Discussion: Tenn. GOPer On Renaming Park Named After KKK Leader: 'What Separates Us From ISIS?'

system1 · June 25, 2015, 12:56pm

Discussion for article #237837

zakimon · June 25, 2015, 1:20pm

What no Hitler reference? I guess it’s only a Thursday.

fgs · June 25, 2015, 1:25pm

ISIS are the people who were pissed about the statue of Saddam Hussein getting pulled down.

imkmu3 · June 25, 2015, 1:26pm

“What separates us from ISIS?” he then asked. “Because that’s what they
do, they go around and tear down history in those nations that they’ve
conquered. If that’s what America is about now, then it concerns me.”

You’re comparing those who support moving Confederate symbols into a museum to one of the worst–of not THE worst–terrorist groups in the world? Is that how you really see things in America?

imkmu3 · June 25, 2015, 1:27pm

He’ll either backtrack or go full Godwin by tomorrow.

ralph_vonholst · June 25, 2015, 1:32pm

ISIS destroys ancient churches, relics & statues.

Well, to be fair, John Ashcroft did put a drapery over the the “Spirit of Justice” statue to cover her “naughty bits”. Knocking said naughty bits off with a hammer would have brought a destruction of public property charge. So the next best thing: a kind of GOP “Burqua” for Lady Justice, as it were.

mattinpa · June 25, 2015, 1:33pm

I think there’s no need to worry that we’ll be dynamiting the priceless historical artifacts, the architecture and statuary, the things regarded as treasures of world history, that the Confederacy left behind. There are none.

I’ve read a bit of history, but not as much as other posters here, however, so if I’m wrong and they’d like to tell me what the Confederacy created that’s important to preserve I’d be glad to listen. I’m not aware of much, though, so right now I think comparisons to IS, ISIL, ISIS, Daesh or whatever are inapt at best.

P.S. Todd Starnes is a fat-cheeked idiot babyface lump of tallow who’s the apotheosis of every little fat kid who overdressed for school and kissed up to the adults by acting conservative because he thought that’s what they wanted when in fact everyone despised him.

imkmu3 · June 25, 2015, 1:33pm

Those are some prime Grade A optics there!

steviedee111 · June 25, 2015, 1:35pm

Any deliberative discussion of an important issue that includes input from Todd Starnes has seriously gone off the rails.

wassmuss · June 25, 2015, 1:37pm

One thing I know is it is not the Confederacy which protects us from a Sunni Muslim group in the Mideast trying to create a country free of the Shiites.

rich_in_nj · June 25, 2015, 1:38pm

Tolerance, equal justice, democracy, a market economy…should I go on, you moron?

clunkertruck · June 25, 2015, 1:44pm

In pandering to their base, these asshats show just how clueless they really are –

dr_coyote · June 25, 2015, 1:45pm

“Here’s the thing, I’m not for it or against it, because I’m a coward dog-whistling to my rabid base and babbling about things I completely don’t understand.” Stevens told The Jackson Sun.

FIFY

frankly_my_dear · June 25, 2015, 1:47pm

"What separates us from ISIS?" he then asked.

He should perhaps read the Constitution of the United States and find out.

trippin · June 25, 2015, 1:48pm

There’s one thing about this issue: it sure motivates the bigots to self-identify. “Heritage” my ass.

fgs · June 25, 2015, 1:54pm

ISIS stands out from Republican state legislators by beheading people with Rambo knives, for starters.

thunderclapnewman · June 25, 2015, 1:55pm

He’s being a bit hyperbolic, but there are now calls to destroy monuments about Confederate soldiers, and people are now calling for the defacement of the monument carved into the face of Stone Mountain in Georgia.

I’m all for getting such statues out of statehouses and into museums, but monuments in parks, at battlefields or sites of battles, or other similar locations should be left alone—for their artistic value if nothing else.

It is a terrible idea to sanitize art for political reasons.
What you end up with is what the Soviets and Nazis did with art they disapproved of. and nothing could be more un-American or culturally stupid.
It’s also a violation of the First Amendment, since the courts have long held that artistic expression is a form of protected free speech.

imkmu3 · June 25, 2015, 1:58pm

You had me until the above. This issue has nothing to do with art. If you really believe that it does, why are you in favor of removing statuary from statehouses?

jordanolsen26 · June 25, 2015, 2:02pm

All over the country, the GOP reject, push back on, or legislate against the new AP history curriculum because it paints an overly negative picture of American History.

So they can white wash American History, but this goes too far! (not that all the negative history was caused by white people, but… lets be real).

Also, no one is banning individuals from flying, wearing, displaying, praying to, praising, etc., the confederate flag. All people are asking is that our government disown the symbol of slavery and bigotry.

fargo116 · June 25, 2015, 2:04pm

“What separates us from ISIS?”

About 6,800 miles