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Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Re: The Ricin Letter

Posted by Charles Mudede on Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 8:56 AM

After reading the horrible ricin letter, the third thing on my mind: On one hand, a large number of black Americans have a problem with gays; on the other hand, a black American is not likely to send death threats to gay establishments or residences. The likely person is a white male. Why do we know this? Why are we so certain it's not a black male? Even if the threat came in the form of a text message or email or postcard, we would immediately picture the sender as a white male from some remote part of Idaho.

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Comments (55) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
What?

The letter may be on WHITE paper Charles, but the ink is BLACK. Looks like a fifty-fifty chance using your kind of discomboobulated "logic".


Posted by hartiepie on January 7, 2009 at 9:31 AM
2
Why do we know this?


Language. But then, we don't really "know" anything, do we?
Posted by shub-negrorath on January 7, 2009 at 9:34 AM
3
Your assumptions about black voters are DISGUSTINGLY IRRESPONSIBLE. Read the new study your of friggin blog linked to today. I can't believe ANYONE would still be promoting the "blacks are homophobes" meme. Listen up: It isn't about race, it's about political ideology and religion. Got it?
Posted by Laurel on January 7, 2009 at 9:36 AM
4
Actually, I first pictured an elderly Asian woman...
Posted by Hernandez on January 7, 2009 at 9:38 AM
5
Odd that he said "in hospital" instead of the more American "in the hospital."
Posted by Sam on January 7, 2009 at 9:38 AM
6
A Look Inside Mudede's Mind Upon Reading The Ricin Letter:
Thing 1: Boobs
Thing 2: Boobs
Thing 3: On one hand, a large number of black Americans have a problem with gays; on the other hand, a black American is not likely to send death threats to gay establishments or residences. The likely person is a white male. Why do we know this? Why are we so certain it's not a black male? Even if the threat came in the form of a text message or email or postcard, we would immediately picture the sender as a white male from some remote part of Idaho.
Posted by DOUG. on January 7, 2009 at 9:41 AM
7
Charles is right. If it was a black killer, it would have read as follows:

"Your establishment has been targeted. I gots in muh ma fuckin possesssion approximately 67 grams o' ricin wiff which I will indiscriminately target at least five o' yo' clients. No doubt, da authorities will be able ta trace all o' da dead ta uh total o' 11 locations in da Capitol Hill vicinity. Each location will gots at least five targets.

Given da amount o' exposure, I expect dem ta die painfully while in hospital. Doctors will initially mistake da symptoms fo' violent stomach flu; but organ failure occurring so quickly will make dem th'o't otherwise. Naturally, dere iz nahh antidote, nahh salve fo' they unimaginable pain. All I can say iz da targets won't care much dat they'll be dead an' nearly frozen, just as, presumably, dey didn't care dat dey wuz living...

This iz merely yo' warnin` fo' which ya can do nuttin' ta prevent me -- I gots always had tyme on muh ma fuckin side.
and shit. "
Posted by chris on January 7, 2009 at 9:42 AM
8
Wow, you've demonstrated that racial profiling works even on white people. Pardon me while I dance a lifeless, pallid jig.
Posted by breklor on January 7, 2009 at 9:43 AM
9
Charles,
Perhaps it's because only Black Americans experienced slavery?
"How on earth can you be the daughter of slaves and at the same time still be alive?"
(Next Up to Death by Charles Mudede)
Posted by Ignorance on January 7, 2009 at 9:43 AM
10
This idea is going to make so many people angry. But I have to admit, that is EXACTLY what I pictured when I read the letter. Well, I pictured white guy in Seattle, maybe Burien. But still.
Posted by me too on January 7, 2009 at 9:44 AM
11
The Stranger doesn't even have an obituary section, does it? Where you guys gonna post all them deaths? "I SAW YOU...dead?"
Posted by bucket on January 7, 2009 at 9:44 AM
12
Cris, at 7, has it.

"THIS."
Posted by Black Authors on January 7, 2009 at 9:45 AM
13
Perhaps there is something more psychologically satisfying in the act for a (pathological) white male than a (pathological) black male.

Making the standard generalizations, of course.

@1, I doubt it's truly a 50-50 chance. Profiling has come a long way, and crimes of this nature are its ideal realm.

In any case, we'll know for sure when the bastard is caught.
Posted by meg on January 7, 2009 at 9:46 AM
14
assumptions like these are why it took so long to find the DC sniper...
Posted by KatieDay on January 7, 2009 at 9:47 AM
15
Are we supposed to assume it's a white guy because blacks are generally less educated, and would resort to using blunter instruments such as a gun, and wouldn't understand the complexity of delivering a poison such as Ricin effectively?
Posted by Did I Pass My Racism Test? on January 7, 2009 at 9:47 AM
16
lololol @ 11's "I SAW U...dead"
Posted by happy renter on January 7, 2009 at 9:48 AM
17
@ 14, i totally agree with you.
Posted by mudede on January 7, 2009 at 9:50 AM
18
It's pretty obvious to me that it's written by a young asian woman who has been dumped by her long time boyfriend who only just came out of the closet and dumped her.
Posted by Steve Bradford on January 7, 2009 at 9:52 AM
19
@13 --Uh Meg.... check your sacarsm meter, please.

The way Charles came up with a White perpetrator was based on... was based on... hell, I don't know what he based it on except his own thoughts. Hence the idea that a letter that has black and white on it is fifty-fifty. It's as good a suposition as his.

Had Charlie done an ounce of research to support his conclusion, he would have been able to cite (correctly) that most such killers are indeed White. But what is presented here is based solely on Charles so-called mind.
Posted by hartiepie on January 7, 2009 at 9:54 AM
20
@14, good point!
Posted by meg on January 7, 2009 at 9:54 AM
21
Actually, I think Charles is right.

It probably is a white religious extremist is my guess.

A black guy would just cap you and get it done, not use ricin.
Posted by Will in Seattle on January 7, 2009 at 9:54 AM
22
Along with Obama in the White House- things are changing. Whites used to be the only serial nutters out there, but recently we have had Korean campus slayers, Black snipers and even Black mass necrophiliac rapists.

Free your mind Mr. Muede.
It is a brand new day.
Posted by Scott Dow on January 7, 2009 at 9:55 AM
23
The first person to pop into my head was Barbara Billingsley.
Posted by The Beav on January 7, 2009 at 10:00 AM
24
@19, yeah - shouldna cited you there. Meter switched back on.
Posted by meg on January 7, 2009 at 10:00 AM
25
"Why are we so certain it's not a black male?
Why?
Why?
Why?"

Because Charles assumes no black would be literate enough to write the letter.

There is no fool like a bigoted white yuppie queer racist fool. (those terms are redundant, aren't they)
Posted by LeRoi on January 7, 2009 at 10:03 AM
26
Well gee if we are going to get all stereotypey here, don't "they" say that women are more likely to use poison to kill? Are we ruling out a female because typically females don't commit mass murder like this? Because the language of the notes comes off as more masculine?

Also, why is everyone so willing to jump to the conclusion that it is a Christian religious zealot? I believe the world's largest and fastest growing religion has a thing or two against homosexuality themselves.

Sadly, though I'm trying to put up a good defense against stereotyping the person making the threats, I admit I would not be the least bit surprised if it turns out to be a white male extremist.
Posted by PopTart on January 7, 2009 at 10:10 AM
27
More racism on slog!
Posted by nothing to see here on January 7, 2009 at 10:12 AM
28
Yeah, but women don't tend to advertise it, PopTart.
Posted by Will in Seattle on January 7, 2009 at 10:12 AM
29
Where was it postmarked?
Posted by Justin on January 7, 2009 at 10:18 AM
30
Of course it's a white male, it looks like some kind of open threat that's supposed to scare the crap out of people. Black folks normally fire a warning shot, not a computer note spelling out everything they're about to do, that's a white man thing.
Posted by Chris on January 7, 2009 at 10:18 AM
31
26
Blame the Muslims!
That's the Ticket!!
Posted by allah on January 7, 2009 at 10:24 AM
32
According to the Wiki, castor beans are native to Eastern Africa and it is widely grown in Ethiopia. So I'm betting on a Black Ethiopian cabbie.
Posted by Eightway on January 7, 2009 at 10:27 AM
33
I blame slavery. For generations, there has been a process of genetic selection. Under that process, only the most dickish and arrogant whites would be able to reproduce, and naturally, their progeny today think it's acceptable to use violence to control the underclass.
Posted by nbc on January 7, 2009 at 10:30 AM
34
My theory:

White male power is typically expressed through superior intelligence and ingenuity: "I will use my awesome intellect to craft a plan so ingenious you can do nothing to stop it hahaha!"

Black male power is expressed through superior physical courage: "I will knock you out/ gat you. I aint scared of shit."

I think it has something to do with the history of slavery and racism and how power could be expressed among whites and blacks. Whites demonstrated dominance through mastery of the mainstream economy (getting rich from that ingeniously intricate subprime backed hedge fund). Blacks, being historically shut out of that system, made it through the underground economy, where physical toughness is a better barometer of success.

Thus a white man would send his enemy a letter threatening a diabolical plot, while a black man would simply open fire through the side door of the night club.
Posted by matt; on January 7, 2009 at 10:31 AM
35
@32, you forgot to include the Black Ethiopan cabbie's religion. Try again:
"I'm betting on a Black Ethiopian Muslim cabbie."
Posted by Religulous on January 7, 2009 at 10:31 AM
36
White men make up about 33% of the city of Seattle but almost 100% of the violent crime against non-black people. It's a safe assumption. When will these thugs join the rest of us in civilized society?
Posted by white men are dangerous and scary on January 7, 2009 at 10:35 AM
37
Also, you silly commenters, Charles is not saying the writer IS white, he is asking why the picture which pops into our heads is that of a white man rather than a black man. Don't tell me you didn't have the same mental image when you read the letter.
Posted by matt; on January 7, 2009 at 10:37 AM
38
As someone who grew up in Northern Idaho, back in the 1980s when the Aryan Nations had a "compound" only 90 miles north of where I lived, and who remembers that those skinheads tried to pipe bomb two gay bars in Seattle in the early 90s (and they couldn't even do THAT effectively)--I would wager that ricin is way above rural Idaho-redneck capabilities.

Just a guess.
Posted by Andy Niable, Former Idahomosexual on January 7, 2009 at 10:44 AM
39
White people have higher IQ than black people. That's a fact. Therefore the guy has to black and is stupid.
Posted by Monty on January 7, 2009 at 10:46 AM
40
@37,

You beat me to it, but, yeah. He's merely asking a question, guys.

I believe the world's largest and fastest growing religion has a thing or two against homosexuality themselves.


What religion would that be? Christianity is the largest religion. Islam is the fastest growing.
Posted by keshmeshi on January 7, 2009 at 10:58 AM
41
So let me get this right. If somebody gets shot at a hip-hop show, black people are responsible. If somebody sends a threatening letter to gay bars, white people are responsible.

Damn, that's a lot simpler than critical thinking!
Posted by Profiler on January 7, 2009 at 11:01 AM
42
Charles, you read way too much into everything.
Posted by east coaster on January 7, 2009 at 11:23 AM
43
@41, you've got it half right. If someone is shot at a hip hop show, while it's possible a black person was shooting, white people are still responsible since they oppressed that black man and denied him all opportunities to express himself in any other way.
Posted by ttt on January 7, 2009 at 11:55 AM
44
@ 39 and 41 I disagree, but you are entitled to your opinion.
Posted by matt; on January 7, 2009 at 11:58 AM
45
@40 I stand corrected, I thought Islam was now the world's largest religion as well as the fastest growing.

@31 Well, considering the religion of Islam isn't exactly a huge fan of homosexuality I'd say if we're considering religious extremists we might as well consider more than just the Christian ones.

Frankly, I think Dan's theory about a bitter gay man is the most clearly articulated thus far. And thankfully the majority of us on Slog aren't in law enforcement or a whole heck of a lot of innocent people would constantly be rounded up as suspects of major crimes.
Posted by PopTart on January 7, 2009 at 12:01 PM
46
...and that is the sound of the Slog jumping the shark. I'll just check in on the blogs you rip off for your few interesting posts and skip this kind of bullshit.

Mudede likes tits and overthinking architecture.
ECB hates cars.
Hiphop should be banned.
Dan hates heteros and pitbulls.
Paul doesn't post enough to make it worth it.
Posted by Postum on January 7, 2009 at 12:05 PM
47
Idaho skinheads don't read poetry, either.
Posted by Fnarf on January 7, 2009 at 12:14 PM
48
Ya think, mebbe, it's not that blacks are notably homophobe... but white gays are notably racist?

Posted by justsayin on January 7, 2009 at 12:20 PM
49
I'm starting to think it's someone who has a pit bull and is obsessed with them.

But, it's just a hunch.
Posted by Will in Seattle on January 7, 2009 at 12:41 PM
50
@37, thank you.
Posted by mudede on January 7, 2009 at 12:45 PM
51
ha, you're some fucking detective, mudede.
Posted by sherlock holmes on January 7, 2009 at 3:34 PM
52
what do you mean, sherlock holmes? your meaning is not understood.
Posted by mudede on January 7, 2009 at 4:02 PM
53
Event: “Capitol Hill Pub Crawl”
Date: Friday January 9th
Time: 8PM-2AM

11 Bars in the Capitol Hill area have received Death threats from anonymous letters graphically depicting the possible threat of Ricin poisoning.

On Friday Night January 9th 2009, 11 Bars operating in tandem to combat Hate and Fear, have organized a Capitol Hill PUB CRAWL. All people are encouraged to support our efforts to bring life to our local bars for support against Fear and Hatred posed to our local Gay community.
The Pub Crawl will began at 8pm and continues until 2am at all the 11 bars.
We ask that you gather your friends, pick a specific bar and work your way around the 11 establishments, we are trying not to get everyone at one point and move around together as most of the establishments cannot fit an overload of people at one time
The Elite 1520 E Olive Way (206) 860-0999
Neighbours 1509 Broadway (206) 324-5358
The Wildrose 1021 E Pike St (206) 324-9210
The Cuff 1533 13th Ave (206) 323-1525
Purr 1518 11th Ave (206) 325-3112
The Seattle Eagle 314 E Pike (206)621-7591
R Place 619 E Pine St(206) 322-8828
Re-bar 1114 Howell Street (206) 233-9873
C.C.Attle’s 1501 E Madison Street (206) 323-4017
Madison Pub 1315 E Madison St (206) 325-6537
The Crescent 1413 E Olive Way (206) 726-1774

And remember not to leave your beverage unattended
Peace and be safe


Posted by NAYSAYR on January 7, 2009 at 9:29 PM
54
Isn't that a little racist to assume if it's someone against gays they have to be white?
Posted by Lady Luck on January 8, 2009 at 7:06 AM
55
muedede is always an idiot.. only then stranger would continue to let him spew weekly
Posted by slarue on January 10, 2009 at 4:50 PM

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