Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Killer Targeted Unitarian Church for Liberal Views

UPDATE: Apparently Fox New's talking heads likewise have some indirect responsibility for Adkisson'ss actions. According to the Knowville News Sentinel, here's what was found in his home: Still seized three books from Adkisson's home, including "The O'Reilly Factor," by television commentator Bill O'Reilly; "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder," by radio personality Michael Savage; and "Let Freedom Ring," by political pundit Sean Hannity.
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I did not get a chance to do a post about this sad situation that occurred at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church yesterday, but in my mind, it illustrates the fruits of the constant message of hate and intolerance disseminated daily by false Christians like James Dobson, Tony Perkins, and Don Wildmon, et al. Other than themselves, is there anyone they don't hate? Yes, gays and immigrants [think Hispanics] are especially despised, but when examined closely, these demagogues truly hate everyone who isn't a straight, white, evangelical. They make the Biblical Pharisees look rather loving at times. And eventually, the steady stream of intolerance convinces some that murder and violence against those who are different is acceptable, if not required. It is most telling that the shooter said "he hated the liberal movement" and was upset with "liberals in general as well as gays." Here are some highlights from MSNBC:
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - An out-of-work truck driver accused of opening fire at a Unitarian church, killing two people, left behind a note suggesting that he targeted the congregation out of hatred for its liberal policies, including its acceptance of gays, authorities said Monday.
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A four-page letter found in Jim D. Adkisson's small SUV indicated he intentionally targeted the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church because, the police chief said, "he hated the liberal movement" and was upset with "liberals in general as well as gays."
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Adkisson was a loner who hates "blacks, gays and anyone different from him," longtime acquaintance Carol Smallwood of Alice, Texas, told the Knoxville News Sentinel. Authorities said Adkisson's criminal record consisted of two drunken driving citations. But court records reviewed by The Associated Press show that his former wife obtained an order of protection in March 2000 while the two were still married and living in the Knoxville suburb of Powell.
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Adkisson "stated that he had targeted the church because of its liberal teachings and his belief that all liberals should be killed because they were ruining the country, and that he felt that the Democrats had tied his country's hands in the war on terror and they had ruined every institution in America with the aid of the major media outlets," investigator Steve Still wrote.
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These last anti-liberal statements, unfortunately, sound like they could be lifted directly from materials from Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, the American Family Association or Concerned Women for America. Hate speech DOES have consequences and the activities of these organizations are not for the greater good of the country.

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