A compendium of Nebraskan ignorance and hate
The Lincoln Journal Star's website recently granted readers the ability to comment on the day's news stories.
At the bottom of nearly every story posted on the LJS website there is a short comment form that allows anyone
to state their opinion on the story. Each comment is passed through a moderator, and subject to their terms
and standards.
When the comments feature first became active at the LJS, use was sparse: there would be a handful of comments
accompanying only the most controversial of topics. Discussion never really stayed on topic, but amid all the
cacophony, users tended to remain somewhat respectful. Lately, however, the site has changed, and most of the published
comments (barely separated from the original articles) are mind-blowingly hateful, disrespectful and ignorant.
Instead of ten to twenty comments per hot-button article, there are now usually more than forty, with half of them
steeped in vitriolic hatred. As a longtime Nebraska resident myself, I find the comments revealing of the true,
closed-minded, ignorant, unsympathetic Nebraskan lifestyle.
The LJS has truly worked to encourage a climate of intolerance in their forums. Appalled at the way the moderators
have neglected their job and fostered a community of hate, I have put
this page up to showcase the bigoted, racist, xenophobic and hateful mindsets that characterize Nebraska in
hopes that it may spur a change, or at least encourage some reflection on the part of the LJS staff. Allowing
these type of remarks to be posted directly alongside the actual articles lends them credence, and as long as
the LJS continues with this practice I encourage Lincolnites to boycott the newspaper.
- What was she doing walking that time of night? Why did she not look before stepping out in front of the car? I suppose they blame the cop who hit her. Pretty sad.
- Posted by Nathan Biggs
- What a sad story. It fails to mention what Jena and her friends were doing at 12:30AM walking across Sheridan. Why didn't they hear or see the cruiser coming? Were they intoxicated? Any culpability on her and her friends part? Just asking, since it's not mentioned here. It's too bad the city is now facing a lawsuit when an officer was just doing her job.
- Posted by sad
- it's generally good policy to look both ways before entering a lane where a car can mow you down. that's true whether you're walking, driving a car, or riding a bicycle. that goes for whether it's daytime or night.
- Posted by Riddick51PB
- example of transferring blame when you're caught redhanded. "yea, I had a bunch of coke in my car, but nevermind that", when you cant explain things away with fact, if all else fails,,,throw out the race card. seems to work most of the time
- Posted by Great
- Why do you think the State Patrol profiles vehicles? It is very simple. You pull over 1 out of 3 black people and it is going to end up that one of them either has drugs or they have some other violation. That is why the State Patrol profiles. Simple as that. If you are from out of state and are a minority and your traveling down I-80 in Nebraska....Get ready....your going to be stopped. Yes, we do profile.
- Posted by State Patrol
- I am sooooo tired of the African-Americans saying racism everytime they get caught doing something wrong
- Posted by Charley
- I am a white, english speaking male, born and raised in Lincoln. Where's my special representation?
- Posted by From Around Here
- Look, I think there are more constructive ways to get your point across, but to send a letter and then call it a "hate crime" just doesn't make sense to me. How exactly is it illegal? What law did the person break? What is the possible punishments? I think people would label almost EVERYTHING a hate crime if they could. This person killed his girlfriend because he HATED her coming out to him and declaring herself a lesbian. A son kills his parents and he did it because his dad molested him as a child. Oops, must be a hate crime. He hates pedophiliac molesters. Are all the people around the globe who hate someone else for SOME REASON committing a hate crime? It's ridiculous in this p.c. world to now be declaring our very THOUGHTS are suddenly a crime. I won't defend the letter, but I'll forever defend their right to say what they want. It's called freedom of speech and I will defend it to the death.
- Posted by Hate Crime?
- I think it is sort of ironic that everything this person said in the letter was about her claiming discrimination and the way I take it they think she is using her race as a way to get ahead. Then she gets the letter and instantly claims its a hate crime. Sounds to me like the person might be right. It is not against the law to tell someone what was said in the letter atleast not what was said in this article.
- Posted by Dumb
- Diversity is really adversity when it is force fed to you. It is a shame that instead of allowing people to see things for what they are and make up their own minds about something, it has to be force fed to them. I imagine a lot of people don't like this and for some, the letter they sent was their way of saying so. Some people need to learn that others are not going to be accepting of their cultures, religions, race, language, values, lifestyles regardless of how much you preach about it. Is this right..not really, is is a crime....far from it.
- Posted by Brian in Lincoln
- It's not a crime. The writer is entitled to his/her opinion and to express same. In any case, a high percentage of letters of this sort turn out to be hoaxes intended to 'consciousness-raise'.
- Posted by Gerald Harbison on November 1, 2007 11:47 am
- What's the big deal, let it go! I'm sure worse things have been said to her, or about her during or after class.
- Posted by Get Over It
- There will always be some folks (white, brown, black, yellow, or green) who spend more time whining than just doing their jobs. Too often, this is often just a cover for incompetence or laziness. Other than the unnecessary profanity, there is nothing wrong with the letter in question. It simply states an opinion - whether that opinion is popular or not.
- Posted by So why is this a big deal???
- Maybe we should let our police officers investigate real crimes, and not bog them down with nonsense like this.
- Posted by SF
- Thousands of children whose parents are deployed to Iraq and Afganistan face mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety and depression. But, as we all know, in the USA we all fight and die for, minorities now rule. Thank you democrats.
- Posted by How about this?
- Any other parent subjecting their child to mental abuse would be charged with child abuse and/or neglect. Why aren't we adding those charges to the list of charges the illegal arrestee has racked up?
- Posted by Charges?
- LJS would you please stop running these sob stories about the poor illegals!!!! Why not do an indepth investigation on the AMERICAN workers who lost their jobs to these criminals or the hospital that had to close because treating illegals bankrupted them? I'm not without a heart and feel for these children but let's put the blame squarely where it belongs..on their LAWBREAKING parents. They are the ones responsible for their children's angst not the mean 'ole government who is actually enforcing our laws for a change. Why do you even lend any creditility to a racist organization like LaRaza? Who is standing up for AMERICANS?!!
- Posted by Jeez
- Nobody but the parents own fault for subjecting the kids to this. If you're gonna play, you gotta pay! The knew they were here illegally. Now they have to pay the price. Just that simple. No reason to feel sorry for anybdy. The did it to themselves.
- Posted by nitemare
- Children born in the US shouldn't automatically become citizens unless their parents are here legally! This loophole needs to be closed.And it should be grandfathered in so all children now here have to go back. Of course law enforcement and society becomes the bad guy when trying to enforce immigration laws. WE didn't bring your children to a foreign country illegally. Politicians are just pandering to the Latino vote when they do nothing to stop the flood of illegals into our country.
- Posted by Fed Up
- but the parents are illegal! Send them back. I think they should solve this problem right away and send the whole family back. Ammend the 14th.
- Posted by I'm sorry
- If they are so concerned for their children they should of stayed in Mexico!!!!!!!!!
- Posted by Tender
- so now what we have to bare the burden of mental health for the illegals too not enough they have ruined our economy and rob us blind now we have to take care of their mental health enough is enough time to put a stop to it
- Posted by so
- Study: Nobody here gives a damn.
- Posted by Study
- This is a morbidly wrong issue. We live in America. We speak ENGLISH here! Like the Austrialians said, "If you don't like our ways,.. GO HOME!!"
- Posted by nitemare
- It's bad enough I have to push 1 to hear English in my own country. Now this?
- Posted by Mark
- Gee Mat,some of these illegal aliens have been here for 20 years and still need a translator, maybe they should keep some of the 25 billions dollars they sent back to Mexico each year and pay for some English classes?
- Posted by Dave
- Sick. lets bow down and kiss the tortilla. thanks for validating poor little illegal immigrants who can't/wont learn our language. instead if them becoming americans, we can all become mexicanos! now I have to listen to what a big rascist I am.
- Posted by Andy
- Can't believe the ignorant people who want to coddle these illegal aliens while they seal your jobs behind your back, not to mention straining our social and health services. Wake up people! We have a crisis on our hands and encouraging these law breakers by publishing anything in their language is only going to make it worse. It's time for them to go home!
- Posted by Disbelief