Obama effigy found hanging from tree

MrBrianMrBrian Posts: 2,672
edited September 2008 in A Moving Train
Obama effigy found hanging from tree at Christian college in Oregon


By Mary Hudetz, The Associated Press

NEWBERG, Ore. - Officials of a small Christian university say a life-size cardboard reproduction of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was hung from a tree on the campus, an act with racial undertones that outraged students and school leaders alike.


George Fox University President Robin Baker said a custodian discovered the effigy early Tuesday and removed it. University spokesman Rob Felton said Wednesday that the commercially produced reproduction had been suspended from the branch of a tree with fishing line around the neck.


Taped to the cardboard cutout of the black senator from Illinois was a message targeting participants in Act Six, a scholarship program geared toward increasing the number of minority and low-income students at several Christian colleges, mostly in the Northwest.


The message read, "Act Six reject."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080924/world/obama_effigy

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Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • I can't believe behaviour like this still happens.

    Disgusting.
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • JaneNYJaneNY Posts: 4,438
    If it was college students that did that they should be expelled. This makes me so sick.
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  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,200
    ....And some say race is NOT a factor in this race.

    Peace
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  • MrBrianMrBrian Posts: 2,672
    JaneNY wrote:
    If it was college students that did that they should be expelled. This makes me so sick.

    Would that really solve anything?...
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    It's a shame that kind of thing happens, but nowadays you can't even trust whether it was planted by the opposition or the home team.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    JaneNY wrote:
    If it was college students that did that they should be expelled. This makes me so sick.

    So much for freedom of speech. You can't just allow speech that only you agree with.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • spongersponger Posts: 3,159
    know1 wrote:
    So much for freedom of speech. You can't just allow speech that only you agree with.

    You're joking, right? You really think racial symbolism should be protected under the first amendment?
  • AnonAnon Posts: 11,175
    know1 wrote:
    So much for freedom of speech. You can't just allow speech that only you agree with.
    I can't fathom anyone thinking like you do. Honestly. I got nothing.
  • know1 wrote:
    So much for freedom of speech. You can't just allow speech that only you agree with.


    Dude.. you way crossed the line here. I will not even lower myself to comment any further on this little bit of spewing garbage.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


    As individual fingers we can easily be broken, but together we make a mighty fist ~ Sitting Bull
  • CollinCollin Posts: 4,931
    know1 wrote:
    So much for freedom of speech. You can't just allow speech that only you agree with.

    Do you feel that freedom of speech should mean freedom from consequences? Do you think students can say or do whatever they want and the institution should just accept it because of the first amendment?

    What if it had been a effigy of a teacher at the school? It's almost a death threat.

    I don't know how "speech" is determined in the US. But if hanging an effigy from a tree with the message stop helping out minorities is "speech" than what can't be interpreted as free speech?
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  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    Collin wrote:
    Do you feel that freedom of speech should mean freedom from consequences? Do you think students can say or do whatever they want and the institution should just accept it because of the first amendment?

    What if it had been a effigy of a teacher at the school? It's almost a death threat.

    I don't know how "speech" is determined in the US. But if hanging an effigy from a tree with the message stop helping out minorities is "speech" than what can't be interpreted as free speech?


    but wait... dont rail on him.. after all Freedom of Speech is one of the 'best things about your country' answers on that other thread on the MT.

    mind you, considering it has the worlds greatest and bestest freedoms (according to many)... then how can its rank be 48th in the world by RWB on its Worldwide Press Freedom Index? surely it should be no. 1!!!
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • know1 wrote:
    It's a shame that kind of thing happens, but nowadays you can't even trust whether it was planted by the opposition or the home team.

    I thought this was a pretty stupid response...
    know1 wrote:
    So much for freedom of speech. You can't just allow speech that only you agree with.

    ...then you go and say this, which gives stupidity a whole new meaning. Well done.
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  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    I'm not condoning the effigy, but it's amazing how many people will whine and complain for free speech or other freedoms or actions that supposedly don't affect anybody else, yet when you use their same talking points back to them they get all bent out of shape.

    Like I said, apparently actions or speech are only permissable if you agree with them to this bunch.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • South of SeattleSouth of Seattle West Seattle Posts: 10,724
    This school really isn't even that Christian. Although it is located near the few "Red" parts of Oregon.
    NERDS!
  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    know1 wrote:
    I'm not condoning the effigy, but it's amazing how many people will whine and complain for free speech or other freedoms or actions that supposedly don't affect anybody else, yet when you use their same talking points back to them they get all bent out of shape.

    Like I said, apparently actions or speech are only permissable if you agree with them to this bunch.

    I guess if I come to your house and take a shit on your front porch you'd be supportive of such action...I'm just practicing freedom of action and free speech...right..?
  • South of SeattleSouth of Seattle West Seattle Posts: 10,724
    inmytree wrote:
    I guess if I come to your house and take a shit on your front porch you'd be supportive of such action...I'm just practicing freedom of action and free speech...right..?
    Well only if you said "Is that corn?" after you left your gift.
    NERDS!
  • OpenOpen Posts: 792
    know1 wrote:
    I'm not condoning the effigy, but it's amazing how many people will whine and complain for free speech or other freedoms or actions that supposedly don't affect anybody else, yet when you use their same talking points back to them they get all bent out of shape.

    Like I said, apparently actions or speech are only permissable if you agree with them to this bunch.

    This effects EVERYONE, your responses suggest that it doesnt effect you, that is the problem.
  • digsterdigster Posts: 1,293
    I don't see how free speech applies here...it's a private college. They have the right to disallow racist rhetoric on their campus.

    If they were charged with a crime, it'd probably be another story.
  • know1 wrote:
    I'm not condoning the effigy, but it's amazing how many people will whine and complain for free speech or other freedoms or actions that supposedly don't affect anybody else, yet when you use their same talking points back to them they get all bent out of shape.

    Like I said, apparently actions or speech are only permissable if you agree with them to this bunch.


    I don't think free speech applies when you are inciting violence. Unless of course you're a rockstar on stage, then you can do what you want and it shoudl be protected.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    Open wrote:
    This effects EVERYONE, your responses suggest that it doesnt effect you, that is the problem.

    I know it does. If you read what I wrote more closely, you'll see that I used the word "supposedly" because in my opinion everything we do affects someone else, yet there are people who will claim that certain things that I oppose - like abortion for instance - don't.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    inmytree wrote:
    I guess if I come to your house and take a shit on your front porch you'd be supportive of such action...I'm just practicing freedom of action and free speech...right..?

    Would I be supportive? No. But if it weren't against the law, do you think there would be grounds to throw you out of school or fire you from your job?
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • my2handsmy2hands Posts: 17,117
    know1 wrote:
    I'm not condoning the effigy, but it's amazing how many people will whine and complain for free speech or other freedoms or actions that supposedly don't affect anybody else, yet when you use their same talking points back to them they get all bent out of shape.

    Like I said, apparently actions or speech are only permissable if you agree with them to this bunch.


    So i can burn a cross in my yard without fear of consequences?

    Under your ideal of freedom of speech without consequence i can tell you "i am going to kill you and your family" and face no consequence?


    go ahead and scream "FIRE" in a crowded theater and tell me how your argument works out for you in court the next day ;)
  • mfc2006mfc2006 HTOWN Posts: 37,484
    this is sad. that's the only word i can think of to describe this. just sad.
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  • know1 wrote:
    So much for freedom of speech. You can't just allow speech that only you agree with.

    A very assholish comment.

    This was a racist and cowardly act, and such actions cannot be tolerated in a civilized society of "free speech". People like you just see black and white, and that's irrational and immature.

    I have no intentions of voting for Obama or McCain, but I know a hateful act of 'freedom of speech in the cover of darkness' when I see it. This election race has brought out the worst in everyone!
    ~*~Me and Hippiemom dranketh the red wine in Cleveland 2003~*~

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  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    know1 wrote:
    Would I be supportive? No. But if it weren't against the law, do you think there would be grounds to throw you out of school or fire you from your job?

    as a manager, I would not welcome an employee who is a porchshitter....and would find a way to help them out the door....

    and if the shitting took place on school grounds...yes, kick me out...

    honestly, I really don't see you anyone can justify the actions of those who conducted this fake hanging...
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    inmytree wrote:
    honestly, I really don't see you anyone can justify the actions of those who conducted this fake hanging...

    I'm not justifying their actions. I think their actions are wrong. My initial comment about free speech was in response to a specific comment that was made. I did not justify the act...which I think is deplorable.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • Strange Fruit

    Lewis allen

    Southern trees bear strange fruit,
    Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
    Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
    Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

    Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
    The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
    Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
    Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

    Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
    For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
    For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
    Here is a strange and bitter crop.

    This song is all I can think of when I hear about this. The actions of the cowards who did this in Oregon are reprehensible and criminal. This is 2008.
    Anyone who can defend these actions in any way shape or form has a lot of soul searching to do.
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