Conference back40::soapbox

    
>    Any news on the NEW law that makes torching a church a federal offense?
>    It has some stupid federal church protection act name or the like... 


     Well, freedom of religion is a constitutionally protected right and
     the burning of churches could infringe on the rights of others to 
     worship..heck, blocking abortion clinics is a federal offense..

     While I don't like the idea of these churches being burned, and I
     have expressed my concern that the feds seemed to be ignoring it,
     I don't necessarily like the fact that the pendulum has evidently
     swung the other way and it is now a political football. 



 Jim

    .1 that the feds seemed to be ignoring it,
    .1      I don't necessarily like the fact that the pendulum has evidently
    .1      swung the other way and it is now a political football.
    
    Ignoring what?    Churches have been burning ever since churches were
    built.   The church where my folks were married burnt to the ground in
    the 50's... 
    
    The sun comes up every day - and to be honest I have ignored that in
    the past.   
    
    Is there any proof to the "racially motivated"   argument?   I heard
    that in one case it was faulty wiring, in another construction works
    caused fire, in another case some 17 year old volunteer fireman torched
    it.   
    
    I get the feeling that the stupid press is going to be telling us about
    every church that burns from here to the end of the world...
    

    
>    Ignoring what?    Churches have been burning ever since churches were
>    built.   The church where my folks were married burnt to the ground in
>    the 50's... 
 

     Well, from what I was seeing, and in my opinion, it was becoming something
     of an "epidemic", to the point that even church leaders in the south
     were raising the issue..as, based on investigations, many of them appeared
     to be arson.

   
     
 >   Is there any proof to the "racially motivated"   argument?   I heard
 
     beats me..I don't know if there is or isn't, and I reserve comment on
     that



 >  that in one case it was faulty wiring, in another construction works
 >   caused fire, in another case some 17 year old volunteer fireman torched
 >   it.   
  

    and in another a 13 year old white..er, European American  girl was
    arrested and there is a suspected Satanic worship connection there.
    Two bla..er, African Americans were arrested in another case.



   Perhaps the press will be reporting on these "til the end of the World".
   My recollection is that they were reporting on them long before Clinton
   went south for the photo op at one of the burned out churches.

   



 Jim    

    Well, the press has just about milked the OJ topic dry, they are
    milking Value Jet for all it's wirth, now they ned a new topic to 
    hide all ther real issues and problems. 
    
    I do think all this media exposure and excitement is literally fanning 
    the flames of this issue, and this will incite yet more nutcases and 
    pyromaniacs into burning yet more churches. 
    
    I suppose that the BATF's Davidian Massacre could be considered a 
    church burning, only government sanctioned...
    
    Until the next Bobbit / Susan Smith / OJ type case comes along, the
    nooz noids will beating this one to death.

    
       earlier this week, an AP story stated 38 churches ( of mostly black
     following ) and 24 churches ( of mostly white following )  have been
     burnt to date !!!!  
    
        A public hanging is in order for those responsible
    In-my--not-so-humble-option.
    
    
    
    

    Statistically, about 360 churches go up in smoke each year.
    The ap reported that 2 black fellows had been caught torching a
    black church.  Another church that burnt, was because of an electrical
    fire.  Most fires are set to cover robberys.  The ratio of "black" vs.
    "white" churches is close to 50-50.
    
    But it's a federal jurisdiction racial problem according to bill
    klingon.
    

    And Charlie Manson said to Billybob, "Do something witchy. Let them
    know you were there."
    

    -1 Very good re-write.  8)

I'm sure that, of the black churches that are burned in arson, many are burned
by copycats who see the stories.  That is, every Klansman-wannabe with a match
and a sheet will burn a church instead of a cross. 

This, of course, becomes a story that feeds upon itself.

    .8 Watch Charlie on A&E one night. Fasinating! One of those lines that
    are quotable. Like, Make my day, or I'm not a crook.:)
    
    

RE: 746.6 by VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK "Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly"

> The ratio of "black" vs. "white" churches is close to 50-50.

More like 10-90.  Or are you talking about the recent trend in fires?


Phil

    Sorry, the media is saying 60 - 40.  Then again, when someone puts
    a color label on something to begin with, and then bitches about
    racism...
    
    A church is a church. 

    Another one in Shreveport I hear.