# Welcome To The 21st Century **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 30, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369 "2013-03-30T19:01:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/21 "2013-04-01T04:14:59Z")
> [@Recusant](#): > > Am I the only person who thinks that “Edward the Exalted Cyclops” sounds like the title of a children’s book? Maybe Edward could be a background character in the non-canon _Harry Potter and the Uppity Darkies_. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/22 "2013-04-01T05:14:02Z")
> [@](#): > > “ **The black race** has been here (in America) just about as long as we have,” Barker said. “They deserve to be here, too.” bolding mine. I thought the concept of race had been debunked, that humans did not vary enough to justify such a category. I am willing to be corrected, but as it stands I consider this kind of talk to be ignorant. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/23 "2013-04-01T08:22:12Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > bolding mine. > > I thought the concept of race had been debunked, that humans did not vary enough to justify such a category. I am willing to be corrected, but as it stands I consider this kind of talk to be ignorant. Aha!, You’ve found a slip-up in the language of an Imperial Wizard of the KKK, revealing his subtle, deeply hidden racism. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/24 "2013-04-01T10:29:01Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Hm, I oculd have sworn that historically it was Illinoise or Indiana [one of those northern midwest spots] but this was back before WW2. \ I think they are all nuts, there is no difference in people that is visible through skin, eyes or hair colors. We are all the same, just wrapped in designer patterns [as designed by god?] I believe that Indiana has the highest number of KKK _groups_, which is a fine distinction to make when you’re talking about ridiculous stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/25 "2013-04-01T10:49:49Z")
> [@bobkitty](#): > > I believe that Indiana has the highest number of KKK _groups_, which is a fine distinction to make when you’re talking about ridiculous stupidity. KKK membership in Indiana at its height was at something like [250,000 members](http://web.archive.org/web/20080411163028/http://www.centerforhistory.org/indiana_history_main7.html), or a third of adult males. Googling, Klan membership in CT at its height was at something like [15,000](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Stamford,_Connecticut#Ku_Klux_Klan_in_Stamford) (at around the same time period as maximum membership in Indiana). That’s a bit less then 1% of the total population, and presumably something less then 3% of the adult male population. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/26 "2013-04-01T14:13:41Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Aha!, You’ve found a slip-up in the language of an Imperial Wizard of the KKK, revealing his subtle, deeply hidden racism. Yeah, well, I _am_ really really smart… _blush_ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/27 "2013-04-01T14:54:21Z")
> [@bobkitty](#): > > (shrug) There is an active KKK ranch . . . 😕 White cows only? ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/28 "2013-04-01T15:31:45Z")
Right in the heart of Skald country. I see the forecast calls for flying monkeys flinging flaming poo. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/29 "2013-04-01T17:58:22Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > “Ohh, ohhh, Tennessee. The devil fools with the best laid plans..” > Memphis.. Welcome to the 21st century. > Holy living fuck. > “Swing low, Tennessee” > [http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/national/kkk-plans-rally-in-memphis-saturday-to-celebrate-white-peoples-rights](http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/national/kkk-plans-rally-in-memphis-saturday-to-celebrate-white-peoples-rights) Dude, those were OUT OF TOWNERS. We changed the name of the three Confederate-themed parks, and white supermacists from out of the area decided to try to start something. I can’t see how Memphis can be blamed for that. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/30 "2013-04-01T18:00:55Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Right in the heart of Skald country. > > I see the forecast calls for flying monkeys flinging flaming poo. Evil!Skald, being evil, would have been manipulating the situation for his own profit, though admittedly he’d have murdered all the Klansmen after the fact. But Real!Skald just shrugged, stayed home, played with the baby, and baked cookies. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/31 "2013-04-01T19:54:17Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Grand Klaxon Dragon Orville Reddenbacher Without Googling for it, I just know that a “klan name generator” exists somewhere on the 'net. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/32 "2013-04-01T20:00:16Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Dude, those were OUT OF TOWNERS. We changed the name of the three Confederate-themed parks, and white supermacists from out of the area decided to try to start something. I can’t see how Memphis can be blamed for that. Thank you so much. Memphis didn’t want this rally, but there’s a little thing called Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Assembly in this country, which means the KKK can demonstrate if they so choose. So some racist pieces of shit from other states\* can come over and act like dicks. It could happen anywhere. They were NOT welcome, believe me. \*and sure, probably a few home growns, but that wasn’t the bulk of the crowd ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/33 "2013-04-01T21:25:40Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Evil!Skald, being evil, would have been manipulating the situation for his own profit, though admittedly he’d have murdered all the Klansmen after the fact. > > But Real!Skald just shrugged, stayed home, played with the baby, and baked cookies. Just so long as they’re evil cookies. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/34 "2013-04-01T21:59:42Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Dude, those were OUT OF TOWNERS. We changed the name of the three Confederate-themed parks, and white supermacists from out of the area decided to try to start something. I can’t see how Memphis can be blamed for that. Fair enough. I only called out Memphis because that was where the gathering was planned. Kudos to Memphis and Tn. for re-naming the parks. (Is one of the parks now called Duck Dunn?) ---
**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:** [April 1, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/35 "2013-04-01T22:09:14Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Fair enough. I only called out Memphis because that was where the gathering was planned. Not to be ingracious, but what that really means is that you called out Memphis without getting your facts straight. I think you owe us an apology. > [@](#): > > Kudos to Memphis and Tn. for re-naming the parks. (Is one of the parks now called Duck Dunn?) The names are still up in the air. Forrest Park is now Health Sciences Park; Jefferson Davis Park is Riverside (I think); and the third, I dunno. And you may not wish to give your kudos to the entire state. We renamed the parks so quickly because the state Legislature was moving to prohibit the City Council for doing so at all. And the City Council was doing so because the city administration had removed a big honking granite marker recently donated by a group of people still better about the way the Civil War ended. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/36 "2013-04-01T22:20:41Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Not to be ingracious, but what that really means is that you called out Memphis without getting your facts straight. I think you owe us an apology. > > The names are still up in the air. Forrest Park is now Health Sciences Park; Jefferson Davis Park is Riverside (I think); and the third, I dunno. > > And you may not wish to give your kudos to the entire state. We renamed the parks so quickly because the state Legislature was moving to prohibit the City Council for doing so at all. And the City Council was doing so because the city administration had removed a big honking granite marker recently donated by a group of people still better about the way the Civil War ended. So, apologize to Memphis but not the entire state? Or..what? I’ll apologize to you personally, and any Tn. resident who was offended by my thread, but it sounds like your state politicians can all go take a flying fuck at a rolling noose. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/37 "2013-04-01T22:28:41Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Grand Klaxon Dragon Orville Reddenbacher Please be kidding about this. A quick search turns up nothing. Back To The OP I’ve heard, and it’s certainly credible, that Pennsylvania has a high rate of Klan membership. It is definitely true that outside of a few big cities, the population are largely hicks who hate change and anybody who is different. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/38 "2013-04-01T22:42:00Z")
(Starting a crowd energizing chant…) Duck Dunn Park! Duck Dunn Park! Duck Dunn Park! (energized crowd taking up chant…) **Duck Dunn Park!** **Duck Dunn Park** **Duck Dunn Park** ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/39 "2013-04-01T22:52:51Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Fair enough. I only called out Memphis because that was where the gathering was planned. Kudos to Memphis and Tn. for re-naming the parks. (Is one of the parks now called Duck Dunn?) Well, considering they waited until 2013 to change the names, maybe only half-kudos. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369/40 "2013-04-01T23:53:37Z")
I just looked up some crowd estimates. The “estimate” for klansmen was 61, which is a pretty fuckin’ precise “estimate”. So much for Edward’s claim of “hundreds”. To be fair, he said he could hardly keep count, so he had real problems when the numbers went beyond 10. OTOH, more than 1300 people showed up to protest against them. I saw a march like this back in DC about 30 years ago. A promise (or threat) of hundreds, and maybe 50-100 showed up. It was impossible to tell though. They were completely boxed in by big cops riding big horses. You could see some swishing robes if you looked under the horses bellies, and some banners held high in the air, but that was it. And whatever they might have been saying was completely drowned out by thousands of people who showed up to heckle them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-21st-century/654369.md?page=3)