Stepmom's brother just got a cross burned on his yard in Westminster (California: suburbs, racism)

[Johnbiggs]

For some reason I thought the expansion of the suburbs and "blue state" mentality had driven most of this element out of Carroll County ... evidently I was mistaken. Weird thing though, seeing as how racism ended the minute we elected a black president

[gumbo31]

Pics or it didn't happen..

[DubbleT]

Think it might be a reference to this, although something that happened a couple of weeks ago isn't something I would say "just happened"
Two Minors Charged in Westminster, Md. Cross Burning | NBC4 Washington
Kids can be stupid. Wonder if they thought it was just a joke.

[purehuman]

Racism will ALWAYS be here...it'll never go away

[Rubi3]

Originally Posted by DubbleT

Think it might be a reference to this, although something that happened a couple of weeks ago isn't something I would say "just happened"
Two Minors Charged in Westminster, Md. Cross Burning | NBC4 Washington
Kids can be stupid. Wonder if they thought it was just a joke.

If that is what the op is referring to, then the remark about racism is highly misleading. Such actions are one, only one, way to keep racism active.

[e30is]

Unfortunately, racism will exist for a couple of reasons, but not necessarily against blacks for the most part.

[selhars]

True we may need to know more about the incident -- but I wouldn't say "the remark about racism is highly misleading." Unless I'm misunderstanding what was meant by that response.

Minors means any one under 18...a 12 year old or a 17 year old.

If this was done by 16 or 17 years old, on a black family's yard. I'd be hard pressed to believe they didn't know exactly what they were doing and it was indeed for racial intimidation reasons. A 17-year-old would know very well what burning a cross in a black person's yard (or any ethnic minority) represents. And it's not just a joke.

I suppose as a joke they just happened to burn a cross -- not a tire, not an old wagon, or anything else (of ALL the things they could have chosen) -- but a cross.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by selhars

True we may need to know more about the incident -- but I wouldn't say "the remark about racism is highly misleading." Unless I'm misunderstanding what was meant by that response.

Minors means any one under 18...a 12 year old or a 17 year old.

If this was done by 16 or 17 years old, on a black family's yard. I'd be hard pressed to believe they didn't know exactly what they were doing and it was indeed for racial intimidation reasons. A 17-year-old would know very well what burning a cross in a black person's yard (or any ethnic minority) represents. And it's not just a joke.

I suppose as a joke they just happened to burn a cross -- not a tire, not an old wagon, or anything else (of ALL the things they could have chosen) -- but a cross.

I agree but will add that even a 12 year old would know the meaning. They may not fully grasp the implications, or perhaps were encouraged by adults because of their minor status, but I would be suspicious if a 12 year old claimed full ignorance.

I knew what this sort of thing meant when I was 12, and I grew up in California long before the Internet was even remotely as accessible as it is today.

[MORebelWoman]

I thought cross burnings only happened in the south, according to most libs.

[selhars]

I thought cross burnings only happened in the south, according to most libs.

Oh, goodness, now we're going to get comments on whether Maryland is in the 'south.'

Not that that is what you meant to start, MORebel. I certainly get what you're saying. But you know how threads can go off course with just one comment.