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Sad thing is... I wasn't kidding about Sen. Byrd. While I don't think he is an active member anymore, he was at one time. The saddest thing is, my step-dad's father (they were first cousins-- my grandpa is now deceased) had a photo of the two of them together in his room-- hung next to his KKK hood.
In a lighter mood-- every August we have a family reunion where Sen. Byrd shows up and he ALWAYS plays the fiddle for us. Last year another cousin came and sang with him. His name is Brad Paisley.
You never know who will be famous when you're growing up. I still remember hitting him with water balloons as a teenager.
I'm out of the loop big time on this one, but Sen Byrd threw his endorsement to Obama over Clinton for whatever that statement means. Guilty attonement? Despised Hillary more? Saw youth rally behind Obama and got inspired? Pure speculation on my part & prefer he speak for himself.
Whatever the KKK was or is now, perhaps the core values cloaked by other things became apparent over time and folks got more specific about what was most important to them. KKK seems absent where I've traveled in WV. Wouldn't be the first time in history an organization had misrepresentation going on, and conservative values aren't inherently wrong. Bottom line is hateful people aren't folks I welcome.
Cloaking a pig in a poke is a cat of another stripe, however, and one that any organization can suffer from in leadership or in their ranks. For example I've seen ridiculous things happen at PTA meetings and I attribute it to the dark side/ immaturity of human nature more than anything else. It's not specific to WV, but more a symptom of American culture at large. Chalk it up to mind candy, boundary issues, and power trips (less about the catchall 'isms' people believe). They sound more like desperadoes for self esteem at the expense of all else, including the issues at hand, which inevitably concludes as self defeating in the end. Easier to just excuse yourself politely than try to reason with them.
Senator Byrd recognized the Clintons as gangsters...pure and simple.
Obama, perhaps a thread of hope and voting the Party Line.
If the Senator had any current leanings with the Klan, we would hear about it hourly.
He is about finished..his work has left a very impoverished Wv better...from the colleges to the highways, we shine...and never a crumb in his own pocket.
His views are recorded with the interviews and his apology has been accepted by all but the very ignorant.
Repentance means change and he has shown that change in every aspect of his life and work.
We will be at a loss when he goes. No one stands to replace this torch of honesty and ethical conduct.
And the successor will be his antithesis...wait and see.
This thread has shown two things:
1. The world outside Wv is ignorant and shows no hope of redemption.
2. The inner people of the state have such a provocative sense of humor.
I shake my head in disbelief at the former...and smile with wonderment at the latter.
I, too, am enjoying reading these posts quite a bit!
BTW, I am considering buying a home in western VA/Shenandoah area that borders WV. I have not felt anything racist during my visits there and the general feeling I get from the folks there is what harborlady said, "Bottom line is hateful people aren't folks I welcome." I think there are alot of cliches and stereotypes about WV. If you're really interested in living or going to school someplace in WV, go for a visit, see how it feels, and talk to people.
After 2 yrs listening to cliches and stereotypes on the WV forum (and general media) I'm genuinely puzzled why anyone outside these mtns has a vested interest in maligning this state. Will virginia proper fall into the ocean if WV does alright for itself? Hollywood loses yet another easy punchline?
The native sensibilities sold me on WV without even trying because (defying stereotypes of ny) it's how I grew up too. They were just being themselves and that all by itself was plenty.
If Wv aligns (maligns) itself with the mainstream USA (as it is now) I expect to see the end of the world. In reality, it is the last bastian of geographical sanity we have....(politicians excluded)
HB: It's just a jealousy/envy thing..the independence and self-sustaining factor...has always been that way. Began with the Virginians in the 1750's.
Some of the best protection we have is the ignorance of those outside our borders. I'm hoping the electorate will toss out all the present crooks and usher in a new gang-of-theives next election day.
I've volunteered to help with the "Tea Party on the 4th of July...kind of like the 60's...all over again.
Can't wait to mention it to my professor, socialist friend at FSU.
I doubt very much there is anything to worry about concerning the KKK. There are always racist people,unfortunately,but this is true everywhere. It is true,West Virginia doesn't have a large black population as a whole though I doubt you will have any problems particularly in the larger cities.
If there was any possibility of this being true why would you want to move there? & how happy could you be living there with that thought being in the back of your mind?
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Last year another cousin came and sang with him. His name is Brad Paisley. 
