Thursday, December 29th, 2005...9:38 am
He’s Not Racist, Just an Accused Child Molester and a Paranoid Egomaniac
Today’s Tucson Weekly has an article on Chris Simcox, leader of the so-called “Minuteman” militia movement. It is worth a read, and if you have time, it is also worth reading the longer report on Simcox’s past that has been published by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The report raises a number of questions about Simcox’s credibility. Maybe now, other media outlets will start looking at these guys with something other than abject, fawning, worship. The last two years of coverage of the border has been marked by the most bizarre claims from the leaders of the movement, hapilly swallowed and regurgitated by the local (and supposedly more sophisticated national) reporters. Anyone remember the so-called “Al-Quaeda Prayer Rug” that was reportedly found?
(East coast reporters love the Minutemen, because it contributes to their view that all of us out here are a bunch of Yosemite Sam-style slope-headed neanderthals.)
There is also the larger question of racism within the movement. I’ll give Simcox the benefit of the doubt and say that he does not think of himself as a racist. Also, he may genuinely believe that his movement is not racist. This makes him very cynical, or a moron.
The reason why I say this, is that he either doesn’t care that he is lining up with racists, or he is just too dumb to see them. He gives speeches to groups closely aligned with hate organizations, such as the California Coalition for Immigration Reform, whose leader refers to Mexicans as “savages.” He claims not to want white supremacists in the movement, but apparently doesn’t do very much to keep them from joining the group or from speaking to the press.
Given all of this, it is particularly disturbing that mainstream politicians such as Don Goldwater and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger continue to proudly stand with these guys.
NB - Mr. Goldwater appears to still have no supporters.
2 Comments
December 29th, 2005 at 11:59 pm
That’s one of the more pernicious qualities of racism today: most people don’t recognize their own racist tendencies. Others minimize, sublimate or dismiss them.
I have no doubt that Simcox doesn’t see himself as a racist. But his own opinion in the matter doesn’t really matter. Your words and deeds tend to determine that. More importantly, it has to do with how you use your own privilege and power to help or harm those who are oppressed or have less access to opportunities.
December 31st, 2005 at 11:15 pm
Well, Schwarzenegger’s an Austrian. And, gosh, there has never been a history of racism in Austria, right? Jurg Haider (sp?) and Kurt Waldheim, who dey?
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