January 2, 2009 @ 2:43 pm
kkk gets their kicks from pretending that they are macho, in control, and important. This clown brigade has attacked their masculinity making them look like fools to everyone around. This is a great example of pacifist warfare.
Comment by sam — January 5, 2009 @ 9:12 pm
This one’s for “honestly,” mostly.
The strange thing is, I agree with your first premise – the seed of racism lurks within all of us to an extent (though I have no fucking idea what the difference between a “beaner” and a “porch-monkey” is – perhaps because I’m Canadian). Social science research has borne out this latent bias – while we all may feel brave enough to rail against injustice in the hallowed electronic halls of the Internet, a recent joint U.S.-Canadian research team found that when students were exposed to the racist comments of a second “student,” (actually a research confederate) about a third, black “student,” the vast majority failed to actually confront him on the inappropriateness of his views. Indeed, in the second half of the study, the participants were far more likely to choose the racist “student” than the black, targeted “student” as a partner for a task. Pretty chilling stuff.
HOWEVER, honestly, your P.S. “chime ins” are where our beliefs diverge. I think it is important to be PC, and I can’t even TYPE the “N” word without feeling nauseated. If I *think* it, I actually shudder with disgust. What you’ve done is taken a disturbing social reality and implied that, because it’s out there, it should be accepted. This is horrifying. The reason research such as the above is so important is that it encourages us to be more self-aware, and to fight to counteract the latent racist impulses that can lurk within even the most conscientious person. If you give into those impulses, or tolerate them from others, you offer fertile soil for the growth and proliferation of hatred and oppression.
Perhaps the ONLY way to slow or halt ideologies like racism is to ridicule them to the point of extinction, to drastically raise the social price of being associated with the ideology. That’s what these awesome clowns clearly and brilliantly attempted to do. How many people SAW the rally is irrelevant – look how many people commented on this ONE blog entry about their actions?!? How many people surfed away from this page thinking the KKK still had their dignity intact? Seems to me like the clowns had an impact, after all.
Comment by Your Mom — January 27, 2009 @ 8:59 am
As long as we are not allowed to kill stupid ppl, all of us will be heard. Opinions are like assholes. And Hitler was a pussy who killed himself. The KKK should be used for target practice. I don’t own white sheets. I have a colored tv. Indians are the ones who should be pissed off. I bet Hitler rolled over in Hell when Obama was elected.
Comment by Fukyamutha — January 28, 2009 @ 6:47 am
i saw the footage of this “anti-rally” -
they had the KKK idiots all flustered. it was hilarious.
it should still be somewhere on the web- check it out, you won’t be sorry.
Comment by L G — January 29, 2009 @ 8:50 am
Ah, if only the Jews in Nazi Germany dressed as clowns and pranced around the Nazi soldiers, there never would have been a holocaust. Brilliant! Dressing as clowns will end all evil, including war. John Wayne Gacy must be rolling in his grave.
Comment by Zeke Krahlin — February 1, 2009 @ 1:40 pm
lol internet argument.
Comment by LOL — February 9, 2009 @ 1:30 am
LOL@WATCHER YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE KKK, I HAVE YOUR IP ADDRESS AND I’M REPORTING YOU TO HOMELAND SECURITY YOU FUCKING ASSHAT GOHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Comment by Bill — February 23, 2009 @ 7:54 am
As far as it being intolerant to be intolerant of their beliefs, as someone who is not your typical white Christian heterosexual, I’m willing to give them as much tolerance and respect as they are willing to give me…oh…wait.
Comment by Some guy — February 28, 2009 @ 9:28 pm
As good as it feels to vomit tiny black letters onto an electric white background, none of these folks will ever come back to read your response. Further, folks read the first 10 – 15 responses, and then move on. My words here are wasted, and so are yours. Difference is, I just drank a half a fifth of vodka, and you probably didn’t.
Comment by Peter Pendragon — March 5, 2009 @ 9:03 pm
It’s quite amusing how many people have invoked Godwin’s law here.
It was a simple, ridicule based counter protest, there is no deeper analysis. It makes a valid point, and raises the group some publicity through how they did it, but beyond that…
Comment by r10t3r — March 7, 2009 @ 1:30 pm
The KKK is for losers. period. Yes everyone is entitled to there opinion,but when your actions say “death to all that are not white”, then you need to put a gun to your head and pull the trigger. The KKK’s ideas are bullshit and are not needed in this day.
Comment by unreal — March 19, 2009 @ 12:25 am
How bloody marvellous! Have some of your wife’s flour you bastards!
Comment by Ed — April 17, 2009 @ 9:36 am
yep i mocked martin luther king jr by buying a black doll and hanging it up by its neck in a tree bwahahaha
Comment by die n.iggers — May 21, 2009 @ 3:45 am
I, personal opinion, think that perhaps both sides of this argument need not exist. Why all this hate? it achieves nothing positive in the end.
How you expect to introduce your opinion to someone if you have no respect for their right as a human being? I’ll never know.
Comment by bored — June 8, 2009 @ 12:58 am
Chris. How HIGH are you!!!
Comment by tim — July 12, 2009 @ 5:50 pm
Lmao. That’s right. Wife Power indeed.
Serves them right, those sad little noobs.
KKK stands for… Stupid White Honkie Rednecks Who Think They Are Perfect.
By the way, I am a caucasian who dispises stupid racist white rednecks.
*Applaudes the Clowns*
Comment by Tzhaarmejjar — January 21, 2010 @ 1:12 pm
If the KKK rally is on 5th street,then everybody go to 10th street. That’s the best way to deal with any of these hate groups;left or right. Otherwise you are either going to quietly listen to their garbage or loudly shout them down or ridicule them as this group did and that accomplishes 2 things; 1…a possible confrontation or 2…the possibility that someone will sympathize with them simply because their right to uninhibited free speech is interfered with. When the streets are totally empty every time they march, they will quit marching…….
Comment by vesey — January 23, 2010 @ 8:50 am
These KKK cowards and Al-queda have something in commmon: when they are out doing their little “exercises” they won’t show their face!! Oh, and both use HOMICIDE and FEAR to push their agenda. These faceless COWARDS attack our homeland (churches,schools,children) Homeland security…where ARE you?
Comment by Nativedaughter — January 23, 2010 @ 1:58 pm
The way I see it- The Klan doesn’t rally anymore to convince others of their beliefs, instead they do it to convince themselves they are still relevant. 99.9% of the general population knows who the Klan is and what they stand for, and that isn’t changed by a bunch of inbreds in sheets marching down the street.
By making a mockery of the whole proceeding the ARA is both making a civic embarrassment entertaining, but they are also, hopefully, reaching a few of the less-committed Klansmen, showing them that their antiquated views have no place in a rational, fact based world.
Comment by Student — February 24, 2010 @ 8:06 pm
Everybody has a right to show their opinions, even racists. That also means everybody has the right to throw flowers at them in peaceful protest.
Because peaceful protest /is/ legal.
This reminds me of that Funny Signs vs. Westboro Church video.
Comment by Toasty — March 19, 2010 @ 6:12 pm
The people saying they have the right to protest however they want are correct. But any possible way to ldemoralise these monsters is to laugh, and take the piss.
Comment by george — April 9, 2010 @ 1:18 pm
I find what the clowns did hilarious. The KKK is a terroristic organization. The only reason they are allowed spew their hate speech and commit their crimes is because they’re white. They are no different then any middle eastern terrorist organization except maybe in the number of innocent people they have murder that has been documented. Would it be the same if members of al qaeda wanted to peacefully assemble while shouting death to American would we applaud them for standing up for their first amendment rights???
Comment by Bill — May 22, 2010 @ 10:48 am
Is everybody on this fucking retarded?
Yes, the Neo-Nazis have every right to make their protest under the first ammendment, I 100% agree with that. BUT THESE CLOWNS HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO MOCK THEM. How the fuck do you not see that? The KKK are allowed go around spreading their hateful message, and everyone else is allowed spread their hate of the KKK. Just because someone has the right to free speech doesnt mean no one else can counter it, I dont know who gave you idiots that idea.
Comment by Sam — July 22, 2010 @ 6:29 am
Only the can be proud of their race and only niggers can spill racist bullshit about whites.
Funny thing is there are a ton of niggers here and I use nigger in it’s proper form and they don’t do shit. The nigger is not human. The “black man” is just a myth.
Comment by Niggers — October 29, 2010 @ 1:54 am
@ the ass-hat “I HAVE YOUR IP ADDRESS AND I’M REPORTING YOU TO HOMELAND SECURITY” who fucking cares nigger lover? Oooo she’s gunna report me for saying something bad that every American has a right to say. Oooo she is going to try and taken down my freedom of speech. Please do so cock sucker if you are brave enough to do it. People like you love to try and lie. You aren’t going to do shit. Ya dumb bitch lol.
Comment by Die Nigger Lovers — October 29, 2010 @ 1:59 am
I am a white Nigger. Who shop at Wal Mart
Comment by Dbrown — May 12, 2011 @ 8:12 pm