I have a serious problem with Adkisson's neighbors.

[Pale Blue Dot]

When they were interviewed last night, many mentioned that he was a "good friend" who hated religion. This, of course, made it look like the shootings were the work of some deranged atheist (because, of course, don't atheists want to kill Christians?)

Funny how they mentioned this "good friend"'s alleged anti-religious views, but failed to notice or mention his anti-gay, anti-liberal views, which, according to his letter, were the real reasons behind the shootings.

I think the neighbors were already trying to "spin" this situation to their advantage. They knew that his real motives would make conservatives look bad, so they pulled a classic Rovian trick and tried to make it look like liberal/atheist ideas were to blame. Either they were deluding themselves or they were intentionally trying to delude the country. Either way, they're scumbags.

Tin foil hat off.

[tularetom]

1. This is bullshit. Why didn't he shoot up the local Rev. Billy Bob church?

Nothing tin foilly about this. You're spot on.

[intheflow]

14. Rev. Billy Bob is pretty bad, to be sure, but

at least he's fighting against gays! :sarcasm:

[libnnc]

2. yup and the morons on the tee vee

are STILL missing the point. Now they're saying it was because he couldn't find a job...and as an aside he hated liberals.

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. Couldn't find a job...and hated liberals.

You know,if you say if often enough people will get the impression that liberals are responsible for the loss of jobs in the country.

[Pale Blue Dot]

4. Kick because I'm pissed off.

I'm tired of people - all people, but especially conservatives - creating their own reality when the facts don't mesh with their vision of the world. It has to stop, and it has to stop NOW.

[libnnc]

5. that is the root of the problem right there

how do you successfully argue with people by citing facts when they have created their own opposite reality?

[nam78_two]

8. Me too-my friend belonged to this church

Good thing he was out of town.
They are a very liberal, welcoming church. This guy was a homophobic Repuke jerk.

[Pale Blue Dot]

9. Yes. People need to be reminded who the real killers are. nt

[Marr]

6. I agree completely. The early reports made it sound like he was a deranged atheist.

I don't know whether it was his neighbors that were to blame, or if the reporters fished for the comments they wanted, or what. But that was definitely the picture painted early on.

[nam78_two]

7. Anyone know yet what the hateful things were that he shouted?

Yeah we didn't believe a word of that bull his neighbours said. He hated Christians so he shoots up a UU church..riiiiiiight :eyes:.

[Sanctified]

10. The guy could still hate Religion.

I am noticing the place he choose fit perfectly for everything he hated, he did not just choose any Liberal spot but a Liberal house of worship.

[jberryhill]

11. Or The Guy Was Nuts....

Trying to figure out the "reason" why someone does something like that is a lost cause.

Maybe he hated religion, and he was the one who decided to leave a note suggesting he did it as a right wing zealot.

Maybe he was, as the note directly states, upset with "liberals".

But at the end of the day, this guy did this thing because he was crazy. Period.

Given that he was demonstrably crazy, then what do you think is more likely? He wanted to pin a horrific act on claimed "influences" he actually detested, or all of the neighbors decided to lie about him?

In making that determination of likelihood, you have to take into account the fact that we know he's nuts from the get-go.

[Sydnie]

12. Don't forget - his ex-wife was a member of this church

and he was obviously not too happy with his ex-wife. Perhaps she was a the real target and he thought he would take out her divorce-enabling, freedom-from-him supporting church buddies at the same time.

Can't imagine why she would have left him, can you? :sarcasm:

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

13. Quite frankly, the Unitarian church sounds like what religion should be

Compassion, love....etc.

Maybe we'd have more shootings if these hateful assholes saw other churches engaging in the same sort of acceptance and understanding.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

15. Oh God Stop Looking Into It So Deeply.

He shot up a church. They spoke of how he hated religion. They weren't 'spinning' it to be anti-atheist or hide the anti-liberal sentiment. They were simply, like, ya know, talking and stuff. Chill.

[noamnety]

16. I had a problem with the reporting

that said he was a bigot but a really nice guy with a huge heart.

Kind of like being a vegan who only eats big macs.

[AlCzervik]

17. let me share something with you, i had a neighbor who was a cop, seemed like a nice guy

and all, he and his wife got divorced about a year or so ago and she still lives across the street from me, about 2 months ago there was a news van crawling my street, turns out he was arrested and i found out why, was i surprised, hell yes and when i found out what the charges were i was shocked.

He was my neighbor for almost 7 years, he'd been to my house many times with his wife and kids, i thought i knew him and boy was i wrong.

[entanglement]

18. I strongly suspect his neighbors are just as bigoted as he is

[gatorboy]

19. Only a single neighbor mentioned he hated religion. The story headline falsely credits more.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/27/neighbors-accused-shooter-everyones-friend-hated-c/