Kill Liberals-- The TN Unitarian Church Murderer's Motive

[proud2BlibKansan]

The 58 year old killer who entered a Unitarian Church in Tennessee was set on killing liberals.

He'd learned the Tennessee Valley Universalist Unity Church was a liberal organization that supported Gays and liberal issues. He hated liberals.

The Sheriff who reported on The message the killer, Jim D. Adkisson, left behind, stated the murders were motivated by "hatred for the liberal movement."

The killer intentionally chose the Universalist United church intentionally, coming prepared to engage in a massacre, with over 70 shotgun shells, ready to keep on shooting people until the police arrived to kill him.

He does not appear to a member of any organized group, but the episode is being investigated as a hate crime.

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Did he listen to talk radio that espoused ideas or actions that could have inspired his murderous actions? One commenter on the ABC website commented,

Day after day so-called "conservative" radio talk show hosts go on the air and blame the "liberals" for everything that has ever gone wrong in the world often times outright lying about something to bolster the point. The target audience of these shows is the not-too-bright crowd to begin with but a certain percent of any group is going to be mentally or emotionally unstable, this particular group moreso than others perhaps? So day after day these not-too-bright, emotionally unstable folks listen to Lush Rimjaughbe and his ilk tell them that the liberal, god-hating, gay boy, gun grabbers are responsible for making their lives miserable and eventually some of them snap. When this happens lets not pretend that the right wing vitriol that they have been exposing themselves to played no role in the snapping or at the very least the choice of victims.

more . . . http://www.opednews.com/articles/Kill-Liberals---The-TN-Uni-by-Rob-Kall-080728-447.html

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. The right wing talk-show hatemongers get these types all stirred up

and the ones that can't tell fact from fiction snap.

[liberalmuse]

2. The handful of times I've listened to right-hate radio...

I've heard people call in saying this country needs to get rid of the liberals, and 'I have guns'. The meaning is implied. I hope it is charged as a hate crime, because that's exactly what it was.

[SteveM]

7. Hope no one of his ilk tries to kill this "liberal" cause 'I have guns.' (nt)

[DailyGrind51]

3. Remember this "hate speech = murder" case?

Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities

Words Have Consequences: Re-framing the Hate Speech Debate

Fall 1999 Human Rights Magazine

By Harlan A. Loeb

The Fourth of July weekend of 1999 was at the same time the beginning and the end of summer. On the evening of July 2, 1999, Benjamin Nathaniel Smith, an avowed white supremacist and leader in a fiercely anti-Semitic and racist organization known as the "World Church of the Creator," began a two-state shooting spree that claimed two lives and injured nine. The victims were all members of racial and religious minority groups including African Americans, Asians, and Jews. Smith was so consumed by the hate rhetoric espoused by the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC) that much like a drug addict that becomes a slave to his or her addiction Smith, too, was willing to take his own life in pursuit of the perfidious white supremacist objectives of the hate group to which his devotion was absolute.

Smith was not unfamiliar to watch-dog groups; the Anti-Defamation League had been following Smith for the preceding eighteen months in connection with his distribution of anti-Semitic and racist literature that championed "racial holy war" or "RAHOWA." Smith was no stranger to law enforcement agencies either; he had previously been arrested on DUI charges and for violating municipal littering ordinances in April 1999. In fact, Smith acknowledged in a documentary purchased by ABC News after the shooting spree that if "they won’t let us pass out our literature we will have no choice" but to engage in violence.

Add to the mix Mathew Hale, the self-declared leader of the WCOTC. Hale, who is a virulent anti-Semite and racist, has been twice denied admission to the Illinois Bar by the Illinois Supreme Court’s Committee on Character and Fitness. As "Pontifex Maximus" of the WCOTC, Hale advocates a total separation of the races in order to protect the genetic integrity of the White race from the threats posed by the so-called "mud races," in which he includes Jews, African Americans, and all other racial and ethnic minorities. Hale promotes the elimination of non-White races from the United States by "repatriation to countries of origin." Additionally, Hale noted in the aftermath of Smith’s shooting rampage that he did not mourn the victims of Smith’s rage because their lives were comparable to those of dogs or insects and, therefore, did not warrant any expenditure of emotional energy. At the same time, however, Hale insists that his organization does not condone violence.

It is beyond dispute that Benjamin Smith was substantially influenced and inspired by the racist and anti-Semitic rhetoric of both Hale and his WCOTC to the extent that Smith was willing to take his own life in pursuit of martyrdom. In eulogizing Smith’s suicide to the media, Hale recalled bestowing the WCOTC’s Leadership Award on Smith for his zealotry in distributing the organization’s hate rhetoric. In fact, Smith was credited with distributing over 45,000 pieces of hate literature throughout the suburbs of northern Chicago.

The Smith shooting spree was a profound point of demarcation in the continuing debate on the limits of hate speech; the hate-inspired shooting spree evidences that the hate speech debate can no longer be consigned exclusively to the precincts of abstruse First Amendment theory. The titillating luxury of law school class debate on the constitutional limits of dissent is no longer sufficient because the calculus for determining both the nature and threat posed by white supremacy groups has been recalibrated. Although it is manifest that the parameters of the First Amendment as it applies to hate speech is no longer an exercise in abstraction, constructing the revised hypothesis may be an elusive aspiration.

Every eager law student can reflexively recite both Oliver Wendell Holmes’ mantra for separating incitement from protected free speech as well as the holding in Brandenburg v. Ohio (395 U.S. 444 (1969)), which establishes that abstract advocacy of revolution or societal upheaval is protected by the First Amendment. These legal suppositions are sufficiently ethereal that calculating whether and the extent to which Mathew Hale bears any legal responsibility for the crimes of Benjamin Smith probably requires syllogistic logic that may be beyond the reach of even the most astute Talmudic Scholars. Nonetheless, it is absolutely clear that the vile hate espoused by Hale dramatically influenced Benjamin Smith and certainly was a component of the shooting spree’s causal mosaic. What is the appropriate balance?

The free speech protections of the First Amendment are unequivocally a cornerstone of America’s pluralistic democracy and the Smith shooting spree and all of its ramifications have no impact on the foregoing axiom. Given, however, that there is a dramatically positive correlation between Hale’s bias rhetoric and the deeds of Smith, some free speech absolutists are rephrasing the question with an important introductory caveat:

Recognizing the centrality and importance of the limited circumstances under which the government can impose criminal responsibility for incitement, can and should we impose civil liability for hate speech if a direct causal connection and relationship can be established between the speaker and the actor even if the causal nexus is insufficient to impose criminal liability on the speaker?

In laypersons’ terms, this resolution postulates that Hale should be accorded protection to spew his gutter-level bigotry but at the same time he shoulders responsibility for the consequences of his speech. The syllogism for demonstrating Hale’s causal link to injuries caused by Smith is not particularly opaque.

First, it is clear both in literature and on the Internet, as well as a myriad of recorded statements that Hale champions bigotry and the fundamental need to rid America of the "mud races" in order to protect the White race. Second, it is manifest that both from media interviews and Smith’s history of fierce advocacy on behalf of the WCOTC that Smith was a firm believer in Hale’s mission and rhetoric. Third, Hale and Smith were close associates as reflected by Hale’s presentation of a leadership award to Smith and his anointment of Smith as "Minister of Information." Fourth, the evidence is clear that Smith’s shooting spree was motivated by the white supremacist ideology of the WCOTC. Finally, Hale was personally responsible for instilling in Smith a firm conviction of the "righteousness" of the cause. While Hale has maintained that he does not condone violence, he has never condemned the violent actions of WCOTC members either. At the same time, Hale has stated that the lives of members of the so-called "mud races" are equivalent to those of dogs or insects.

http://www.abanet.org/irr/hr/fall99humanrights/loeb.html

[burythehatchet]

4. But this is not "terrorism" right?

I get so confused. White guy killing liberals = not a terrorist.

[kestrel91316]

5. What is "the liberal movement"??? I'm a liberal, and I have a liberal

POINT OF VIEW, but I wasn't aware that we were part of a formal movement.

Just more demonization or trivialization or marginalization, as usual.........

[muntrv]

6. I'm sure reich wing radio is having a party over this.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. Please be calm

I posted this on another thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3690866

I'm going to add here - We've got this under control. We aren't vengeful people. We generally DON'T evangelicize - but I hope what I post below gives you peace. It comes from an after work 'service' that was held at my UU Church here in NJ today - but it comes from my heart . . .

*****************************************************8
I write this as a Unitarian Universalist. I write this as someone who had a Catholic High school and University education because of the curriculum - not the faith. I write this as someone who has a Southern Baptist for a father (raised in that Church) and a Methodist for a mother (attended her church too!).


This isn't 'political'. This is about our faith. Our beautiful unorthodox coloring outside of the lines faith.

This is because we believe God is one, and supreme. This is because many many many UU's - well -we don't believe in the Holy Trinity. I certainly do not - I deny it.

I'm writing this because if Yeshua came back tomorrow - he would not be able to eat in the house of the man that opened fire on children's performance of Annie - in one of our churches. Why? Yeshua/Jesus was Jew - most likely - Orthodox. That man who opened fire on on our open and affirming and human loving church? He wouldn't know Kosher if it came up and punched him in the nose.

I'm writing this because in our church - it's AOK to believe that Arius was right, the council of Nicacea was wrong - and Christianity is the made up religion of a man - a feeble human being - named Paul (St. Paul) that hated and persecuted Jews. It's okay to say Jesus was a human being in our church. It's okay to believe the "Christianity" derives from a combination of "Pagan" religions.

And if you don't believe any of those things - we'll still invite you into our homes for a potluck supper. Oh yes - UU's - we believe in Potluck Suppers!

I would hate to see my 'home' used as a political tool for the Right - or - The Left. We don't have time for that. We have time to love other human beings, care for other human beings, and forgive those who persecute us. We're too busy worrying about the environment, planning our protests of the Genocide Olympics and polishing our chalices.


We have seven principles

Every human being has worth and dignity JUST because they are a human being. Even the horrible person who did this atrocious thing.
Equity, compassion and justice as one human being relates to another.
We have to accept each other - and accept/promote the spiritual expansion of another.
Freedom is the ability to look and find truth and meaning in this life.
The democratic process within our congregation (sometimes we've been accuse of being anti-the Pope and the Catholic hierarchy - we take our licks) and in this world at large.
We are one world - and we need peace, liberty, and justice for all;
We are all connected. Even though we may NOT want to be connected to this man


Where does this come from? It comes from drawing up Judaism, Christianity, and Earth Based Religions with a heavy dose of humanistic reason and science.


We are a strong people who go to the mattresses for the last, the least, the lost, the weakest (look up our 'Chalice' and what it drives from - you may be surprised).

And instead of wishing those people ill (and I KNOW you wrote with the BESTEST of BEST intentions) - burn a candle in your window tonight if you don't have a chalice you can light. Let that light represent:

1. Justice
2. Equality
3. Safety
4. Mourning for those who've been persecuted. Whether or homosexuals, minorities, women in this day and age. Ascetics in France 500 years ago. A small band of people who followed this guy called Jesus that had to run for their lives. The Native American child taken into an orphanage and beaten for speaking their native language.
5. Faith, hope, love, and happiness.


That would mean SO much more to the UU Community.

It would certainly mean a lot to me. This isn't going to shake us up in the least. Shit - if Arius could stand strong. So Can We! Yes We Can!
************************************


I KNEW. I Just KNEW! That the D.U. Community would stand WITH us. Thank you. This is a very sad thing for many UU's. We just want to live and let live and be at peace. But I KNEW the DU Community would CARE what happened to 'us' . . .

[Maat]

9. This UUer is really shaken up over the whole thing.

We have a weekly peace vigil, along with the members of the United Church of Christ (another 'liberal' church). There is a gang of thugs across the street that 'counter-protest.' I'll be keeping an extra eye on them from now on.

[iamthebandfanman]

10. protesting religious vigils

they have no shame eh ?

[Maat]

11. None whatsoever.

They hold stupid signs like "The surge is working!" and "Liberalism is a mental disorder."

Don't bother trying to talk to them - they hold onto their fantasies dearly.

[iamthebandfanman]

13. nice

and those signs have what to do with religion ?
sheesh, you would think they could atleast be on topic of what they are protesting. lol

[Maat]

14. Well, we are "witnessing for peace," as we say.

We don't mention religion; we just hold our signs for people to see, after having a moment of contemplation/prayer for peace.

I should have mentioned that.

But, it still doesn't excuse their hatefulness.

[iamthebandfanman]

15. even given that

i fail to see what that has to do with the messages on the signs.. lol


wanting peace has nothing to do with the surge, liberalism, or mental disorders... lol

i didnt know avoiding death and destruction was a liberal ideal ;)

[Maat]

16. HeeHee.

You're right. Their signs do not address the issues.

It has been a most ENLIGHTENING experience talking to them. I tell my husband this constantly. It was worth the time participating in the vigil just by virtue of the fact that I saw how IGNORANT people can be.

Yuck.

Anyway, take care! Onward (we'll change the world)!

;-)

[VOX]

12. Sadly, I've been expecting a tragedy like this for years, what with hate radio & Fox spewing forth..

With all the daily broadcast anger and hatred, demonizing liberals as something other than human, as "evildoers" and "Godless," and THE single cause of every ill wind on the planet, does it come as any surprise that some right-wing nutcase was going to kill somebody?

Rush Limbaugh (and David Limbaugh), Michael Savage, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, et al -- I accuse you of being accomplices to murder, by your long-term fomenting of anger and by positioning at least half of our citizens as enemies to be defeated at all costs.

Here are just a few of the published right-wing efforts that have helped to bring this about:
Godless: The Church of Liberalism
Deliver Us from Evil: Defeating Terrorism, Despotism, and Liberalism
Liberalism Is a Mental Disorder
Persecution: How Liberals Are Waging War Against Christianity
Bankrupt: The Intellectual and Moral Bankruptcy of Today's Democratic Party
Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism

The titles alone are damning enough. And they're enough to incite a lunatic to do exactly what happened in Tennessee.

Censorship? No.
Responsible action and consideration? Yes. Although that just gets laughed off as "political correctness."

They Shoot Liberals, Don't They?