Letter to the Editor: In response to hateful posters at UNF
November 18, 2017
Friday walking from my class to the vending machine, I saw many posters hastily made and crudely thought out. They read, “Boycott all stores and restaurants on campus until the Nazi is gone.”
As a student of UNF, we have an obligation to see the truth in all things. I encourage all students to not get caught up in the whirlwind of emotion surrounding the situation regarding the former member of a white supremacist group and his accusers. We have a duty to remain un-biased until we know the whole truth of what is going on.
The whole truth has yet been reveled and many are being fueled by ignorant emotion. This is young man’s life and future we are affecting with our words and actions. Let us not pass judgment without knowing the objective whole truth and be ready to embrace forgiveness for actions committed in the past that no longer have authority in the present time. Let us work towards not embittering our hearts in order to freely accept peace on this campus and in the world.
Kenneth Laybourn
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s.easterwood • Nov 19, 2017 at 8:19 am
“I’m Ken Parker, I’m a Nazi. Let SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) and the other clowns come at me, I will shut them down.” wtf is wrong with this school?
Cj Perkins • Nov 19, 2017 at 6:11 am
I completely understand why you would plead for due process concerning the circumstances that have taken place on campus. But the people of minority at this institution have been mocked, ridiculed and there for isolated from the rest of the osprey community. All of these assaults on our character have come from behind closed doors (i.e. dormroom videos, instagram/facebook post, & interviews.) This “former” kkk member that you speak of, still preaches and lives by the idiotic ideologies he learned when he was “Apart” of that organization. I was taught that “better the devil you kno, than the one you dont.” Meaning im glad that some were bold enough to put there names behind their comments, so i can give some respect to that. But, these threats are coming from those who are timid and shy. Mostly hiding behind closed doors or screens with their threats. Honestly, break down the post from the former member. Something along the lines of “IF they step up to me, Ill shut them down”that statement in itself speaks volumes that they’re ready to attack if provoked, basically retaliation. But you cant play the role of aggressor and victim at the same time. Where im from, your words have substance and you stand behind what you say. You either do it or you dont. Sadly, you’re way of line to call others ignorant in say that we’re messing up this young mans life. First of all, he made it his business to post a threating message to a specific group of people. He also made this threat from a personal account showcasing his identity when his first one was anonymous. Secondly, this man is not young, you cant chalk this up to “kids being kids” buddy is close to 40 years old. Finally, you’re a student yourself; meaning you know how formulate and argument. Dont stand up for only one side, chastize the other and ask for everyone to be forgiving. Thats lame. Either you want peace and prosperity or dont. The truth is, a boiling point is being reached on campus. The lack of direction and leadership is causing tensions to rise exponentially throughtout the student body. Those that have singled out and threatened others on campus havent been dealt with which leaves all the room for a reaction. I can guarantee you; that is not something that this university nor President Delaney would not want to take place on its campus.
P.S. i also ask you to be careful with how you use the word ignorant.
Sandy • Nov 19, 2017 at 12:15 am
He isn’t that young, and his actions occured last week and for many years previous.
Kyle • Nov 18, 2017 at 11:06 pm
Honestly I’m just bothered about the “former” in the second paragraph not having consistent italics
Jensen Alex • Nov 18, 2017 at 6:43 pm
Kenneth:
You italicized ‘former’, as if there is some chance that Ken Parker has repudiated a past version of himself and grown since he left the Klan. This is not within the realm of possibility, given that he proudly displays his swastika tattoo and a firearm while directly threatening a UNF RSO —emphasizing that he is “WHITE” and “PROUD”. He is still actively tied to white nationalist groups around Florida (verifiable on Facebook), who intend to demonstrate in solidarity with Parker on Monday. You are framing this situation as if Parker has merely been accused of some misbehavior that happened in private, and that there is no way to verify whether or not he is at fault. This is decidedly NOT the case: he has very publicly and very explicitly made a violent threat that demonstrates that he is still a militant white supremacist.
You are asking us, Kenneth, to refrain from passing judgment. But you are clearly passing a judgment of quietism. You are ignoring the ENORMOUS amounts of EXPLICIT evidence that this man is a violent bigot, and choosing to give him some kind of benefit of the doubt. You are judging him as someone who has only been accused, who might not have done anything wrong. You —not us— should work towards becoming more aware of what has happened, what it means, and why us people of color have the right to be angry.