Men Jailed For Cross Burning

Two men were arrested Saturday for burning a cross in a neighborhood several weeks ago.

[crys]

oh yea that is definetly the definition of trailer trash

[Freedom Of Speech]

If he was on his own property, expressing his own oppinion, the government has no right to tell him what he can and cannot do. We are now one step closer to living in a dictatorship, and the government is acting like nazzis.

[Double Standards Suck]

It's called a cross lighting and is a reminder of faith. I'm not surprised the grossly ignorant media reported this incorrectly.

The Sheriff might want to review the Supreme Courts (Virginia vs. Black) case of 2003. Basically, the right to light a cross on private property is something protected under the 1st Amendment according to the highest court in the land.

Is the Sheriff of Woodward county going to lock up some black people for playing their native west african drums in their back yards? I think not, and we all know why. The ACLU, NAACP, SPLC, and the list goes on would put tremendous pressure on him.

Why the double standard?

[Ryder]

If he's on his own property, then what's the problem. He may be a bigoted moron, but since when is that illegal?

[Tulsa Girl]

wow!

[Thirston]

They need to stop watching cartoon network and watch To Kill A Mockingbird ,or learn about Rosa Parks and all the struggles black people have had to endure and maybe they could learn love and tolerance of other people.Thank You Sheriff for standing up to hatred.

[David]

If they had done this on someone else's property I could see the need to act on this, but I understand this was their own yard...

Having poor taste isnt a crime. The most they should have been charged with was illegal burning, but Im guessing the local politicians will try to get as much mileage out of this as they can.

Over-reaction sums this up.

[Andrea]

It's not a hate crime because there is no victim.
Now the taxpayers will have to pick up the tap for the state's defense in the civil rights violation case these guys now have against the police.

The right thing to do would have been to ignore these idiots.
Now the lawyers will cash in.

[BlackMan]

Double Standards Suck - You have the IQ of a seahorse. Firstly, your West African drum example is provocative and clearly meant to offend. Secondly, comparing the playing of a musical instrument, with no historical offensive meaning, to the burning of a cross, that has historically been associated with lynching, is highly unintelligent. I'll bet that "Intellect" has not gotten you too far in life.

[Ryder]

BlackMan wrote:

Double Standards Suck - You have the IQ of a seahorse. Firstly, your West African drum example is provocative and clearly meant to offend. Secondly, comparing the playing of a musical instrument, with no historical offensive meaning, to the burning of a cross, that has historically been associated with lynching, is highly unintelligent. I'll bet that "Intellect" has not gotten you too far in life.

While I agree with you to a large extent, one thing I'd like to interject. Since when do people have the "right" to not be offended. You said that West African drums don't have a "historical offensive meaning". So what? What if they offend me? What if I find rap music offensive? Could I have you arrested because I find it offensive? How ridiculous. You should have the right to say what you want, preach what you want, etc without the fear of being arrested because SOMEONE is offended. Each of us need to learn to be adults about how we react to other people. Don't let people with small minds get to you. Let them have every opportunity to look stupid.

[SRH]

Great job police. Doing their job good for them. Get these senseless people off the streets.

[BlackMan]

Ryder - I didn't say the men in the article don't have the legal right to burn a cross in their own yard. I was personally offended by the African Drum example. Double Standards Suck was trying to be offensive and I was offended. My statement was a response to that.

[Karen J]

Rational Tulsans wrote:

Look for more of this white hate, especially after Obama wins the nomination in November. Whites are terrible in Oklahoma.

Oh please, can't we all just get along?

[Curious]

Rational Tulsans wrote:

Look for more of this white hate, especially after Obama wins the nomination in November. Whites are terrible in Oklahoma.

Rational Tulsan, if you are going to get on your high-horse about everything and purport to be so much loftier and more educated and enlightened than the rest of us ole backwoods Okies, you might be interested to know that if Obama wins in November, it would be the PRESIDENCY he wins, not the nomination.

[Stephanie H]

Curious wrote:

<quoted text>
Rational Tulsan, if you are going to get on your high-horse about everything and purport to be so much loftier and more educated and enlightened than the rest of us ole backwoods Okies, you might be interested to know that if Obama wins in November, it would be the PRESIDENCY he wins, not the nomination.

Lol isn't that the truth, he was already nominated. Rational Tulsan? What is rational about anything this person is saying. It is messed up that they burned a cross, however to each (idiot) their own. If we put everyone in jail because they offended someone we would all be in jail.

[Curious]

Freedom Of Speech wrote:

If he was on his own property, expressing his own opinion, the government has no right to tell him what he can and cannot do. We are now one step closer to living in a dictatorship, and the government is acting like Nazis.

I agree! Outside of the "emotion" attached to the incident, freedom is for all, even the idiots in the world. If we pick and choose which freedoms are okay, does freedom really exist?

I believe that all "hate crimes" are ridiculous and just a small step toward the "thought police" because if a crime is really committed, then a crime is committed, end of story. Punish for the crime, not the thought.

All crimes already have an existing element of hate or there would be no crime to begin with. Whether someone is targeted because of race or because they are just not paying attention to their surroundings or didn't lock their door, everyone on whom a crime is committed is "hated" or targeted for some crazy reason in a criminal's mind, so punish the CRIME. I have yet to know of someone who was assulted, raped, murdered, etc. because someone LIKED them. NO, every crime is an issue of hate. That is why to label some crimes as "hate crimes" is so ridiculous on several levels.

[nursegogo]

Curious wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree! Outside of the "emotion" attached to the incident, freedom is for all, even the idiots in the world. If we pick and choose which freedoms are okay, does freedom really exist?
I believe that all "hate crimes" are ridiculous and just a small step toward the "thought police" because if a crime is really committed, then a crime is committed, end of story. Punish for the crime, not the thought.
All crimes already have an existing element of hate or there would be no crime to begin with. Whether someone is targeted because of race or because they are just not paying attention to their surroundings or didn't lock their door, everyone on whom a crime is committed is "hated" or targeted for some crazy reason in a criminal's mind, so punish the CRIME. I have yet to know of someone who was assulted, raped, murdered, etc. because someone LIKED them. NO, every crime is an issue of hate. That is why to label some crimes as "hate crimes" is so ridiculous on several levels.

Are 'crimes of passion' done out of hate too?

[Free Speech Advocate]

How is this a hate crime and the gangster graffiti that is sprayed all over our towns not? This is without a doubt one of the most absurd uses of these much vaunted hate crime laws.

Americans, including African Americans, need to stop holding others to a different standard if they want to be treated equally.

Regardless of whether this was aimed at neighborhood blacks or not, it was his backyard. When I lived in the suburbs I had to listen to a neighboring black family's son playing violent RACIST gangsta' rap at all hours of the night and day!

This is a travesty.

[Disgusted]

Rational Tulsan your comments are offensive! I think you have a very closed view of things as well. I don't want to vote for Obama but that reason doesn't have anything to do with the color of his skin. I really don't care much for McCain either for that matter. As far as country music goes I happen to like some of it so there for I'm backwards country redneck etc, etc? That's just crazy. Oklahoma does have it's issues but all states do. I grew up in Va. and Washington DC. So your thinking is almost as racist and stupid as these to cross burning idiots is.
As for the cross burners, I think they are idiots and should be labeled as someone to keep an eye on in the future. No telling what they might be capable of doing, but I don't think they should have been arrested. They didn't make any threats or yell to any neighbor that this cross was for them. They just burnt the thing in their yard. THEIR YARD being the main thing here. Until they actually make cross butning a law they should be able to do what they want to with it in their yard.(however revolting and stupid)

[dont do that]

BlackMan wrote:

Double Standards Suck - You have the IQ of a seahorse. Firstly, your West African drum example is provocative and clearly meant to offend. Secondly, comparing the playing of a musical instrument, with no historical offensive meaning, to the burning of a cross, that has historically been associated with lynching, is highly unintelligent. I'll bet that "Intellect" has not gotten you too far in life.

i am a white man and i couldnt have said it better.you owe seahorses an apology.they are smarter than that