Alabama church fires don't bother me

[Radio_Guy]

First of all, I do not think the Alabama church fires were racially motivated. These three were spoiled rich kids looking to have some fun. Was what they did stupid? Very much so. But I'm not going to get bent out of shape about it. They damaged empty buildings. That is all. Those can be replaced. No people were killed or even harmed. Organized religion does more to harm people than those three kids did.

[seabeyond]

1. except prior to arresting these three guys media put out liberal

against religion did it. so i want a background on if they are good christian church goers that burned down churches in the zeal for a prank. you may not think it a big deal. i think this should be rubbed in media face

[China_cat]

2. And that attitude does more harm to those of us

who don't believe in a magic sky daddy. Makes it harder for others to see us as human let alone decent people.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

9. I'm a Christian

but I don't believe in a "Magic Sky Daddy."

But I'm sure you are, indeed, a decent person. Even though you just made fun of my faith.

[China_cat]

The same way you would if I professed

a belief in a 'goddess', leprechauns, or the tooth fairy.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

24. Grannie does NOT make fun of people's faith

be it faith in the Goddess, leprechauns or the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Your assumption is more evident of YOU than anything else...

sP

[TallahasseeGrannie]

33. You don't know me very well

I wouldn't make fun of you if you had three heads and believed George Bush could fly.

A person's belief structure is not something I would ever make fun of. It is sacred to them and therefore not a joke.

[bluerum]

3. Yea, three white kids having fun at the expense of innocent, mostly

black, community churches.

Hell,,, let the boys have their fun. Maybe they will grow up to be good solid republican election officials.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[LostinVA]

4. Yup, just harmless frat pranks! Arson is always a hoot!

[Radio_Guy]

15. I'm not saying it was right

They should be prosecuted for the crime. It was very wrong. And half the churches were white and half were black, so there is no racism. Only stupidity. And what they did was very stupid. But I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

12. Have I missed something?

I did not hear they were mostly black churches. I heard three each. But I haven't read anything since yesterday PM on it.

But don't get me wrong..I think they should throw the book at them. People put their heart and souls into their churches and to have them burned down is very painful.

The church we buried my mother from was burned down about 3 weeks after her funeral. I was surprised at how much that bothered me, that the space where that funeral took place did not exist anymore.

[bluerum]

16. It's likely me that probably missed something - interviews that I heard

were with older black church people although I am aware that the arsonists do not appear to be racially motivated.

My percerption is that in general, the black community has fewer resources to draw upon when rebuilding and recovering and the loss of a community center like a church is a serious blow.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

36. From what I understand

the churches were all fairly similar...little country churches. Both black and white. The commonality was Baptist. Now that's kind of interesting.

I assume and hope these churches had insurance. If they had any sort of mortgage they would. I do hope so. We have five such churches (in this case all black) on the main road leading to our house and their importance to their people just can't be overstated. When you are married in a place, or baptized, or whatever..or like I mentioned, buried a family member... it becomes such an important space in your life.

I hope (and trust) that these young men will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

[Mike Daniels]

29. Most likely they were democrats or non-political

Drama students at a liberal arts college don't seem likely to lean towards the Republican side of things.

[Teaser]

5. This opinion will reflect REALLY WELL on liberals

Thanks for your help.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

7. Buh bye...

[Teaser]

14. To who?

nt

[HereSince1628]

6. Yeah, thank GOD it was only spoiled rich kids who didn't kill anyone!

Huh? :shrug:

[megatherium]

8. if your goal is to marginalize the progressive movement, slagging

religion gratuitously is a fine way of going about it.

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. Maybe Rush needs DU thread headers he can read on his show

This is my last time kicking this thread.

[bunkerbuster1]

11. Nominated!

oh, wait, there's no "shittiest" page...

[Wickerman]

13. Would you feel the same if someone died putting out the fire?

What if someone had been inside? Arson is a serious crime not just because of property damage but because of the community danger it creates.

In rural communities churches are much more than your target of organized religion (which, btw, is an unbelievably wide brush and incredibly intolerant). Churches serve as social centers, connections for isolated people, and serve as meeting places for many organizations, not just churches.

Just because rural churches don't meet your definition of needed, please give a little more thought to throwing your support to rich kids having "fun". :eyes:

[Radio_Guy]

18. If someone had died...

If someone had died, then the crime would have been infintely worse. Don't twist my post to make it sound like something it didn't. And I didn't throw my support to rich kids having "fun". I'm saying it doesn't bother me personally. They were stupid and they should pay for their crimes. But no one got killed. But people are making it out to be worse than someone getting killed just because it was a church.

[Wickerman]

28. Well, fortunately our laws are not based on what you find

acceptable, or, conversely, repulsive.

Again, the issue of arson is not treated with levity by the courts because it creates very dangerous situations for those in and around the crime and for those who are tasked to put out the fire. Stating fact is not twisting the intent of a post.

What they did terrorized communities. I am not "bent out of shape" over it only because they were churches, I'm stunned at your general apathy toward human safety and security.

[DrGonzoLives]

17. Uh, OK

No racism involved? Then why are the rich, spoiled brats targetting black churches? It may not be Klan-approved, but to say there is no inherent racism here is just ignorant.

As for the rest of your post, I respond here, kicking it to the top, only so others may be astounded by your idiocy.

[Radio_Guy]

21. No, no racism involved

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/03/08/alabama.churches/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Read it for yourself:

"All nine fires occurred in rural counties southwest of Birmingham -- five in Bibb County on February 3, and four in Greene, Sumter and Pickens counties on February 7. Five of the churches had predominantly black congregations, and four had predominantly white members."

Stupidity? Yes. Racism? No. But it was just a building that can be replaced. No lives were lost so please don't make it out to be a national tragedy. People getting killed in the inner city because of the lack of government help is a national tragedy. People dying in Iraq for the failed war is a national tragedy. The Alabama fires is not a national tragedy.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

19. methodist college kids don't kill; thespians in training kill.

[Pharaoh]

20. This post should be deleted

It is pathetic cruel and stupid!

[hatrack]

22. Sorry to sound so old-fashioned, but arson bothers me a LOT

And I don't care if it's a church or a strip mall or a house. There's some shit you just don't do. These fires are a prime example.

[cynatnite]

23. They broke the law...

and they put people's lives at risk by starting these fires.

If your house was burned down, you'd be bothered then. Afterall, no one was hurt and everything can be replaced.

:eyes:

[fishnfla]

25. They should be tried as terrorists

I'm not advocating that position, BTW. But according to the draconian measures in the Patriot Act, this prank should land these kids in jail for 20+ years

That "eco-terrorist" who firebombed three SUV's in Eugene Oregon got 22 years

[ProdigalJunkMail]

26. so as long as YOUR home is empty

it is cool if I burn it down as long as it is a joke? Your insurance would cover that right? You don't have anything that might be irreplaceable?

Yeah...nice logic there...

subjectProdigal

[TX-RAT]

30. Ya beat me to it, Thanks

[MaineDem]

27. I can't believe I'm reading this! n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

31. However, these actions spread fear throughout

the neighborhoods where these churches were located. In many small communities, the church is the gathering place. To destroy the church is to destroy the community. I was glad to hear that the universities where these boys attended will help rebuild the churches.

[Kerrytravelers]

32. Oh look, rush and malkin now have a DU headline they can quote.

Never mind the reactions you have received from the rest of us. This headline makes them happy.

Nice knowing you.




Sort of.



Never mind.



Edited to add: I alerted on this thread. And I'm proud.

[Radio_Guy]

34. OK

So we should keep in mind what Rush and Malkin would say when we post on DU? I don't give a rip what those blowhards think. I'm not going to let them dictate to me what I post and what I don't post. If it goes against DU rules, fine. I'll then retract it. But to hell with what Rush and Malkin think.

[KittyWampus]

35. I question the sincerity of opening post. IMO, intentional flamebait.

[Moderator]

37. Locking....

This is flamebait.