More Headline News From Maine

[mirth]

I'm certainly going to sleep better

http://www.pressherald.com/2017/01/30/kkk-fliers-disturb-residents-of-freeport-neighborhood/

[OJsDad]

With those clowns, you'd better not sleep face down, otherwise you'll wake up butt hurt. 

[JasonPratt]

I don't know what the, um, modern "traditionalist" KKK is like, but I know what they're marketing as: vigilantes standing up against crime and oppression. Back in my grandfather's grandfather's day, the local branch weren't racist so much as a group of guys who rode out of town to stop bandits, rustlers, wife-beaters, and child-abusers.

I think that side is important to remember, too, if only as an object lesson for why groups of masked vigilantes are not really a good idea in practice, despite being a short-term solution to some problems. 

[mirth]

Unless Batman decides to relocate to Portland, I don't want any masked vigilantes fighting crime and oppression.

[Sir Slash]

Nice to see the Klan has a 1-800 Hotline now. And I bet they're wondering why NOBODY is calling. BTW. Their old number was, 1-800-dumb-ass but they kept calling each other all the time.  #:-)

[mirth]

They're probably still calling each other, "I want to report a guy in a white hood and robe in my driveway. Oh wait, that's just Bill to pick me up for the carpool"

[Bison]

What's the over under on it being a hoax? 

[mirth]

What's the over under on it being a hoax? 

In Maine? It's probably real.

[bbmike]

Apparently they're from a universe where the US only has 20 states.
Also, if there's trouble in my neighborhood, I'm movin' with my auntie and uncle in Bel-Air.

[BanzaiCat]

The Klan is an endless source of amusement.

We have a town a bit to the east called Vidor, which is basically a white supremacist's haven. They used to have a billboard over the highway (this was probably 30 or so years ago IIRC) that said something to the effect of "don't let the sun set on your black ass in this town."  :o

When I was a paramedic, one of my shifts was with a guy named David. The day he admitted that he had an uncle in the Klan (he made off-color jokes, but never came across as a Klansman himself...his fiance was Hispanic, so I don't know how that works with their by-laws, LOL). Once I found out about this it was the source of endless amusement for me. I'd ask him all kinds of inane questions about them, such as:

- Do they give you a little window sticker to put on your car once you're a member?
- Do they have secret handshakes?
- Do they get a group discount at any laundromat chains supporting the cause?
    - Does that cover regular clothes too, or just linens?
- Is there an application fee?
- What grade level do I need to have passed to go up through the ranks - is it like 2nd grade to join, 3rd grade to become a Sentinel, etc., all the way up to 8th grade to be a Grand Wizard?
- Do they cover relocation expenses as long as it's to a state in the South?

...and on and on. I'd just randomly bring up these questions at times..."Hey, I was wondering..."  ;D

I was never sure if he was amused or pissed that I wouldn't let it go.

Comforting to see their values probably land squarely right in America when it had sixteen stars on its flag.

[BanzaiCat]

(merged)

[bayonetbrant]

I'm certainly going to sleep better

http://www.pressherald.com/2017/01/30/kkk-fliers-disturb-residents-of-freeport-neighborhood/

Comforting to see they hold the same values as when America had sixteen stars in their flag.

And I guess they didn't change much as we went up to 20....

[DoctorQuest]

I have to ask what the difference is between the "traditionalist" and "progressive" versions of this group. 

[BanzaiCat]

There are, believe it or not, actually parts of the Klan that don't see themselves as racists - my guess is that's the "progressive" version. They apparently don't spout racism or call for minorities to be harassed/hurt, but their core remains the same (promoting the "white race" I suppose).  ::)

Sure, not racist at all. Whatever lets 'em sleep at night I guess.

[JasonPratt]

My guess (as per my story above somewhere, plus how they're marketing themselves) is that by "traditionalist" they mean "masked vigilante squad fighting crime, y'know like those guys on Arrow! ...except less gay and black."  ::)

i.e., they're trying to get back behind the racist terror squad part to the community Batman squad part. Just... not necessarily succeeding.