- Joined
- Nov 6, 1999
- Messages
- 2,639
Reading this thread reminds me of how much this community needed and misses James Mattis. We could use a good dose of his gentle, rational, and non-confrontational thinking here.
In regards to the knife in question, I have seen these items. I know people collect them for reasons that are not directly connected to personal racism. These are historical objects that can be of interest to collectors for many different reasons. Many people of all colors collect 'black' memorabilia. Many people collect WWII memorabilia. Many people collect artificats of cultures that espoused dreadful and hateful views towards other peoples.
I do not think these sort of collections say very much about the owners attitudes towards other people. They MAY represent the owners own racism, but maybe not.
I would not personally want to own such a knife, or any other KKK related items, but I read an article a couple of years ago about an African American man who collected all sorts of KKK items (including a knife like this). He had the interesting, dangerous, and courageous hobby of trying to get to personally know members of the clan. Many of them had never actually talked to a 'black' person, or had ever been forced to confront their self evident humanity on equal terms. Apparently, this brave man had managed to change the attitudes of more than a few ignorant and baselessly hateful people. He used his collection as a tool, and a reminder of a time better remembered, than lived.
Paracelsus, ruminating
In regards to the knife in question, I have seen these items. I know people collect them for reasons that are not directly connected to personal racism. These are historical objects that can be of interest to collectors for many different reasons. Many people of all colors collect 'black' memorabilia. Many people collect WWII memorabilia. Many people collect artificats of cultures that espoused dreadful and hateful views towards other peoples.
I do not think these sort of collections say very much about the owners attitudes towards other people. They MAY represent the owners own racism, but maybe not.
I would not personally want to own such a knife, or any other KKK related items, but I read an article a couple of years ago about an African American man who collected all sorts of KKK items (including a knife like this). He had the interesting, dangerous, and courageous hobby of trying to get to personally know members of the clan. Many of them had never actually talked to a 'black' person, or had ever been forced to confront their self evident humanity on equal terms. Apparently, this brave man had managed to change the attitudes of more than a few ignorant and baselessly hateful people. He used his collection as a tool, and a reminder of a time better remembered, than lived.
Paracelsus, ruminating
