Racism in FSW ?

[Thor.500]

I'm still far from having read all of the posts here in the forum, and I still haven't met very many members, so I don't think I have enough to base a well-founded opinion yet, but I haven't seen any hint of racism among the members I've met, or the writings of the group as a whole.
I read the posts from Amagi, and I was a bit surprised, and I do wonder where that impression came from. I can say that before I joined this forum, I had heard rumours equating FSW with skinheads and other similar groups, but after looking into FSW I see no reason to believe those rumours.
I can't speak to the specific reasons Amagi decided to step out of the debates, but I do have to wonder if it might not have been an inherent suspicion of all things right of center, which has been attributed to any private groups because of folks like skinheads...et al.
I have to admit that I was inclined to expect a negative experience at first. In part because there are some fringe groups out there, and of course, the worst of them always get all of the press. Nevertheless I was pleased to see that FSW bears no resemblance to those kinds of groups.
Here in the forum, I find as much to disagree with as I find to agree, but I expected that. It wouldn't be natural to agree on everything, and what would be the point?
Still, I suppose that it unfortunately comes with the territory to occasionally deal with misplaced stigma, when those outside the group have few examples other than the negative ones upon which to form an opinion, and lets face it, in this time and place, media has made all things conservative a prime target for propaganda.
I'd be interested to hear from any of you who have an opinion about the subject, and I really hope that others like Amagi will keep an open mind and put in their two cents if only to keep it fresh. The best thing about individual freedoms is the freedom to be an individual.

[manfromnevada]

I'm more intersted in what values a person has than what color his skin is or what his ancestry is. I think most people here have similar beliefs.

But yes, being thought of as a "free stater" brings certain stereotypes to mind. We are trying hard to change that.

But I'm as guilty as most people who sometimes assume that a person of a certain ethnic background will behave or think in a certain way based only upon that one characteristic. It's easy to do. Often it's upon getting to know a person that you find out you were dead wrong.

Anywaaz, that's my take on it.
Mac

[bobcat]

Rumors are rumors and are to be treated as the worthless and devisive objects that they are.  They are generally found to not have much if any truth and I, personally, find them to be an utter waste of time and harmful.  Like you Thor, I prefer to form my own opinion with personal contact.  Those that I come into contact with that insist on continually using rumors in conversation for whatever reason are shown 'the door' as I see them as emotionally and likely intellectually bankrupt.  They are not peacemakers, but chaos initiators.  I prefer to be around peacemakers.  Just my not so humble opinion.

That's actually the first I've heard the deplorable 'skinhead' moniker used here.  Can you state a source?  No, probably not, thus, the rumor?  Acually, I don't care. 

However some of us are 'hair challenged'. So don't confuse an observation like that with any association of that other deplorable word.

At no time in conversation with others at FSW events or in their homes or on the range have I heard overt prejudicial comments.  Could there be any such comments and I didn't hear them?  Sure, it's possible.  If so, I suspect no more so than what you would expect to hear elsewhere.  Yes, racism and other negative human behavior does get discussed in objective ways, as it would in many liberty circles, but certainly not in a supportive manner.  Could there be closet racists around?  Possibly, but I rather doubt it as conversation and sentiment here simply doesn't support that kind of behavior.  We have bigger and better things to do with our time, energy and $$. 

For the official FSW position, I would suggest you take a look at the FAQ section on the FSW.org site:

http://freestatewyoming.org/free-state-wyoming-faq.html#racial_diversity

Besides, if BTP gets wind of the kind of negative human behavior that you have suggested (as rumor) he'll likely take corrective action quickly and decisively.  He's done so on other issues.  He is quite protective (and rightly so) of the reputation of FSW.

Thor, hope this helps.  Keep in mind, this is just my opinion and experience that I've related to you.  I've been around these folks for nearly three years now and have yet to see anything approaching what you had 'heard'.

[Paul Bonneau]

I'm curious to hear where these rumors about skinheads come from. Let us know if you recall. Always interesting to trace it back to the source, if possible.

It's commonplace for the media Ministry of Propaganda to portray the inland west as backwaters, full of those nasty Christians you know, and certainly MUST be racist because there aren't many dark skinned people around.   Idaho particularly has that reputation. Of course it is all nonsense. The only time I ever had a run-in with a skinhead (I have an interracial marriage) was in nice, liberal, enlightened downtown Portland, Oregon.

Every once in a great while someone makes an untoward remark around here. Let's face it, we are humans, not angels, and all carry some baggage around. But such a remark usually draws some probing questions right away.

[wayneborngesser]

(I have an interracial marriage)

What race, other than human, did you marry? I hate using "their" terms.
Sarcasm, in case it is misconstrued.

[Thor.500]

   Yeah guys. My experience has been much the same here, and if I'd had any clear indication otherwise, I doubt I would bother to stick around and debate with you all.
   I did indeed hear the rumours with my own ears, and I would relate the names to you if I felt it would be in any way helpful, but I really believe that it was just the typical predjudice you might expect from people who have never actually looked into the facts and are thus just as ignorant as they falsely believe us to be.
I'm in full agreement with (was it Boston?) who related it to the undue influence of the elitist propaganda ministry, (erroneously referred to as "the mainstream media), which promotes this sort of slander. It's not much different from the way they promote an anti-gun agenda by reporting about crimes comitted with semiautomatic weapons and showing film clips of full-auto weapons in the backdrop. I catch myself screaming at the tube everytime I see that kind of crap.
   It was also pointed out to me that I failed to mention that the friend who introduced me to the FSW group is Jewish, so it is quite ironic to hear such nonsense from folks who clearly need to examine their own predjudice before labeling others.
   All the same, I think it can't hurt to maintain some dialog about this subject from time to time, if only to let it be known by those who aren't sure, that we don't approve of that kind of negative view.

[Boston]

I just had lunch with a gun-class student, a black lady who recently moved to NH from NY.
So much for my own racism!   

No, seriously, thanks for your posts on this, and in particular to bobcat
who linked the FSW FAQ on the subject.  That, and our track record,
speak well enough to the point. 

Boston

[Thor.500]

    I'm very glad to see that most of these replies  illustrate that we all seem to be on the same page on the subject. It isn't fair to be lumped in with groups who, (by my estimation) only seem to share a similar view of second amendment rights with us, and little if anything else. I'm also thankful that we have this venue in which we can differentiate ourselves from them, (since it's highly unlikely that the national media will ever be our friends in that effort).
    I'll bet you can tell that I have little faith in the media as a whole.