Monday, October 20, 2008

Fairfield Ohio: Effigy of Obama hung... People I'm scared!

I have not wanted to believe that racism was this deep or that close to the surface in our own neighborhoods! For those of you out of state, Fairfield is the town over from ours. It's where my son goes for math tutoring, it's where our favorite big supermarket, Jungle Jim's, is located, it's where a large number of our friends live. This is an ordinary middle-class suburb outside of Cincinnati, not Appalachia.


I'm horrified by both yard displays (it is despicable to depict John McCain as a member of the KKK). The other display (and subject of this local news report) that features Obama swinging from a tree, however, really frightens me. The Jewish star on his head, the name upside down, the middle name across the ghostly body, all hanging from a tree... these images really scare me. To think that the owner of the home was reported to have said that this is a "white Christian nation" and he doesn't want a black man running it... What does that really mean? How far will these kinds of people go to be sure that doesn't happen?

And just when I was feeling heartened by the enthusiasm for Obama in my own neighborhood (out of 75 doors knocked on Sat., I made 32 contacts and 25 were for Obama!). Unheard of in GOP land...

If you pray, pray for Obama's safety. My God. What is wrong with us?

5 comments:

jo(e) said...

It's scary and sickening.

Unknown said...

It is a natural outgrowth of the type of code words and the racial venom that is being thrown out every day by McCain-Palin advertisements and campaign speeches. We reap what we sow...

peace, Villager
(living close by Fairfield OH as well!)

Cheryl said...

"This is an ordinary middle-class suburb outside of Cincinnati, not Appalachia."

Really, Julie. I thought you were more thoughtful than this! Surely you didn't think racism and hate is actually geographical?! It's in the landscape of hardened hearts and ignorant minds.

Where do you find most of the Aryan Nation types? The Pacific Northwest? Where have most race riots occurred post-civil rights movement? The big cities of the North and both coasts.

This kind of thing is abhorrent no matter where it's found, but your incredulousness that it happens outside of Appalachia (and worse, in Cincinnati!!!) is amusing.

Unknown said...

Cheryl, I posted that for my readers who don't live in Ohio and hear all the time that it is in the hills of Appalachia that the racism exists. I am well aware that it exists in Cincinnati.

kc bob said...

It is very saddening and disgusting.. we have not come as far as be believe that we have.