It seems to me that the media will go to any lengths to get a story, even if it means offending its readers and the public at large. I came across an article about the Roswell Beacon newspaper in suburban Atlanta and I was truly appalled. The paper is defending a controversial cover illustration that depicts presidential candidate Barack Obama in a rifle’s cross hairs. I urge anyone who lives in North Fulton and surrounding environs to flood this paper’s phone lines. The Roswell Beacon, as the Atlanta Journal Constitution has said, is a nascent free weekly distributed to about 65,000 north Fulton residents. The article (is attached in its entirety) was published May 15, 2008. To be honest, this is journalism at its lowest. It shows us that there are some serious racists in our midst and Obama’s candidacy has brought out the worst in a lot of people. The last thing we need in this country is a newspaper to suggest that somehow his assassination is inevitable with such an incendiary cover such as this.
I encourage all my readers to contact this newspaper. They are located at 515 East Crossville Road, Suite 350, Roswell, GA 30075. Their telephone number is 770-640-3230. It seems that they have already begun losing advertisers. The Holiday Inn announced it would no longer do business with the Beacon, though the paper’s publisher, John Fredericks, said editorial decisions would not be influenced by “liberal blogger thuggery.” “Good, bad or ugly, we tell the truth,” he said. Fredericks and senior editor Tim Altork said there was little internal debate over the appropriateness of the imagery, though they were aware it was likely to create a stir. “We knew we were on the provocative edge,” Altork said. “But it’s a very fair piece, a smart piece.”
The article was pitched and reported by veteran freelance journalist Alan Sverdlik, who said he was curious how law enforcement agencies were handling the increased number of threats lodged against Obama by white supremacist groups, some of whom are based around north Fulton. Sverdlik said Tuesday he had not seen the cover and had no input in its development.
The Beacon’s publisher said the art “projected the story,” one which he believes serves a valuable public interest: “We’re hoping federal law enforcement takes notice.”
The publication of the article and cover were truly poorly timed and came on the heels of an ill-advised quip by former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee after a loud noise interrupted his speech to the National Rifle Association.”That was Barack Obama,” Huckabee said. “He just tripped off a chair. He’s getting ready to speak and somebody aimed a gun at him and he — he dove for the floor.” The former Arkansas governor apologized for the comment, though it reminded many of concerns that Obama’s race might tempt more would-be assassins. At the same time, just a few miles away west of Roswell, a Cobb County saloonkeeper was exalting in his own Obama-related controversy, peddling T-shirts featuring a cartoon monkey endorsing the likely Democratic nominee. “He (the bar owner) was making a statement,” Altork said. “We were reporting what others were saying. This was not a publicity stunt.”
So, I guess it is okay with these people to “make statements” no matter how incendiary and racist. Showing Barack Obama in such a position is not flattering, nor it is right. There is too much disregard in this country for the rights of all citizens. I am appalled to see this newspaper’s cover. To think that we could become so polarized around race in this country in this day and age, it simply embarrassing as America launches on a campaign to right the wrongs in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is a great deal of hypocrisy in this country and covers like this only reinforce this notion. White Fright…. Give me a break! To think that this did not raise the outrage it deserved is unconscionable. Blacks in America have been through a lot of sh** and we are not scared by any white supremacist group. I would encourage them to come out of hiding and show their faces. Why hide? If you believe in what you are doing, why hide? If they think for a minute that any black person in America today would sit around and be openly discriminated against, called names, or assaulted and do nothing, they are dumber than I thought. To all the white supremacist punks in around North Fulton and the country, bring it on, we’ll be waiting and ready! Just my thoughts, you be the judge…..
Filed under: Barack Obama, Mike Huckabee, Racism, Rifle, Roswell, Roswell Beacon, White Supremacist
Black Political Thought 