Breeding Ground for Bad Conduct

emb6683 1 year, 1 month ago

If they were wearing hoodies, she had nothing to be afraid of, the hoodie is just an innocent, common item of clothing that everyone has.

JimHeim 1 year, 1 month ago

Crime has been declining in this country for many years. It is silly to make such broad generalizations from a single incident.

But the sheer, blatant racism demonstrated by this letter is a much more dangerous development. Segregationists used to keep such comments to their own group and not put it in a newspaper. It's a shame that such bigotry is now being given wide dissemination.

fugitiveguy 1 year, 1 month ago

" It is silly to make such broad generalizations from a single incident."

Are you referring to the Trayvon Martin shooting? Because I would agree with you. A non black kills a black person and people take to the streets. Meanwhile black on black murders happen by the dozens in this country everyday and not a peep from black leaders.

Satch2929 1 year, 1 month ago

How can a statement from a father trying to protect his daughter be labeled as racist? Apparently some posters here don't understand the innate nature of a father to protect his daughter. It doesn't matter the skin color of the perpetrator!

fugitiveguy 1 year, 1 month ago

"How can a statement from a father trying to protect his daughter be labeled as racist? "

Ahh, you are new here. Stick around, tomorrow Jim will have another whopper for us.

babiehop 1 year, 1 month ago

Perhaps crime in this country has been declining, but I do not think it is so in this county.

JimHeim 1 year, 1 month ago

Oh, please. Young women have been putting up with unwanted comments from young men since forever. They learn to deal with it. They shouldn't have to, but that's reality. Fifty years ago it was okay to lynch boys for it, but times change.

This guy blows every dog whistle in the book and is clearly (and pointedly) referring to black youths. Who else is disadvantaged and plays (midnight) basketball?

Apparently, it's important to the author that Southern Pines restrict itself to rich white people to keep his daughter safe. I'm not sure that's a workable solution.

FightFireWithFire 1 year, 1 month ago

Of course there is not mention of what his pretty young daughter was wearing. Men are going to act like jerks no matter what the environment. It has nothing to do with race or basketball or disadvantaged youth or FBI stats. It has everything to do with PERCEPTION.

CC85 1 year, 1 month ago

I've found that since the relocation of the police station, the basketball court area has become a place I avoid when I'm walking with my daughter. Anyone responding to this article that does not have a teenage daughter really can't identify with the author, but the "reality" is that area has become a gathering point for high numbers of young males (black and white) that aren't exactly choir boys.

JD 1 year, 1 month ago

If your daughter wore a bee keeper out fit she would be fine.

Arestorer 1 year, 1 month ago

CC85 28 minutes ago; (a gathering point for high numbers of young males (black and white) that aren't exactly choir boys.) Thier not "exactly" breaking the law either...Would you rather them be walking the streets or back-alleys of So.Pines?? Maybe you should walk by that area, and try to be a positive influence or mentor to some of them..

CC85 1 year, 1 month ago

I didn't come here to argue, just giving another perspective as the Father of a teenage daughter. Southern Pines is a great place, but I think the author of the article has a point in regards to that area. I grew up here, played basketball on those same courts as a teenager myself, and it does seem to have gotten a lot more crowded than when the police station was next door.

MikeNC 1 year, 1 month ago

JimHeim 1 hour, 15 minutes ago ...... Fifty years ago it was okay to lynch boys for it, but times change.

JimHeim 19 hours, 31 minutes ago ....Stand Your Ground = License to Lynch.

You seem to love that word "Lynch" JimHeim. EVERYONE knows what an inflammatory word that is. Are you not in some sort of 'leadership' position with the Democratic party here in Moore County? Would better word choices that smooth relations rather than stir the pot be more appropriate from all of us; let alone from those that are chosen to represent a political party?....Mike

emb6683 1 year, 1 month ago

" JD 1 hour, 38 minutes ago If your daughter wore a bee keeper out fit she would be fine."

Just have her wear a burqa.

JustThinking 1 year, 1 month ago

You are right. The b-ball court is a scary place. Our family used to take walks from one end of Broad Street to the other, the loop. We always bypass that area. If SP wants to avoid an incident which is inevitable, they will close it down. Rebuild it somewhere else and they will go. Basketball is something to do though!

emb6683 1 year, 1 month ago

"How can a statement from a father trying to protect his daughter be labeled as racist? "

You must not understand the code words:

economically disadvantaged backgrounds = black young men love to play basketball = black low-skill, low-pay jobs = black old and poorly maintained rental units = black the FBI’s criminal demographic = black

Would the gentleman have taken the time to write the letter if it had been a group of white teen-agers who whistled or hooted at his daughter?

JustThinking 1 year, 1 month ago

BTW, it does seem that the area is exclusive, have your daughter avoid it.

JER 1 year, 1 month ago

I enjoy reading comments that are witty and to the point. Blink has posted one of the best!!

Arestorer 1 year, 1 month ago

Cat calling from a car is nothing new...The group could have very easily been a group of young boys(white,black,red,yellow,blue,green) coming back from a school sponcered sporting event, or here from another town, just sight-seeing....Never read where Mr. Danison said what race they were, or if he knew they were coming from the ball courts...IM NOT DEFENDING THE ACTIONS OF THESE BOYS...Why did this thread have to go racial?

emb6683 1 year, 1 month ago

"...Why did this thread have to go racial?"

Because it started out racial, in the letter to the editor that we are commenting on.

See the translation of the code words four posts up.

geoffcutler 1 year, 1 month ago

That tank of racial gasoline you've been igniting Jim must be about empty by now. First it was "Stand your ground = Lynching", and now "But the sheer, blatant racism demonstrated by this letter is a much more dangerous development."

Is this the Democrat strategy for the upcoming election? Divide Americans along race lines and hope the outcome re-elects your guy? Why are you fanning these flames when no mention was made of race in this letter from a concerned father for his daughter? How does Stand Your Ground = Lynching? Has it occurred to you that Stand Your Ground laws could result in a situation where no race is involved? A white person defending himself from another white person?

Courseaire 1 year, 1 month ago

Did you hear that the Virginia Democratic Party is are trying to get the name of Lynchburg, VA changed so as not to offend anyone.

bufordsplay 1 year, 1 month ago

Frankly nothing that these dispicable, lying theives on the left do is suprising to me anymore. This country has been under assault by Black males for fifty years and everyone is afraid to talk about it! Well, not me and I don't give a damn what you call, me facts are facts.

bufordsplay 1 year, 1 month ago

mmmmm?

bufordsplay 1 year, 1 month ago

Col. Charles Lynch whose family Lynchburg was named after was a Revolutionary hero who gained fame by hanging people [Tories] like we are dealing with in this country now. Strung em up whenever he caught em! Good riddance!

Courseaire 1 year, 1 month ago

They are also looking at Blacksburg, VA and Petersburg, VA and Cockeysville, MD by the feminist.

Mythreekids 1 year, 1 month ago

Wow. I am just amazed. My kids play at that park. Black and white youth and black and white adults play ball there....together...on a regular basis. Well, maybe I am not amazed, but really disappointed. Some of the entries hate race baiting, but their comments are filled with allusions that only a deaf person would miss, unless, of course that person were blind as well. Bufordsplay, this country has been assaulted by white people since the first one landed on this soil. So what is your point!!! Don't take my word for it, ask any Native American! So, what you're saying is my kids should just 'go away' because they're black. Are you that stupid! I'd prefer to hope not, because they aren't going anywhere. And, just to make it personal, my father's mother was raped by a white man...89 years ago, that's why I have one of my white grandfathers. So, again, what's your point! Would seem to me that ugliness has no color barrier and you are proof, if what you write is what you believe. What a shame.

bufordsplay 1 year, 1 month ago

My point is that if anyone says anything negative about a Black person they are immediately called a Racist. Now you can ignore crime statistics and call me whatever you want but that does not make what I said untrue[ your retort being a perfect example]. Now I will also put my white heritage up against anyone elses you want to name including Native Americans who were one of the most warlike people who ever walked the planet.Furthermore,every African who was brought to these shores as a Slave was sold into Slavery by another African. I bet you don't teach your children that do you? Rape, Murder, Slavery and Famine. There ,I have just described the history of Sub-Sahara Africa before the first European ever arrived. You want to debate me on the deeds of Evil White people? You couldnt handle it. I was not calling on kids being barred from the park , I was defending the letter writers right to his opinjion

bufordsplay 1 year, 1 month ago

By the way my family members have played in that park for over 100 years.

Mythreekids 1 year, 1 month ago

Don't be to sure about what I can handle. Native Americans were war-like when they were threatened. We don't really know what they were like before America was (discovered). Secondly, yes, I do teach my children about slavery in Africa before America, because it is a part of Ancient and biblical history, impossible to teach otherwise. I still say, sir or madam, whichever you are, crimes are committed by all races...none more egregious than others. The letter writer has the right to his opinion, as do you and I. It still is a sad commentary on the state of being in today's world. And, by the way, don't forget....your 'white heritage' also happens to be mine, since my lineage includes all of it. Who knows, if we looked far enough into lineage, we just might be related. That thought is far fetched...but nevertheless, possible. Now, that's some fat to chew on. And, when people say negative things about black people or white people, it isn't to anyone's benefit to lump them all together. Crimes are committed by individuals, not races of people. That is my primary point. All black people, young or old, are not criminals, neither are all white, hispanic or any other race of people. Check Moore County Detention Center on line and see how many whites were arrested in the last week if you think I'm wrong. I hate that this young lady was subjected to vile language hurled her way. But if you spend some time around some young girls, yes, white ones, included, their language is more vulgar than I have ever heard from my brothers or my uncles. If you don't believe me, walk around the grounds a game at one of the schools and check it out. Morality is dwindling in our world, and every race is guilty.

DoubleHeroides 1 year, 1 month ago

@Bufordsplay Please lets not go down this road. Every culture on the planet has something in their past of which they are not proud, it is all over the place. I would hope your implication is not that non-whites have committed more atrocities against other humans than whites because quite frankly it is irrelevant to this line of discussion and the point of the article.

@ Everyone else: The fact of the matter is that a lot of kids today are punks. Kids in the 40’s were punks, the 50’s, 60’s and up to and including today, they pulled the exact same crap and to sit here and allow every grown person typing in this comment section to collectively forget the idiots, punks, scabs, hippies and ne’er-do-wells that they grew up with right here in Moore County is a bigger sin than a bunch of punks driving around yelling at young women from their cars in 2012.

Don’t blame the park, don’t even really blame the kids. Take a trip down memory lane to when you were 16 years old and think on some of the dumb stuff you, your friends or you and your friends together did and then, with a humbler approach to the conversation stop discussing race and start discussing 1) what can be done to make those kids act right, and 2) if that is even possible to begin with because when you put a 16 year old (male or female) in a car with a bunch of their friends stupid stuff happens.

MikeNC 1 year, 1 month ago

As far as the park and BB court goes; I have never heard of any actual problems happening. I have walked by on many afternoon and early evening days and enjoy seeing the kids playing ball. Most any other place you go...the athletic fields are either completely empty or have almost as many adult 'supervisors' as you have kids playing. I'm glad to see the basketball court being so popular. It reminds me of how long and hard we played ball when I was a kid and it was just us "kids" involved with no adults. That is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Police individual problems up if needed, not take a great form of recreation away from all.....Mike

teufelhunden 1 year, 1 month ago

Given what happened to Eve Carson I can understand his concern! I can understand her fear! If this was a young black lady getting harrassed by a carload of white guys, I would hope her father would say something if she feared for her safety and he wanted to protect her. Just saying...calm down and think from a different perspective before going all ballistic, slinging "racism" around. All races commit crimes, but he is looking at stats and sometimes we have to face the facts that there is a lot of violent crime within that demographic. He's not incorrect. There is good and bad within every community. No one is immune.

teufelhunden 1 year, 1 month ago

I would also think there is no good reason to be out playing ball that late.

DoubleHeroides 1 year, 1 month ago

@MikeNC and teufelhunden: Both of you hit the nail square on the head.

teufelhunden 1 year, 1 month ago

The kids out there are playing hard and having fun so I'm glad it's there for them. Just wrap it up at a decent hour.

drefleury 1 year, 1 month ago

The park? A dangerous "breeding ground for bad conduct?" It's the park. People have always gathered there to goof off, play basketball, and "hang out." I would argue it's one of the main places in town where all races can get along without much trouble. Basketball, and sports in general, allow us who try to distance ourselves from this overt ethnophobia to mingle with the people who don't look like us. It's not even scary, if you can believe it. Nobody should say "lewd" things to your daughter, but your solution is to eliminate a source of enjoyment for everyone in the town. I guess you would also be in favor of banning guns, because they have been used to kill people by murderers. Or maybe we should close gas stations because people get shot there by robbers.

bufordsplay 1 year, 1 month ago

Mythreekids I agree with you and I'm sorry I gave you both barrells. I just had a reaction to Jim Heim immediately calling the man a Racist. I do not support closing the park and have fought previous efforts to do so as at one time they wanted to make it a parking lot for the Post Office. I was not insinuating that any race is more guilty than another historically, but we live in an age that Whites are portrayed as the instigators of all evil in the world while Native Americans and Africans are portrayed as innocent victims, which is a crock. John Lawson was one of the frist europeans to travel through the Carolinas and witnessed Indians burning each other at the stake, pulling victims eyes out an disemboweling them. They did'nt learn that from "Whitey". Lawson was eventually murdered by the Indians. But any person that is paying attention knows that we as a country have a serious crime problem being perpetuated by young Black males and it all begins in the home. When you look at the fact that twice as many Black kids come from abusive homes than Whites. You look at the dropout rates and then to the Crime rate they are all connected. To deny there is a problem shows you are not being honest.

drefleury 1 year, 1 month ago

And your letter said the young men "pulled up," indicating they were in a car, which has no clear relation to the park in the first place. Maybe they were just cruising through town, and didn't even come from the park.

Bentpan 1 year, 1 month ago

JimHeim 8 hours, 6 minutes ago They learn to deal with it. They shouldn't have to, but that's reality. Fifty years ago it was okay to lynch boys for it, but times change. This guy blows every dog whistle in the book and is clearly (and pointedly) referring to black youths. Who else is disadvantaged and plays (midnight) basketball?

Not once does the author mention race but that doesn't stop Mr Heim from making blatant stereotype comments refering to young black men as BOYS and then profiles them as them as obviously the only ones who are disadvantaged and playing basketball. I always thought you were a fraud Mr. Heim thanks for proving it.

AFCHIEF 1 year, 1 month ago

@buford, get used to being called a racist by Jim Heim and his fellow liberals. Its part of the reelection effort for Obama. Disagree with Obamas policys you are racist! Get fed up with the black on white crime you are a racist! Its the liberal playbook to cast the republicans as racist.

JustThinking 1 year, 1 month ago

Obama is NOT black. He's like those ice cream cones Hardee's used to have called, cool-twist! Why are the blacks so proud of him? Just asking.

elguapo9 1 year, 1 month ago

The users of the basketball courts need to realize that those courts are a priviledge and not a right. As I walk by the courts, I am constantly appalled by the trash that is left behind by the players. The downtown park is generally a nice place, but the trashy courts and teenagers smoking cigarettes on the swingsets give it a trashy appearance.

geoffcutler 1 year, 1 month ago

The best way for those who understand that creating a race divide is all part of the liberal playbook to re-elect Obama, is to realize it, isolate it in a box, condemn it, make fun of it, then ignore it. Take the play right out of their own playbook and turn the tables. Jim... the Terry McAuliffe tactics are not going to work this time.

dogboy 1 year, 1 month ago

Mythreekids....I agree, the coarsening of our society has caused our morality to decline. From fractured families to the Hollywood influence on our juvenile pop culture we have done a terrible disservice to our youth! As a famous "Toon" once said,"We have meant the enemy and it is us".

dogboy 1 year, 1 month ago

oops.. "We have met the enemy and it is us".

JER 1 year, 1 month ago

geoffcutler: creating a race divide to get their candidate elected in the 2012 election cycle started when the right pushed for the voter ID measure. Your lack of short term memory astounds me.

geoffcutler 1 year, 1 month ago

Yes, JER, thanks once again for helping to prove the point. You are good at it. Where those who would want Voter ID laws wish to protect the sanctity and legality of our special right to vote, the liberal Democrats turn it into a race issue to demonize their opponents and scare up votes. It's a joke and the American public recognizes the tactic.

MikeNC 1 year, 1 month ago

ID requirement for voting is a no brainer. How embarrassing for the Democratic party to push it as a race divider. As the party leadership pushes this absurd issue, it makes democrats as a whole appear very foolish. ID cards are a necessity in todays world and are needed to be shown for way less important things than electing those who then manage our nation. I'd be embarrassed to be a part of that non issue. I'm embarrassed for those Democrats who sit idly by and listen to such discourse and not say a word about it. They have to know it is crazy to not have a check on possible voter fraud ....BTW....Still haven't heard a word from JimHeim on his continual use of Lynching. They love to demand answers from someone else, but always fail to answer important issues directed towards themselves....Mike

JimHeim 1 year, 1 month ago

Okay Mike, I'll say it again: Stand Your Ground = License to Lynch. The effect of these laws will overwhelmingly victimize African-Americans. Further, these laws (including here in North Carolina) are so poorly written that they favor these killer far more than the victim in any encounter. They illustrate Republican contempt for life.

Voter photo ID is a racist policy as noted by the Department of Justice in various cases around the country. Every study in every state where this has been an issue has shown that the voters most likely to be denied their right to vote will be black. There is no controversy there. Beyond that, the elderly and young are adversely impacted for a policy with no benefit whatsoever.

No embarrassment here on either of these issues.

JimHeim 1 year, 1 month ago

MikeNC, If photo IDs are a 'necessity' in this society, why do hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians not have them? How are they getting through life?

Why do you want to deny them the right to vote?

Bentpan 1 year, 1 month ago

JimHeim 6 minutes ago "Voter photo ID is a racist policy as noted by the Department of Justice in various cases around the country." I assume you're talking about the Holders' DOJ, you know the guys that refused to prosecute the black panthers for voter intimidation even though they were caught in the act on video.........

"They illustrate Republican contempt for life." You mean like this administrations DOJ oversight of operation Fast And Furious where thousands of high powered weapons were deliberately placed in the hands of violent criminals (over 200 deaths verified)

geoffcutler 1 year, 1 month ago

Whatever it takes to win...right?

Anyone ever notice that liberal Democrats reserve the race card for Republican whites only? That 's when we're called bigots and racists, lynch mobs etc. But when Black conservatives speak out against this tactic, and the inherent lies of people like Jim Heim and JER, they become strangely silent. Well, not always. Sometimes they'll go ahead and throw their own under a bus when they don't fall in line, like they did when NPR fired Juan Williams. The narrative that Conservatives and Republicans are the enemies of race and ethnicity has always been a lie. But the left knows that defending against something that isn't true, is next to impossible. That's why they continue to use the tactic. Divide the nation along racial lines= votes at the ballot box. Disgusting!

DoubleHeroides 1 year, 1 month ago

Everyone: Could we please have a de-politicized discussion about what is going on in our backyards just once? This article is about an issue, real or perceived, occurring in downtown Southern Pines. Get off the political bandwagons, get your heads out of the dark clouds of partisan politics and let’s try to have a functional conversation about where we live without swinging for the fences. There is a reason that local municipal elections are non-partisan.

We went from hoodlums yelling at a young lady to racism, gun laws, and voter IDs none of which address any particular issue related to the article. I’m starting to get the impression that people just like to argue.

fugitiveguy 1 year, 1 month ago

"Divide the nation along racial lines= votes at the ballot box. Disgusting!"

I agree. However, Jim has been spouting this lunacy for so long I think he actually believes it. He and the like minded apparently think that blacks are just too dumb to get along without the liberals benevolence.

MikeNC 1 year, 1 month ago

JimHeim...Your comments are not only an embarrassment to yourself, but most of all to all Democrats who get suckered into such nonsense directed from so called leaders of their political party. It is obvious that the Democratic party assumes that many of its constituents are just plain old dumb or do not care about where this country should and could be headed.

DH...I agree with your 'stay on track' comments most of the time. It is Heim who tried to sneak and incite that lynching mantra under the radar. That then became 'on topic'. I do believe some good commnets were in fact posted concerning the issues related in the article.....Mike

Mythreekids 1 year, 1 month ago

JustThinking: "Cool Twist"! LOL. Sweet. Never been called that one before. I definitely have to share this one with my family at this year's reunion. I have printed this because no one will believe it otherwise. (Especially my sister. We live in the same town and when we are together and one of us says...this is my younger or older sister, people's mouth come open. She looks white, I'm the pretty one (lol.) And neither of us is adopted. You just made my day. Remind me again why it's ok for you to be proud of your heritage, and I should be ashamed of mine??? (as diverse as it is, I'm grateful my family keeps up with our lineage) . People are so funny. Have a wonderful day, everyone, no matter you ethnic background. After all, we are breathing the same polluted air.

FightFireWithFire 1 year, 1 month ago

This argument about teenagers hanging out anywhere in SoPines or Pinehurst or Aberdeen or anywhere else is something I am sick to death of hearing about. Teenagers have no where that they can hang out and be teenagers with out some adult who doesn't like to see them pissing and moaning about it. I would rather see them in one place playing ball in the public eye. As for the comment about the trash and smoking, I guess that you have never been to the downtown area after a group of "adults" is barhopping on the weekends. There will be trash all over the place. People will be standing in the doorways smoking in groups, you will have to walk through a cloud of smoke just to go in the door. To all of you choirboys and girls, please do tell where you spent your time as a teenager. We didn't all live these idyllc childhoods of gated communities and pool parties. Get off you high horses. If you have issues with it, how about we stop building million dollar arboritums and put a teen center up. How about a YMCA? Instead of crying to the newspaper, go to the town hall meetings and propose a solution.

Mythreekids 1 year, 1 month ago

FightFire: You're on it. Thanks.

pilotreader 1 year, 1 month ago

I was walking downtown on Monday and the same thing happened to me. Too funny! It was a car full of white kids. Far from being a teenager, I took it as a compliment. Fast forward eight years when my baby is a teenager though and I could see my protective husband being up in arms as well about his 'little girl.' I suspect people are on edge due to the recent, publicized crimes of late. Always good to be aware of your surroundings.

ricksarno 1 year, 1 month ago

Well Mr. Danison certainly sparked a "healthy" debate. My Three Kids makes very good points. It is a shame that the regular Pilot posters on both the left and the right have to turn it in to mud slinging and then expand their vitriol beyond the original discussion. I have been at and around the park many times and never seen anything "ugly" happen. It is a great venue for young and old to get together and participate in healthy activities. It is not about black or white, because there are equal number of fools who act up no matter the skin color. Move on.

ninesyspup 1 year, 1 month ago

When I sat down to write this, I almost said to myself what's the use. Mr. Heim's boys will be boys stance is disgraceful. How many incidents such of this sort is enough? Me, I one is too many. If you want to talk bigotry you just need to look in the mirror. I have never in my life seen a worse case of reverse bigotry. If you hate being white I'm sorry, but nothing can be done about that. But I will keep you in my prayers even if you don't want them.

People like you are the reason I became an unaffilliated. (Code for INDEPENDENT)

Luby Hester (In case you want to call me a coward for using a screen name.)

teufelhunden 1 year, 1 month ago

We do need more teen centered activities around here...be great to have a recreation center, etc.

Mythreekids-you seem to be a very thoughtful and decent woman. You stated your case without being ugly...kudos :-)

geoffcutler 1 year, 1 month ago

"Crime has been declining in this country for many years. It is silly to make such broad generalizations from a single incident. But the sheer, blatant racism demonstrated by this letter is a much more dangerous development. Segregationists used to keep such comments to their own group and not put it in a newspaper. It's a shame that such bigotry is now being given wide dissemination." Jim Heim

That's how the subject on this thread veered off course. So take it up with Jim Heim.

dbadmom 1 year, 1 month ago

Mr. Danison, I have been a resident of Southern Pines my entire life. I am also the mother of 3 children (18, 13, and 10). As long as I can remember, the basketball courts have been used by youth from both sides of the track. I can understand your position as a parent of a teenage daughter. I would be angry if a group of teenagers spoke negatively to my daughter too, but to turn this incident into a stereotypical/racial issue, because of where you believe some of these teenagers live is not fair. Did the vehicle these young men who were riding in the vehicle have a sticker on it that said "I live in a low income neighborhood?" My guess would be no. I am a black woman who grew up in the low income neighborhood. I have frequented this park and have a had skateboarder hit my car in the parking lot, and become very disrespectful when I asked him to be careful, however, I do not stereotype them all and equate them as being "rich white kids with no respect." I hope that your daughter does not have to deal with being disrespected again in that area, but please do not turn this incident into a racial/stereotypical issue. Thank you.

The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 1 month ago

Wow this is quite an interesting blog, its laughable as most of the blogs on the pilot are but hey what can one expect, this months media cycle is how white Americans are racists, that our country is still living in the 1800s. Well hey have at it. Any resonable person understands the absurdity of it but thats American media. The poster of the article is just another component of whats newsworthy this month, Had this article been written say 3 months ago it would have never made it into the paper. In fact had the current news climate been different the writer probably would have never thought about what he wrote about.

Extreame views are natural to our culture. O well lets tear down the courts and have military escorts walk our daughters down the street. And any johnny who yells a lewd comment will be shot right then. Sounds plausible right?

MikeNC 1 year, 1 month ago

Exactly, dbadmom. This letter to the editor, should of never seen ink. And as drefleury pointed out, the boys were in a CAR not in the Park ! And as usual one can come to EXPECT Heim to ratch an already stupid letter to the editor, up one more notch with his endless procession of "race baiting" digs. Diane

AFCHIEF 1 year, 1 month ago

HEIM, I hope none of your voters without ID plan to fly on any airline. WHY do you ask, because they need a picture ID of course.

JimHeim 1 year, 1 month ago

afchief, you must be new here. It's been fairly well established that flying on airliners, buying booze and tobacco and driving cars (some of the things that require photo ID) are not rights. Voting is a right. There's a difference.

Before you limit a constitutional right, you need a compelling reason. So far no one on your side can come up with examples of voter imitation fraud, the only thing that photo ID will protect against.

It is already a felony to vote in someone else's name and it's easy top track down and convict offenders. The fact is that few are willing to commit a felony to try to sway and election when the number of fake voters needed is fairly large. It would have taken over 14,000 fake voters to have swung this state from Obama to McCain in 2008. How are you going to recruit that many felons?

buddysmith 1 year, 1 month ago

they can play basketball till late at night but a majority of them cant look for a job?

JustThinking 1 year, 1 month ago

Mymythreekids, you sure put the cool twist on that. I NEVER SAID YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF ANYTHING!!!

dbadmom 1 year, 1 month ago

Buddysmith, define who THEY are, and how you know THEY can't look for a job, or that THEY don't have jobs. It is really sad that young people cannot get together at the park for a game of basketball without being stereotyped. Mr. Danison's article attributed a car full of young men near on Broad street to the the kids playing basketball at the park. He did not indicate that this happened at the park. Broad Street is a good size stretch of road, so it could have taken place near the conveniet store, or near Bo's Food. Buddysmith, what would you have these young people to do (assuming they all have day jobs or are in school) otherwise? It sounds like basketball is a more constructive use of their free time.

dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago

Africans shocked by uncivilized antics of European savages

http://www.hayibo.com/africans-shocked-by-uncivilized-antics-of-european-savages/

DAKAR. Africans say they have little hope that Europe will ever become civilized, after a week in which Spain’s King Carlos went on an elephant-killing spree and the Swedish Culture Minister was entertained by a racially offensive cake. “You can take the European out of the jungle, but you can’t take the jungle out of the European,” sighed one resident of Kinshasa. August Mwanasa, of Libreville in Gabon, said the latest atrocities didn’t surprise him as Europeans were still “savages”. “I don’t want to sound racist, and some of my best friend are white, but let’s be honest: violence is hard-wired into their DNA,” said Mwanasa. “I mean, Europeans killed over 20 million other Europeans in the 1930s and 1940s. That’s barbarism on a scale unprecedented in history.”