Assessing the Racial Hatred at KC's East High

Selwyn Duke at American Thinker offers a startling and absolutely dreadful glimpse inside this Kansas City school where a white child was doused with gasoline and immolated last week. The two assailants were black, and were reported to have been saying, "That's what you deserve, white boy!"

Selwyn Duke reports, based upon documented interviews:

While this crime is making headlines, Coon [mother of child that was attacked] states that it was merely the horrible culmination of continual racial harassment her son had to endure at East High... I've learned that Coon's son is not alone. Other white students also report a pattern of racial harassment at the high school at the hands of their peers -- and, shockingly, their teachers.

Two of these victims were the twin 14-year-old daughters (first names withheld upon request) of Karin Wildeisen. Ever since their family relocated from Texas, they had endured racial animosity in the Kansas City school system and inappropriate behavior by staff, which included teachers laughing while boys humiliatingly manhandled the girls and a teacher slapping one of them on the backside. But there was far worse to come.

The twins started coming home and talking about the goings-on in an advanced-English class taught by a teacher Wildeisen identifies as Ms. Veda Monday. Wildeisen said that her daughters told her, "There are four white kids in the class; they are being targeted racially"[...]

One day, Monday allegedly showed an explicit film involving portrayals of whites lynching blacks and then, reports ex-Texan Wildeisen, "in front of the class attacked my daughters, telling them that 'everybody from Texas is ignorant rednecks'" and that all white people were "responsible for Jasper because [their] skin is white." This reference is to an atrocity in Jasper, TX, in which three white men murdered a black man in 1998.

This is far from the only example of the staff's propensity to instill racial hatred, and I would definitely suggest reading the whole thing, found here. But what really caught my attention was this bit:

Melissa Coon had been complaining to the school's administration about her son's harassment repeatedly -- only to be ignored and stonewalled -- repeatedly. At one point an administrator told her that her son could have a transfer only to another district school but said that Allen would have "more problems there" and that he should stay at more "racially diverse" East High (which has no more than 20 white students).

This administrator admits, and accepts wholesale, the notion that a white child will be the target of racial hate when surrounded by black students. I'm not saying he agrees that a white child should be the target of racial hate when surrounded by black students. I'm saying that the administrator is confessing that a white student being the target of racial hate when surrounded by black students is a reasonable expectation, and if the child were to become more outnumbered by blacks, he would be in greater danger.

This blows my mind. I went to school in New Caney, TX, among the "ignorant rednecks" this teacher described. We had a very small minority of black students when I attended (the exact number unknown, but less than 10 among 1600 or so students). Not once do I recall any organized racism against any one among them by either students or faculty. The irony, of course, being that we "ignorant rednecks" are far more tolerant than the "English" instructor that teaches her students hate rather than prose.

Yet we have become numb to the indifference by the media and the Department of Justice in reporting and prosecuting cases of black-on-white violence. There is something sinister in America today, and deeper than we want to believe. East High in Kansas City is the proof. There, racial hate is organized among students and faculty and is acceptable classroom material. And the administration even seems keenly aware that the ratio of black to white students is a metric used to set expectations of violence and hate, such that the more white students are outnumbered by blacks, the more likely they can expect such things.

Yet all of this had flown under the radar until two black kids poured gasoline on a white kid and set him on fire.

But sadly, this incident, too, will likely be short-lived in the public discourse. Mr. Eric Holder of the DOJ once said America's refusal to address issues of race makes us "a nation of cowards." You are right, Mr. Holder. And if you choose not to prosecute this case and investigate these incidents, count you among the most cowardly.

William Sullivan

In Memory of Andrew Breitbart- The World Loses Its Nuclear Newsman

I, like much of America, was shocked and saddened this morning to hear about the passing of Andrew Breitbart at the young age of 43.

Meteoric is perhaps the only way to describe Andrew Breitbart's ascension into conservative prevalence, and the magnitude of his reporting has rocked the very foundation of progressivism. But perhaps what I will remember most of him is his courage in the face of an enemy bent on destroying him.

As a conservative, I have found his fearlessness immeasurably refreshing. He pulled no punches and minced no words in describing the political tactics of the American left. In a world where it had become normal for conservatives everywhere to bite their tongues in reverence to political correctness- in Hollywood, politics, media, schools, and workplaces across America- Andrew Breitbart spoke harshly and openly about the sinister agenda to inject progressive ideological planks into American culture through the media's slanted manipulation of facts.

This, as anyone can imagine, made him a reviled figure to the American left. But when the left spewed venom at him for his efforts, he did not cower- he reveled in it. As Jonah Goldberg notes, and as I know well as a follower of his on Twitter, it was normal for him to retweet the most incendiary attacks he would receive. Of this, Goldberg says, "it was his Wheaties. It's what he had for breakfast."

And his death has not stopped the flow of venom. Just this morning, I read a tweet from a woman,** self-described as a proud "wine-sipping liberal," directed at the deceased Breitbart, that reads: "I hope Satan fucks you in the ass with his flaming cock. Rot in hell!"

Where we all might wince at the unmitigated hate in this comment, there is a part of me that wants to smile. This woman, who would likely claim her ideology is predicated upon intellectualism and tolerance, has, with this crass and insensitive comment, proven to the world that she, like so many "wine-sipping liberals," possesses neither intellect nor tolerance. Social media has given her a length of rope, and she thoroughly hung herself. This was Breitbart's passion- to enjoy the spectacle of progressive self-destruction- and I have no doubt that had Breitbart been able to read the tweet, he would have smiled and happily retweeted it, knowing that it only reinforces his opinion of the left, and further exposes them for what they are.

But there is no escaping what an incredible loss the world, and conservatism in particular, has suffered. In efforts to explain what we are to make of that, I would offer these insightful words from Thomas Lifson of American Thinker, found here:

Breitbart had a zest for political combat. He reveled in being a polarizing figure. He had a genius for getting the goat of the opposition and never apologized for his swashbuckling style of journalism.

In the ancient world, opposing kings preparing for war would send out their champions to engage in single combat, sometimes to decide the outcome of the conflict, more often to indicate which side God was on. Andrew Breitbart was a conservative champion. But instead of riding out to meet a single warrior, he gladly sallied forth - sometimes alone - to combat the entire left. Along the way, he picked up many allies - and made many enemies. Win or lose, it seemed that most of the time, God was indeed on his side.

But if "A man's greatness can be measured by his enemies," so, too can it be judged by his friends. Don't listen to the prattling left today. Simply remember a man, made for his time, unique in his abilities, who left us for a far, far better place.

Rest in peace, Andrew, my friend whom I never met. I wish your family comfort, and offer my undying thanks for what you have given the world.

William Sullivan

** The author of this tweet may be found here, should you wish to offer her a thought.

A Much More Fitting Apology for Quran Burnings in Afghanistan

President Obama recently apologized to President Karzai of Afghanistan for our military, whose soldiers burned copies of the Quran that contained secret messages- messages covertly being passed along between captured Taliban. Granted, it's become natural for us to expect calls to violence and murder when fundamentalist Islamic sects perceive any insult to the prophet or his revelations, and even more natural for this president to lay American honor prostrate before a world only too eager to condemn us.

But this apology is much more fitting, I think.

Who's Raping Who, Occupy? Olbermann and Breitbart Duke It Out

Andrew Breitbart doesn't like the Occupy movement.  Keith Olbermann couldn't love it more. These two just can't get along.

I smell a sitcom!

Breitbart has taken issue with the number of sexual indiscretions (just rapes, mostly) that have taken place at Occupy locations, and according to Keith Olbermann's impressive rant here, he's falsely accusing Occupiers as the perpetrators of said crimes rather than properly focusing on the fact that Occupiers are, in many cases, simply victims of the crimes.

I have to say it- and I rarely do- but I agree with Olbermann here. Breitbart's evidence does seem a tad on the inflated side. Tick a point for Olbermann, who all but lost me a couple of years ago when his best argument to prove allegations of racism in the Tea Party was, "How come there ain't no black faces?" Well done, Keith.

Thing is, it seems that Breitbart is working overtime to discredit Occupy. But please, America, for the love of God, Buddha, the ever-expanding cosmos, whatever you believe in, PLEASE stop assuming that it requires hyperbole or slander to discredit the Occupy movement. These guys are shitting on flags, turning beautiful taxpayer-funded parks into sewers, calling for immediate forgiveness of all debt (c'mon, do us a solid, China!) and saying that having a house- that's right, one of those things your parents saved for years to get- is a human right. These people do not "occupy" reality, and they fail to meet the basic levels of reason required to be a human being.

C'mon Andrew, Keith. Can't we just let bygones be bygones and just say that your little feud is pure partisanship, and just all agree that Occupy discredited itself a long time ago?

William Sullivan

The Politics of Breast Cancer Prevention

A Letter Sent to Susan G. Komen for the Cure:

To Whom It May Concern:


I have donated many times to your organization, and I firmly believe in cancer prevention and research. However, I have recently made the decision to end all donation to your organization until such time that I can be certain that my donations will be used specifically for that purpose, and that no portion of my donations will be used for other purposes, particularly by Planned Parenthood. I will urge others to do the same.

I have a deep disagreement with the practices of Planned Parenthood. It is not a matter of being or pro-life or pro-choice. I ask that you consider that it is not simply pro-life groups and individuals that oppose Susan G. Komen providing funding to Planned Parenthood. The morality of the practice of abortion aside, I believe Planned Parenthood preys on vulnerable and impressionable young women, coaxing them into abortions with the skill of used car salesmen. I have heard firsthand accounts of young, conflicted women being frightened by Planned Parenthood employees about the loss of social freedom a child brings, limited career opportunities, cost of diapers, shoes, etc. This is manipulative and unethical, especially given the nature of the emotional and personal choice each of these young women is facing.

Statistics show that the vast majority of Planned Parenthood's revenue generation is created by a business model of selling/providing abortions. The revenue funding this business is not segregated from Planned Parenthood's general account, which is why the group is under federal investigation- accused of using federal dollars from the Treasury to provide for abortions. To demand that all Americans provide, even in the slightest capacity, funding for the controversial practice is unethical, and currently, there is a clear question as to whether it is lawful.

Furthermore, a founding figure of Planned Parenthood was Margaret Sanger. Now, despite the ignorance of your average advocate of Planned Parenthood about this misunderstood figure, I have read much of her work. I know that she advanced the notion of eugenics, supported the sterilization of the racially and genetically "unfit," and the abortion of their children when contraception failed. These are the very ideas that, when put into strict practice, led to the ethnic cleansing of Europe under Nazi Germany. You might be apt to call this hyperbole, as this is all forgotten when one tries to paint Sanger as a "women's rights" figure, but should you feel compelled to do this, I suggest you pick up some copies of her work, and I would challenge anyone to refute the claim. As a women's advocacy group, you should be compelled to educate women about the origins of Planned Parenthood rather than propagating the group for the political benefit it affords you.

That said, I do believe in all Americans' right to donate to Planned Parenthood. Charitable donations are a matter of personal choice. I intend to exercise mine by seeing to it that I do not donate a dime to your organization until you can guarantee donors that funds will be used for specifically the purposes of cancer treatment and prevention.

With the utmost sincerity,

William J. Sullivan II

All in a Day's Work: Obama Kills Keystone XL Pipeline, Thousands of Jobs, and Millions in Public Revenue in One Fell Swoop

It now appears that the Obama administration will reject the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Business Insider reports:

The administration will be unlikely to approve the pipeline under the timeline for the payroll tax cut extension law which requires a decision by February 21

The project has been extremely controversial for two main reasons. Those in favor of the pipeline point to the 8.5% unemployment rate, and point out that the pipeline could create much-needed high-paying jobs. Moreover, it would provide cash-strapped governments with tax revenues. On the other hand after the BP Deepwater spill of 2010 and ExxonMobil's July 2011 pipeline spill, environmentalists are pressuring the Obama administration to nip the project in the bud.

Let's review. The project will provide "much-needed high paying jobs" in a time of excessive unemployment.  That's good for the private sector.  The project would also increase tax revenues.  That's good for the public sector.  It's good for small-government conservatives and big-government progressives alike. It is ready-made middle ground to boost employment and lessen public debt, no negotiation necessary.

Yet Obama will kill the project because environmentalist kooks don't like oil, and because they fear another accident might take place.

 

It would be nice if ideological bulwarks paid the bills- but they don't. I cannot just stop going to work because I don't like traffic and I have been in a car accident before. But that's the real world that we live in- Obama and his far-left zealots do not occupy it. He lives in a world where $4 million dollar family vacations grow on public money trees and another trillion in debt is just "stimulus." 

 

And now, thousands of Americans will remain unemployed by Obama's hand. State coffers that provide for teachers, police, firefighters, and their pension funds are in dire need of revenue to remain afloat- Obama has ensured that they get millions less than they could potentially have. He is willfully suppressing job growth and depressing government revenues to appease the environmentalist fringe.

Independent voters, are you paying attention?

 

William Sullivan

"War is Hell." So Why Do We Expect That Our Soldiers Be Saints?

I understand that our soldiers are held to a much higher moral standard than soldiers of other nations, and certainly higher than that of the fantatical and barbaric insurgents in our current zones of conflict.  But I think in the public indignation over the marines that urinated on Taliban corpses, we forget something. It's easy to harness your emotions when the most aggravating thing in your day is your boss making you work late. It might be harder to do so while battling a subversive and bloodthirsty enemy that makes no bones about killing you at all costs.

The Taliban is already employing the most effective and violent measures in combatting our soldiers, and our soldiers endure that reality on a daily basis.  Yet the criticism of our enemies' use of such measures is implied, rarely voiced.  When the opportunity arises to demonize our own soldiers for a momentary lapse of judgment, however, Western voices are only too eager to offer their harshest criticism- and as loudly as possible.

Rep. Allen West addresses this anomaly in flawless fashion in an email to The Weekly Standard, seen below, original found here.  And on behalf of America and our soldiers that are often happily targeted by our media pundits, thank you, Mr. West.

William Sullivan

“I have sat back and assessed the incident with the video of our Marines urinating on Taliban corpses. I do not recall any self-righteous indignation when our Delta snipers Shugart and Gordon had their bodies dragged through Mogadishu. Neither do I recall media outrage and condemnation of our Blackwater security contractors being killed, their bodies burned, and hung from a bridge in Fallujah. 

“All these over-emotional pundits and armchair quarterbacks need to chill. Does anyone remember the two Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division who were beheaded and gutted in Iraq? 

“The Marines were wrong. Give them a maximum punishment under field grade level Article 15 (non-judicial punishment), place a General Officer level letter of reprimand in their personnel file, and have them in full dress uniform stand before their Battalion, each personally apologize to God, Country, and Corps videotaped and conclude by singing the full US Marine Corps Hymn without a teleprompter.

“As for everyone else, unless you have been shot at by the Taliban, shut your mouth, war is hell.”