Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky [originally part of Virginia] are all called commonwealths, rather than states. After you order the stationary no one wants to make changes, and that’s what they were called before the US was formed.
I assume that it is the same pathology as those who experience abuse at the hands of their parents become abusers, or the stupidity of university hazing. People come to believe that it is normal so they continue the pattern. Part of it is “groupthink” and some peer pressure. You can’t organize a successful mob lynching without it.
]]>I learned all about the *old money*. I was surprised to learn the State was referred to as the ‘Commonwealth of Massachusetts’.
Sad when a city, tows or state is more attractive than most of the people living there. I did find exceptions, but not a lot.
I also spent a little time in North Carolina where racism borders on Xenophobia in some areas.
]]>_ Badtux the Unsurprised Penguin
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I don’t expect you to know this, Kryten, because you aren’t an American, but any American displaying the slightest surprise about racial tensions in and around Boston hasn’t been paying attention. School integration was just as nasty in Boston as it was in Little Rock, Arkansas. There is a very long history of discrimination in Massachusetts that goes back to its founding by the Puritans, and you have to be stone cold stupid not to know it.
Every new group that arrived was discriminated against, and after they achieved some parity, they discriminated. That has been the pattern in the area since 1620, so I don’t expect it to change anytime soon.
]]>As the story of the arrest of Professor Henry Gates has unfolded, this was bound to happen. Apparently, the Boston Police Department now has their own Mark Fuhrman:
A Boston police officer allegedly sent a mass e-mail using a disgraceful racial slur in referring to Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., prompting the commissioner to move immediately to fire the cop, the Herald has learned.
Officer Justin Barrett, 36, a two-year veteran assigned to District B-3, was placed on administrative leave pending a termination hearing yesterday afternoon. When a supervisor confronted Barrett about the e-mail – in which he called Gates a “jungle monkey” – he admitted to being the author, according to officials.
Police Commissioner Edward Davis immediately stripped the cop of his gun and badge, according to officials. Barrett, who could not immediately be reached, has no prior disciplinary history. Read on…
I’ve tried to understand the minds of scum like this, but it only ends in excruciating pain — every time. With all the racist hate being spewed on right wing radio and television, it’s no wonder guys like Barrett are worked up to the point where they can no longer control their hatred. I guess this would be another one of those “teachable moments?”
Boston Police Officer Suspended For Sending E-mail Calling Professor Gates A “Jungle Monkey”
]]>Without Mark Furman’s games, OJ would have gone down. All the defense needs is reasonable doubt, and crap like this supplies it.
Cops and doctors cover for each other and we all pay the price.
]]>– Badtux the Cynical Penguin
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