The president of Montana’s Big Sky Tea Party Association has been ousted after joking with a “friend” on Facebook about hanging gays and replicating the beating and murder University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. Tim Ravndal has apologized for the exchange, but the group has removed him.
The exchange occurred on July 23 and was later removed. However, a screenshot was saved. In the exchange, Ravndal posts the statement that “Marriage is between a man and a woman period! By giving rights to those otherwise would be a violation of the Constitution and my own rights.” A Facebook user then adds “I think fruits are decorative. Hang up where they can be seen and appreciated. Call Wyoming for display instructions.” Ravndal responds by asking: “Where can I get that Wyoming printed instruction manual?”
The statement appears an obvious reference to the 1998 killing of Shepard who was beaten and tied to a fence post.
Facebook has become a fascinating vehicle to expose the worst motivations or views of individuals, including celebrities and politicians who are highly controlled in other venues.
Source: Google
Jonathan Turley
Well Gyges,
English is already the international language.
“By giving rights to those otherwise would be a violation of the Constitution and my own rights.”
How much you wanna bet this guy wants to make English the official language of the US?
Blouise I mean. I can’t type and it is more than obvious.
Bloise http://www.openleft.com/diary/20075/congressional-volatility-opening-for-dems Things are looking up a little for the democrats today. About a month ago I was told the tea party was progressive by someone on this blog.
Buddha,
Its not noon yet…but then again…today feels like it could be 5 o’clock somewhere.
AY,
I’m deeply offended that you haven’t offended anyone yet.
I am pleased to know that I helped educate one today. My day is complete…sorta….I haven’t offended anyone yet.
AY
I checked “codpiece” at Wikipedia. Very interesting reading. I had hoped the derivation was somehow associated with the verb “to coddle”, but alas, it come from the Middle English word for certain dangly parts.
Hmmmmm, now what is that piece of felt/fur that attaches like a thong, just to cover the dangling parts? Ah yes, Codpiece….I wonder if that where Codling comes from? Codling is after all a moth, fruit or a worm……
I suppose it all in how you handle your dangling participles….
Being descended from Scots on both sides, I must agree …
AY, no kilt jokes now. You make fun of Scots at risk of life and limb, laddie. As for what is worn under the kilt; nothing is worn, everything is in perfect working order.
… course
Byron … ethnic/cultural jokes don’t always involve ethnic/cultural slurs … no slurs, no problem …. if one isn’t sure, then simply refrain … not a difficult coarse to follow …
Blouise:
what about ethnic jokes that are the result of cultural stereotypes? Like the English having a “stiff upper lip” or the Germans making the trains run on time or the Italians being in love with love? Not cruel but making fun of cultural norms?
What was hanging….were they going commando?
“When other folks laugh at the “joke” or even simply remain silent, they grant affirmation of the bigot’s view.” (rcampbell)
Once again, in my opinion, you are 100% correct. I believe in confronting bigotry openly any time I encounter it. Each situation is different and no one reaction is correct every time so a certain amount of thought is required, but failure to engage is not an option. My parents taught me this and I am pleased to say that my children follow the same code of behavior.
Something else that was never permitted in my parent’s home or mine or my children’s home are the use of slurs … none … no exceptions. The occasional swear word was allowed but never a racial or ethnic slur.
So, yes, rcampbell, bigotry is ” perpetuated in the shadows of people’s dinner table or ethnic/racial jokes on the golf course” … bigotry is a learned behavior and a product of bad parenting.
Bigotry and racism can also be very subtle, I was talking to a guy last night whose son is at a very good school and is studying a particular element of business. The man is black and he told me he was talking to a white customer who assumed his son would go to work for a “black” firm. I told him his son should go where he can make the most money and get the best start for future success, he agreed.
I doubt the white customer even thought he was in any way being racist.
I’ve said before and I’ll say again that prejudice and bigotry are usually exhibited or professed openly. They are perpetuated in the shadows of people’s dinner table or ethnic/racial jokes on the golf course etc. Every incident of such is an effort by the bigot to gain acceptance and agreement of his ugly view. When other folks laugh at the “joke” or even simply remain silent, they grant affirmation of the bigot’s view.
I play a lot of golf, so I’ve encountered that situation with some regularity. Recently, while a guy was setting up his racist anti-Obama joke on the 12th tee box, I wandered away from the foursome during the telling and turned by back on delivery of the puch line. When the jokester noticed my actions he said to us all, “I assume we’re all Republicans”. I responded, “Not all of us”. I know this won’t suddenly convert a bigot, but at least he now knows his crap is not welcomed by everyone and maybe, just maybe, he’ll think about that. I do know this: defying his assumption of acceptance made me feel great.
But the Tea Bagger, after all, is also a person. Certainly, none of us doubts that. We only doubt that he is a decent person. He does not get along with us. He lives by other laws than we do. The fact that he is a human being is not sufficient reason for us to allow him to subject us in ridiculous ways. He may be a human being — but what kind of a human being is he! If someone kicks your dog, do you say: “Thank you! He is after all a human being!” That is not a decent human being, that is a mean person. Yet how much worse has and will the Tea Bagger do to America, they must be stopped!
I am glad they ‘refudiated’ what Mr. Randval said. But was his forced resignation due to political expedience versus being due to a belief that what he said was just wrong? Pardon the cynicism, but I tend to lean toward the former.