I am a proud Kentuckian, raised here my entire life and growing up the Eastern tip that borders Ohio and West Virgina has allowed to learn some of the best and worst things that the south has to offer. I have grew up with people who were accepting of any person of any reason. And I have seen racism directed to me (As a Multi-Racial minority) and some of my minorities friends. I have been called many things and by many people. I have had death stares and evil looks directed my way, but for the most part Kentuckians in general are relaxed and accepting. But this new story has seemed to change my view about that. According to MSNBC a Census worker in the southeastern part of my state (And only about an hour away from my house) was lynched and left with the word "Fed" marked on his body.
New Development: The Clay County Coroner has confirmed that the word "Fed" was written on the workers chest with a felt-tip pen, and there are some more details from a couple new anonymous sources, they say that his hands and feet were duct-taped together and his Census worker badge was taped to his head\shoulder area. This makes it seem even more like a political murder, which is very disheartening.
Usually I never am one to think right off that people will do things out pure "government" hatred, I would think that first that it is probably personal or business related and then if I am proved wrong then I will change my stance. But this screams hate motivated and makes me worry about my state and about the people in it. I have always thought that here in Kentucky we were more swing voters than most people give us credit for. The problem is that Democrats have to prove their worth to us before we will vote for them and vote by default for the Republican candidate if we don't see the Democrat as a "Clinton-est" candidate. I always believed that race played no part in President Obama not winning Kentucky, and that it was more about the fear that he was a Muslim and that a majority of this state are vast social conservatives and saw McCain as a champion of those values. But I am beginning to rethink that theory. This one act seems too likely to be the worst of mine, and all Liberal Kentuckians fears: Our state is consumed by Radical Right-Wing fear and propaganda, and we are moving to far to the right.
I know that there is no factual evidence supporting the idea that this murder was something more than just another murder, but it has all the calling marks of being something much more. Clay County Kentucky (Where this murder happened) is a very conservative part of this state, and out in the deep hollers, there are people whose only source of the outside world is Fox News and their likes. These people subscribe to the conspiracy theories, like the Govt. is coming to kill your grandparents, the Govt. wants to take up the Census to decide who will get health care based on party affiliation, the Govt. wants to make Abortions mandatory and pay for it all with your hard-earned tax dollars, that President Obama is a Muslim who was born in Kenya and wants to raise taxes on average day Americans. We all know that these conspiracies are not true, but for these people, that's the only thing they hear and the only thing they accept. I work with a person from out in the holler in the county I live in, who believes that Obama is a Muslim, and he is planning on taking every gun away from every American. It has spread to the point where that is all they believe in, to the point that they are scared for their lives. These atmospheres created by the Republican non-elected (And sometimes elected officials) leaders have lead to people wanting a revolt, a revolution, a destruction of our very Government. So it would not surprise me if this murder ends up being politically motivated and that there might be more. I just hope, that I am wrong, and that this is nothing more than a personal murder, because if I am right, then there will be chaos in the Census process, and it will cause this state look like a far right war zone. I hope that I am completely wrong, but the signs are all pointing in the wrong direction. It has shifted from political differences and different point of views, to lies, to even worse lies, to hatred, and now possible murder. Dear God, let me be wrong.