Two weeks ago kid oakland posted a diary called Racism and Bigotry have no place on DailyKos. The premise was clear:
outright racism and bigotry have no place in our community.
On the day he wrote that I couldn't have agreed more enthusiastically. Since then I have changed my mind. Outright racism and bigotry have found a place in our community. Outright racism and bigotry are tolerated by the admins of this community. Outright racism and bigotry have found a home on DailyKos. HarveyMilk led the charge with his now deleted blackface diary and an extremely conditional apology (don't believe the "unconditional apology" hype). Tonight memekiller followed the lead. Who will post the next one? How many good people will leave as a result?
fabooj left after the HarveyMilk incident. In her sig line she references this exchange as the reason why. How many others left without saying goodbye or giving their reasons. How many respected members no longer feel comfortable with a site that harbors racism? Why should anyone posting garbage worthy of stormfront be given a second chance?
The message was sent that day. Everyone is allowed to post one racist diary and get away with it. Everyone single user has been issued an opportunity to wear a white hood and a get out jail free card.
Tonight we saw memekiller post a diary with racist language. Read the comments for yourself. Notice the response from the admins. No outrage. No calls for deletion of the diary. No troll ratings from the only people with unlimited powers of community moderation. Just a lot of excuses and a lot of rationalizing.
Something needs to change. I fear nothing will.