# Jesse Helms is dead! Let's dance on his grave. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 4, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299 "2008-07-04T15:31:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/61 "2008-07-04T20:55:06Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] No man is an island etc etc [/QUOTE] Well, if everyone would just pee into a trench surrounding the grave, he would be. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/62 "2008-07-04T21:00:27Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] In undertaking any course of action regariding a celebrity, it is wise to apply the Rush Limbaugh test. To wit: can you imagine Limbaugh, in apposite circumstances, behaving in the fashion you are envisioning? If so, you may wish to reconsider the course of action. I can imagine Rush Limbaugh having a celebration when Ted Kennedy dies. You may draw your own conclusions. [/QUOTE] The flaw in that argument is that it assumes both sides are equally in the right. To use an extreme example; Hitler would no doubt take joy in shooting a Jew, and a Jew would likely take joy in shooting Hitler, but can you really put them on the same level ? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/63 "2008-07-04T21:08:53Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] The flaw in that argument is that it assumes both sides are equally in the right. To use an extreme example; Hitler would no doubt take joy in shooting a Jew, and a Jew would likely take joy in shooting Hitler, but can you really put them on the same level ? [/QUOTE] I’m not equating the two. I’m saying that, if one wishes to maintain the moral high ground, one must act not merely morally but, ah, tastefully. This includes not mocking the recently dead and fantasizing about crapping on their graves. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/64 "2008-07-04T21:17:43Z")
I agree with **Skald** and others. No matter what you might think of the man, celebrating his death is … well, tasteless, if nothing else. There is no reason why _we_ should not act like decent human beings - and plenty of reason why we should. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/65 "2008-07-04T21:22:09Z")
He was in retirement anyway and the nation would have been no worse off if he had lived a few more years. I wish he had – long enough, at least, to witness Obama’s inauguration. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/66 "2008-07-04T21:25:42Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] Well, if everyone would just pee into a trench surrounding the grave, he would be. [/QUOTE] I was just thinking that glorying in someones death isn’t particularly graceful. You clearly disagree. _shrug_ ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/67 "2008-07-04T21:26:04Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > He was in retirement anyway and the nation would have been no worse off if he had lived a few more years. I wish he had – long enough, at least, to witness Obama’s inauguration. Word. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/68 "2008-07-04T21:28:46Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] I was just thinking that glorying in someones death isn’t particularly graceful. You clearly disagree. _shrug_ [/QUOTE] Actually, I don’t disagree in the slightest. I could probably dig up some old posts of mine to substantiate that, if you wish. Just I enjoy a dumb joke, now and then. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/69 "2008-07-04T21:36:30Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] Actually, I don’t disagree in the slightest. I could probably dig up some old posts of mine to substantiate that, if you wish. Just I enjoy a dumb joke, now and then. [/QUOTE] Aye, you’re right. Enjoy your holiday **kaylasdad99**. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/70 "2008-07-04T21:48:04Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] I had the hard luck to live in Durham from 1966-71 and heard Jesse’s “editorial comments” right after the news each night over at WRAL. He managed to stop short of saying “nigger” every night. That’s about the kindest thing I can think of to say. [/QUOTE] At one point, didn’t Helms own quite a large stake in WRAL? (The big star they light up on the tower every year at Christmas was known as “The Star of Jesse” through the mid-'70s or so.) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/71 "2008-07-04T21:52:32Z")
Wasn’t there a pit thread recently taking a conservative to task for dancing on the grave of some liberal who had died? I seem to recall all kinds of outrage that anyone would use the occasion of someone’s death to heap scorn on them, and that it was rude to the people who actually liked the man. I think there was a similar uproar when some conservatives said something nasty about Kennedy when they announced his brain tumor - that it was in horribly bad taste to use someone’s misfortune as an opportunity to slam them. I guess it only counts when it’s liberals who die. Conservatives who die are fair game. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/72 "2008-07-04T22:03:09Z")
You’re getting to be like on of those “payola” radio stations, back in the day… “That was Sam, singing “You Guys Are Such Hypocrites!”. Next up on our non-stop hit-o-rama of rock 'n roll we got…SAM! Singing his new hit single, “You Guys Are Such Hypocrites”. Don’t touch that dial!” We get it. Thanks. You can stop now. No, really… ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/73 "2008-07-04T22:06:12Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] Couldn’t hold back the paeans, eh? [/QUOTE] Ah, yes. To paraphrase a line from the crew of the USS _Pueblo_: I would like to fervently paeon Jesse Helms. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/74 "2008-07-04T22:08:00Z")
There is a difference between people like Jesse Helms who was a truly despicable person and people who I disagree with. I didn’t start a pit thread on Bill Buckley when he died. Jesse Helms was a racist, homophobic pig. He brought out the worst in America. The people of North Carolina who voted for him should be ashamed. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/75 "2008-07-04T22:10:48Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] I guess it only counts when it’s liberals who die. Conservatives who die are fair game. [/QUOTE] No, dude. Racist, bigoted **assholes** who die are fair game. I wouldn’t react with satisfaction if it were, say, Alexander Haig who died, but Jesse-boy is a different matter entirely. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/76 "2008-07-04T22:13:31Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] I guess it only counts when it’s liberals who die. Conservatives who die are fair game. [/QUOTE] Not really, Sam. It’s when _slime_ like Jesse Helms dies that it becomes fair game to bash him. Conservatives, as a class, are not bad people. But Jesse was actively evil. There’s the difference. I don’t hate you, Sam, because you’re a conservative. I _hated_ Jesse because he was an _active_ biggot/racist/fill in the blank asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/77 "2008-07-04T22:19:13Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] I guess it only counts when it’s liberals who die. Conservatives who die are fair game. [/QUOTE] So find that thread, and point out which posters are hypocritical. Otherwise, you’re just complaining about hypocrisy you just kinda sorta think happened, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/78 "2008-07-04T22:24:19Z")
“Why Won’t Jesse Helms Just Hurry Up and Die?” by MC Hawking just doesn’t have the same resonance it used to now. That’s the only nice thing I could think of. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/79 "2008-07-04T22:38:39Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] Wasn’t there a pit thread recently taking a conservative to task for dancing on the grave of some liberal who had died? [/QUOTE] I don’t recall that, but some posters got dumped on for dumping on Ted Kennedy in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=468740) thread. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299/80 "2008-07-04T23:00:10Z")
I do remember a recent [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=473383&page=2&highlight=blingee) about tacky bling pics that was closed due to tastelessness. I am so happy the mods have a flexible concept of ‘tastelessness’ so I too can do a little grave dancing. It is moments like this I _almost_ regret being an atheist, as the idea of Jesse burning in damnation is truly attractive. But, no, he’s just rotting away like everyone else, and I regret he didn’t suffer any consequences for his evilness while still alive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-helms-is-dead-lets-dance-on-his-grave/455299.md?page=5)