From CBS Atlanta:
TEMPLE, Ga. -- When you walk into the Georgia Peach Oyster Bar in Paulding County, you feel like you've walked into a different era.
Behind the pool tables stands a mannequin in a Klu Klux Klan costume, but it's what's outside of the Patrick Lanzo's restaurant that has some people angry.
Lanzo put up a sign that reads "Obama's plan for health-care: N*&%*r rig it."
CBS Atlanta's Michelle Marsh asked Lanzo why he put up the sign.
"I've been putting up signs for 22 years and I've put up all kinds of political signs," said Lanzo.
“Why did you use the N word?” Marsh asked.
“Well, I’ve used it most of my life. There are different ways to put your opinion up, but that's just the words I choose,” Lanzo answered.
Despite the sign, Lanzo said he's not a racist.
He said he's just against what he calls a "sub standard healthcare plan," which he said President Obama is trying to push through.
Black and white people who live in the area say the sign is offensive and they want it down. Lanzo says he's exercising his free speech.
“I stand by my president, but I also stand by my First Amendment right to criticize him if I feel he’s wrong,” Lanzo said.
The West Metro NAACP issued this statement: This latest ploy for attention by Mr. Lanzo is not surprising. What is of concern however, is the total lack of leadership and action from the elected officials of Paulding County, who repeatedly have allowed this type of toxic public display."
Memo to all members of the Raaacism Industrial Complex:
Please read and study this picture and article above. This is what REAL racist opposition to Obama looks like. Notice, there is no use of “speech codes” like the word “socialism”. There is no trick photography required and not a subliminal message to be heard.
So to all you members and followers of the Raaaaacism Industrial Complex who applaud in agreement to the manufactured racism of Janeane Garofalo, Jimmy Carter, Rep. Hank Johnson and the like know this, you are helping to hide real racists like Lanzo in a sea of falsely accused racists.
UPDATE – Video Link Added
No doubt Lanzo is a straight up racist who is trying to hide in plain sight under the guise of free speech. The problem here is that Lanzo is taken as the typical example of all things white, southern and conservative.
Nothing could be further from the truth. As a 45-year-old black man who has spent the vast majority of his life in the very blue and very liberal place called New York City, I have experienced true racism first hand on several occasions.
Racism is an equal opportunity employer. To try to ground racism to one region or ideology by painting people with the big brush of racism is utterly foolish. Doing so creates the atmosphere for real racists like Lanzo to practice and spread their hatred.
A perfect example applying the broad brush is found at Pandagon in a post by a Jesse Taylor who actually links this post in trying to make his point.
Let’s stop here for a second. On the one side, we have a group that calls out racism where it sees it, and accepts that racists can actually be intelligent enough to try and mask their racism. On the other hand, we have a group that spends all of its time complaining that things aren’t racism, and making convoluted excuses for why actual racist things aren’t racist because they aren’t as racist as real racism. And in the middle, we have the guy calling the President a “nigger” who says he’s not actually a racist, just a provocative fellow who enjoys Klan gear and pissing off the NAACP. Which side do you think is making it harder to debate what is and isn’t racist?
Here you have someone who uses the broad brush to paint the ideological sides as one being race sensitive and the other race insensitive. We have all seen examples of some on the left who are quick to stir the racial pot for political gain (i.e. The Raaaaacism Industrial Complex). Make no mistake the people who do such a thing are every bit the hate monger Lanzo is.
Does Jesse Taylor not realize that in applying his broad brush he is allowing the very people who are “intelligent enough to try and mask their racism” to hide on his side of the ideological fence under the guise of racial sensitivity?
Again I repeat, racism is an equal opportunity employer. It can be found anywhere. Only by calling out individuals rather than groups, regions or ideologies can you really get at the heart of the matter.
Via: Memeorandum
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