An anonymous tipster emailed us about a disturbing story out of dirty Jersey:
A family who had supported Barack Obama’s presidential campaign emerged from their home in the northwestern New Jersey town of Hardwick Thursday morning to find the charred remnants of a 6-foot wooden cross on their front lawn.
Pieces of a homemade bedsheet banner reading “President Obama , Victory ’08,” which had been stolen from the yard the night before, also were found, leading investigators to believe the banner had been wrapped around the cross before it was set afire.
Lt. Gerald Lewis of the New Jersey State Police said his agency is treating the incident as a bias crime. [philly.com]
And why is that?
“Even though the victims are not African-American, it is being treated as a bias crime,†Jones said, noting the combination of a cross — a “well-known icon†— and Obama’s race. [PoconoRecord]
Obama received a mere 38% of the votes cast in Hardwick. The area is rather snowy:
As of the census of 2000…The racial makeup of the township was 97.06% White, 0.61% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.89% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.32% of the population. [wikiwiki wikiwiki]
So to recap: the evening before the cross-burning, Gary Grewal noticed that the homemade sign his Cuban-American wife and eight-year old daughter made to celebrate Obama’s win was missing. He called the police to report its theft. The next morning, while he prepared to drop off little Arianna at school, she recognized the remains of her banner, near the charred cross.
“She saw it, that’s what bothered me the most,” Grewal said Thursday. “You can imagine the types of questions she was asking. It was very tough to explain.” [philly.com]
More from Mrs. Grewal:
“It’s so sad. This is such a cute, quaint town. There’s so much hate and anger, and it shouldn’t be that way. We’re all Americans regardless of our personal affiliations.†[PoconoRecord]
People are speaking out against the crime, according to Uncle G:
In response to the incident, Grewal said several Hardwick residents called them to show support.
Though Gary Grewal is originally from India, he is adamant in his belief the crime was not a personal one. He said he was scared upon finding the cross, but had to “sugarcoat†the situation because his daughter was with him.
“It’s unnerving. A couple people can undo the reputation of the entire town,†he said [PoconoRecord]
The Grewals live in a Republican nabe, and reported that Obama signs were regularly stolen from their lawn; interestingly enough, Mrs. Grewal noticed that signs for other democratic candidates whom she supported were left untouched.
Grewal’s wife, Alina, whose parents left Fidel Castro’s Cuba to come to America, was active with the Obama campaign in the county. She said several Obama signs have been stolen from her lawn, but never the other Democratic candidates.
Instead of being intimidated, Gary and Alina Grewal have been emboldened.
“I don’t want anyone to dictate to me and my family how to live,” Alina Grewal said. [nj.com]
Her husband had this to say:
“I’m not going to be intimidated by something like this,” Grewal said. “I don’t go on anyone’s property and do this. God forbid if I was African-American. We’re living in the 21st century, and we’ve got to be afraid to express our beliefs?”[philly.com]
Poor Arianna. An eight-year old shouldn’t feel threatened, just for happily painting a bedsheet:
Grewal described his community as a nice place “with many wonderful people.” But he said his daughter is afraid to sleep in her room, knowing someone was on the lawn while they were home.[philly.com]
I think with parents this fierce, she’ll be okay:
Gary Grewal vowed to make an even larger Obama congratulatory banner. [nj.com]
All right, which of you mutineers grew up in Hardwick and will now regale us (anonymously, natch) with stories about how the klan is actually somewhat active nearby (or so I read, in a comment elsewhere)? Or are you surprised that this could happen, at all?
I just noticed that I sound like a smug a**hole in my last two posts. Not necessarily new for me, but I apologize. It’s just the internets, after all!
49 · Mr. Baseball said
Wow. The only person getting hot under the collar here is you. Looks like you were looking for an opportunity for us foreign heathens to earn your spite. Not finding a just cause you just decided to spill your bile anyway. Quote all the scripture you want, you’ve just dispelled any notion that your brother’s sentimental recounting of Edenic Blairstown is coming from a good place.
“Louiecypher”? Are you sure that’s not “Lucifer”?
49 · Mr. Baseball said
Oh and Mr. Baseball. Most sane, truly religious Christians would identify the Grewals as the “meek” here. Looks like they are going to be huge in real estate during the End of Days
53 · Mr. Baseball said
If only Adam were more like “Mr. Baseball” and Eve were more like “Sarah Palin”, our progenitors would have said “Yuck !” when Lucifer offered them fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. We could have remained fat dumb and happy in
BlairstownHardwickI’m a Lawn Guyland transplant that now lives in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is underrated I will (begrudgingly) admit. But most places are, there are pockets of NJ, PA, and LI that are VERY racist, but honestly drive through pockets of the USA as a whole and you will encounter racism. I went to school in Central Illinois and I was scared for my life a few moments after 9/11 because I was brown. But I will not judge the entire city I lived in or the people, because of an ignorant few or because of some isolated incidents. But I’ve also encountered blatant racism because I was brown in Manhattan. If you classify anything/anyone under a stereotype you will sorely miss out on the good parts. As for hunting, my close friend who lives in a North Shore community of Long Island hunts several times a month, attends a Christian church regularly and voted for McCain, and despite;) all that, he is a wonderful person. Oh, and he’s also Malayalee.
Am I the only one here who thinks Obama looks desi?
Anyway, regarding racism. By who’s definition?
I’ve met plenty of old people who grew up during segregation and while they DO NOT want to see a return to those days and they believe strongly that all citizens of USA should have equal legal rights and oppurtunities, they will not move into neighborhoods that are even 50% black. By someone’s definition they would be considered racist and by someone else’s they wouldn’t be.
Then you have people who live in mutil racial and multi cultural neighborhoods but only associate with “their own kind”. Then you have people who although moving in multi-culti and multi-racial social circles will only date and marry their own kind. (Most desis I know fall into one of these last two categories).
So where do we draw the line? Who’s definition of “racist” is the one true god?
And this,
, is simply not true.
Whites who with Obama from the get-go were with him till the end. And whites who weren’t with him from the get-go due to the color of his skin, did NOT vote for him in the end. They either crossed parties over to McCain OR they didn’t vote at all.
You seem to be forgetting that a large chunk of voters are baby-boomers who fought for the ideals of equality, peace and love back in the 1960s. Or at least they talked about it alot and sat in on a sit-in or made love in a love-in somewhere, tambourines, incense and all.
Come on y’all. Don’t hide your Jersey pride. I’m moving from nj to Brooklyn next year! NJ and I – just not meant to be.
moving to Brooklyn, eh? Well… don’t move to Bay Ridge or Bensonhurst anytime soon, not unless you have a thick skin. (Speaking as a new Desi Bay Ridge resident who routinely gets to hear racist comments… yummmm….)
Its a story like this that makes me recall Senator Geary’s words to Michael Corleone cursing him for coming out to this ‘good clean country’ (Nevada!!)…with his ‘oily hair’.
Bandman and his bro:
How do you know the motives of these individuals are what you say they are? Just sounds like your projecting your own grievances with America onto the terrorists. Are you related to Noam Chomsky?
Well he does have that “wheatish complexion”, seen as “fair skinned” in the indian subcontinent, that is so cherished among desis.
I can’t speak for anyone else but myself.
I do NOT know what the intention of the person(s) that came onto this couple’s property was. I simply wanted to express my thoughts on what was once a nice community and the frustrations of friends and relatives that still live there. That does not mean there are not good people around. I’m sure there are. If you look at all I have written, I gave examples of how some of the older residents feel even now of how things have changed over the years. Change IS inevitable but that doesn’t mean that everyone has to like it. Before anyone says, “well if you don’t like it then leave”, ….the older residents can’t and won’t because this has been their home their entire lives. They just long for the good ‘ol days when they knew everyone and felt comfortable with their lives. That is why I made reference to Mayberry in last night’s message.
I find it hard for anyone to think of what I have said and ask if I know or am related to Noam Chomsky. I’m as far away from liberalism and socialism as one can get. I yearn for the old days too and wish that everyone would just read my comments as someone who used to live in that area and wish it could be quiet and peaceful and fun as it used to be.
I hope that nothing like this happens again….anywhere in this country of ours. Yes, I am subserviant to GOD. If more people were than this old world of our would be a much better place. (John 3:16)
This is my last post.
louiecypher – I thought Mr Baseball was being sarcastic.
Unfortunately, post election there is a lot of bitterness and hate on the other side of the coin. I have read more vitriol than you can shake a stick at across message boards and blogs alike these past days. I’m not surprised that this family woke up to find the remnants of a burning cross on their lawn; I’m shocked that we’re not hearing about more of these incidents, given the intense level of anger out here amongst certain disgruntled Republicans.
Danke! ‘Good old days’ cannot be a good peddling excuse for racism (John 4:20)
49 · Mr. Baseball said
While this satire is truly brilliant, let’s not knock on Bandman so much. He has put forth his opinion in a civil way, he has provided enough context, and he himself states that the nostalgia felt by longtime residents of the place does not in any way condone such attacks.
I look at this differently…to me, what this is saying is that even though the area is nearly 100% white, more than a third voted for Obama…that’s quite a lot of Obama supporters for this purportedly racist area…although admittedly less than the national average for white voters this election.
68 · Amitabh said
That third must be the damn outsiders who defiled the idyll of the other 67%. May as well have peed in their mint juleps. Or whatever these “i’m not racist but hopelessly sentimental” folks imbibe north of the Mason-Dixon line.
Having lived in a southern town for a couple of years, one word that comes to my mind when looking at all the colored immigrants who take the racism directed at them lying down low is “vapid”. Southern towns treat colored people and immigrants , with even a slight accent, worse than animals and what is surprising is that these people due to fear accept take it and keep quiet. What I observed is that due to fear of institutions, of the racism in the government, of living as a minority among a hostile majority , of the police which can sometimes turn biased, keeps even legal immigrants in constant fear and trepidation. Another reason could be hope, of making some money for their families(which just remains a distant dream for many), even at the expense of facing scorn, hate and mistreatment, and the fear of losing the opportunity. What is unbelievable is that the American government parades America abroad as the land of equal opportunity for everyone and the ultimate egalitarian paradise inviting the whole world to study, invest and work. What it does not reveal to them is that it is a home to some of the most bitter, bigoted, supercilious people in the world, especially down south, who are fed biased notions by their own media and government of foreigners (whether legal or illegal) as enemies and as morally depraved, corrupt and poor, irrespective of the reality. What is have seen is that often colored people, including blacks who are supposedly here for generations, have convinced themselves to hate anyone of color, including themselves, now they do it very subconsciously, without even a reason to do so. For children of immigrants, this can seriously hinder their mental growth and development. Maybe with time, this will change and at-least legal immigrants are given a fair deal. And in return, maybe they will find a voice to speak up for themselves.
cant we all just get along?
I can’t believe Bandman is being serious. This is what John 3:16 says:
Mr. Baseball, that was phenomenal.
Now that McCain has more time in his hands, maybe Grewals can employ his services. I think he must be good in keeping people of his lawns 🙂
We ban for switching handles on the same thread. If you’ve already commented, stick to the same handle (name, alias, whatever).
VoiceOfReason:
“Fear and trepidation?” Really? Don’t you think that’s overselling it a little? I grew up in one of those deep Southern towns and I came out of it okay. Still proud to be Indian, still Hindu, and still have little patience of ignorance and racism. I won’t deny that there were some rare circumstances in which I did encounter invidious racism and more often dealt with that casual patronizing condescension that some folks tend to have. I also will not deny that I sometimes found myself watching what I said and how I carried myself on account of how I looked.
But really, it wasn’t that bad. The majority of people I interacted with were generally normal, respectful, and decent folks. Even some of those patronizing types may have come off as condescending, but they meant well. But you make it sound like we Desis in the Bible belt are living like Anne Franke or something. Really, there are times and places that kind of suck. But we get by and we’re generally pretty happy with our lot.
perhaps you should take a cue from mayberry. try quiet and unassuming for a change. i don’t see how cross-burning qualifies as a legitimate means of ‘expressing discontent with how one’s native land has changed.’ and i don’t see displaying a yard sign as obama as upsetting the natural order of things. unless you do believe that having a capable black man as president somehow defies nature and social propriety. the burning-cross was misdirected rage; hardly an expression of nostalgia.
in the america i know and love (and perhaps sentimentalize), industriousness, merit, and the courage to speak up are supposed to be commended and rewarded (regardless of the origin of people who cultivate them).
“anna” —- I’ll directly answer the question you posed before the “blogging” began. I grew up in Hardwick (about one mile from the site of this incident), and still have family there. My family has been there for at least 100 years. “The Klan” has never been there. When I was growing up, people didn’t push their politics or religion on others. We left our houses and cars unlocked. If there was any mischief, (when I was in high school) it was “house egging” or “mailbox baseball”. I lived through the murders of President John Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Viet Nam War; and wasn’t aware of any of it until learning of it in school later on. We didn’t know what drugs looked like. Guns and knives were used to harvest and clean deer, rabbits, pheasants, and squirrels. My parents thought our generation was bad compared to theirs. Then when my oldest son went through high school recently, my youth didn’t seem so bad. There’re a lot of things different today, most of them for the worse for someone who’s “old school” like myself (reference the commentary in this blog alone; or even that there is such a thing as a blog). What happened at the Grewals’ home wasn’t representative of Hardwick Township, N.J., rather “a sign of the times”. Considering the direction we’re heading in, all I can say is: God help us all.
77 · Mr. Baseball said
I like how there are quotes around it like that’s allegedly her name.
I am sincerely curious; why is the existence of blogs an example of difference or change “for the worse”? You’re reading and engaging others via this blog by leaving your comments. You’re sharing your views with people who wouldn’t have otherwise heard them. Call me an idiotic optimist, but that seems like something better, not worse.
The post says that other Hardwick residents called the Grewals out of support, so I think that anyone with adequate reading comp skills and a functioning brain should be able to understand that this ugly incident isn’t representative of that town. Having said that, if what happened is a “sign of the times”, then that’s some shitty time we’re in.
Amusingly eough, Andy Griffith endorsed Obama. Think he would’ve gotten a cross burned on his lawn?
72 · Quant on November 9, 2008 10:33 PM · Direct link · “Quoteâ€(?) I can’t believe Bandman is being serious. This is what John 3:16 says:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Why do you not think that Bandman is serious? Because he quoted scripture?
at least it’s better than the ‘you “people”‘ made in his earlier remark – as if we are only allegedly people. and i don;t even know to which “people” he is referring…
80 · NASCAR guy said
When, we look at Bandman’s original quote,
I can’t help thinking that he expects everybody to share his religious beliefs in order for the world to “be a much better place.” I am not religious, but I was raised in a devout Christian household. I find the implication above to be deeply un-Christian. And I could not believe that he was being serious in quoting that.
Let’s keep in mind that this 97% white district voted 38% for Obama.
38 · Bandman said
Not to mention its the place where Kurt Cobain really met his end.
79 · Mary Mary Not Contrary said
Oh, this is too perfect. Andy Griffith is both the symbol of small town, “real America” AND he endorsed the “anti-Christ” for president so he could “destroy all of us”. Anyone who accuses Bandman of unable to embrace nuanced views is clearly wrong.
49 · Mr. Baseball said
Ah, so it’s genetic. That explains everything.
The way that I read Bandman and Mr.Baselball’s comments are that they liked how things used to be in the area they grew up in. I think their original comments were to tell everyone how the community used to be but after others questioned why they were saying that then they (most Mr. Baseball) got upset and said some other things …. ie: anti-Christ.
Looks that that will probably happen to me as well since someone has already had something negative to say about my comment questioning why someone is talking down to Bandman for quoting scripture. I agree with him on that point. There was alot said before the election about quotes from the candidates about religion and about the Pledge of Allegiance being spoken or not. This country was founded by people who fled their homeland because of religious persecution….but it has always been a Christian nation. There are a multitude of different people in America because of the opportunities we have here versus other places but the day that our country has to change our beliefs (and maybe even language) because others that come here do not learn our language and do things as we do then it is a sad state of affairs.
GOD bless the USA is not just a song (although it is a good one).
Go Blue said
The post says that other Hardwick residents called the Grewals out of support, so I think that anyone with adequate reading comp skills and a functioning brain should be able to understand that this ugly incident isn’t representative of that town. Having said that, if what happened is a “sign of the times”, then that’s some shitty time we’re in.
I agree with this last sentence. The world right now is not going in the direction that it should. Maybe that is why Bandman quoted scripture? Works for me. I agree with John 3:16.
I heard about this story just last night and Googled to get more information. I’m reading all of these comments and to be honest, the first sentence at the TOP of the story page probably started alot of the comments made by these former residents.
— An anonymous tipster emailed us about a disturbing story out of dirty Jersey: — (there were others like it too)
I know that if someone talked about my home that way then I’d probably get a little defensive.
86 · NASCAR guy said
Believing in John 3:16 is fine and quoting scripture is fine. But the implications of quoting scripture in that context are nefarious.
Believing in John 3:16 is fine and quoting scripture is fine. But the implications of quoting scripture in that context are nefarious.
WHY?
What does John 3:16 have to do with a burning cross on a lawn in response to a political sign? If you can answer that, I will certainly answer “WHY”.
The reference of John 3:16 is a personal statement of faith. I was used first by Bandman and then by me. I can’t talk for Bandman but I see it as a way to try and ease the tension from comments written to him in response of his statements.
I think that Bandman just picked the wrong place to write his feelings about how things used to be. As JJ said in # 87, he probably didn’t like the statement at the beginning of the article before the blog… — An anonymous tipster emailed us about a disturbing story out of dirty Jersey: —
I am not condoning burning a cross on anyone’s lawn or terrorizing anyone but from what I am reading, this used to be or is a quiet community where people keep to themselves. Perhaps the people who did it didn’t like the fact they were SO BIG? or maybe they are in fact racists? I don’t know. There was never a racist attitude in my hometown community when I grew up. The only time I ever saw anything like that was on TV. I think the media makes alot out of little bits of things to get their stories but then those tidbits fuel fires for other things….like this. It IS a shame that something like that can happen anywhere in America.
85 · NASCAR guy said
You mean the way white European colonialists did to the Native Americans here? BTW, this country is founded on slavery, genocide, rape, and the systemic oppression of groups of people, which you evidently don’t know about? Seriously, I’m sick of that line of thought that NASCAR guy spouts. You’re not in third grade anymore. Get some perspective on the subject–white people aren’t indigenous to North America. And before you spout the “why come here then” line…white European colonialists ruined our countries too.
Hey #29,
I can really appreciate your comments. Please remember the same sentiments when you are in an area where you are different and not just because you weren’t born there. Stinkin Pink Ape.
95,
LOL. Couldn’t agree with you more man. How about the epithet Dog Worshipper. Can’t find one who isn’t french kissing his or her poodle at night. Aww did that hurt your feelings nascar. So sorry, not really. Now get on a cow with male parts and ride em. Yee Haw, Cowjockey.
You mean the way white European colonialists did to the Native Americans here? BTW, this country is founded on slavery, genocide, rape, and the systemic oppression of groups of people, which you evidently don’t know about? Seriously, I’m sick of that line of thought that NASCAR guy spouts. You’re not in third grade anymore. Get some perspective on the subject–white people aren’t indigenous to North America. And before you spout the “why come here then” line…white European colonialists ruined our countries too.
Yet the amazing thing is that every single person of desi background had someone in there family that chose to come to this country. They came to this country knowing the history of slavery and oppression of african americans and they still came.
Can anybody here say that if instead of people from Europe, that 600 years ago that people from somewhere else in the world had come to North America that they would have treated the natives any better.
Where are you clueless hayseeds coming from? “Dirty Jersey” is a POSITIVE slang phrase (see: below from Urban Dictionary). You really must be from an overwhelmingly white place because it’s a hip-hop thing. Additionally, the blogger herself stands up for New Jersey in the comments, early on, so why is there so much misplaced joy to blame her for subtly racist, backwards-assed comments left by some good ol’ boys? Damn, son, remedial English never seemed so important.
Ah! finally, someone!
Yes Virginia, he does look desi. His beevi, minus the expensive wardrobe, looks a somewhat slim version of the aadivasi maid who used to sweep our yard, and he himself looks somewhat like her hubby who used to work in the fields.
God, the guy claims to have had a desi roommate sometime back to get some of that desi business’ campaign contribution and desis are ready to marry their daughters to him.
99 · oruvan said
enda ivvalavu veruppu?