Parade committee member Rick Konopasek said the float wasn’t meant to be any more offensive than a political cartoon would be. The only restriction for entering a float is that it can’t be considered morally objectionable. That basically translates to a ban on nudity to sexually explicit messages, Konopasek said.
“We don’t feel its right to tell someone what they can and can’t express,” he said. “This was political satire. If we start saying no to certain floats, we might as well not have a parade at all.”
Konopasek and parade announcer Wally Sonnenschein said the outhouse float was the most popular one in the parade, and the three judges awarded it an honorable mention.
“It’s obvious the majority of the community liked it,” Konopasek said. “So should we deny the 95 percent of those that liked it their rights, just for the 5 percent of people who are upset?”
Look, another place I am never planning to visit.
Update: Oops sorry folks. I did originally think this was Virginia, but it's Nebraska.
I have fixed it now.
Gryphen, Norfolk, VA or Norfolk, NE??
ReplyDeleteNebraska
DeleteThe level of disrespect for our president is off the charts, sickening. So, if 95% of the community agrees with something, that makes it right? That's how lynchings happen. FUCK THEM with a hard, sharp stick in the place the sun don't shine.
ReplyDeleteThe opinion of 95% of stupid, ignorant redneck uneducated white trash from a gimme-gimme-gimme red state means...nothing. We should cut off the tax dollars flowing into that state and let them fend for themselves.
DeleteDon't forget, though, even though the right got their asses handed to them by the People, TWICE.!! They still think THEY should be calling the shots. Majority only matters when it benefits THEIR side. I am SO tired of these ignorant assholes.
DeleteSo if an athiest group did a float mocking christians and their book of fables, that would be okay with the parade organizers?
ReplyDeleteProbably not. But - I understand your point.
DeletePat Padrnos
I think this occurred in Norfolk, Nebraska....
ReplyDeleteAnd to the committee and judges, if you all are so proud, how come you have not released the names of the sponsors?
Are they hiding under their hoods?
I'm with you, I will never visit or support anything that comes out of this racist state! Makes me sick to see our President disrespected over and over
ReplyDeleteOh he is so full of shit! It's not at ALL like a political cartoon, it's not even political satire. It's broadcasting a hatred and disgusting disrespect for the president of the United States. It's not a cartoon that is OBVIOUSLY political satire, which is usually found in an adult sort of publication. It's an in your face fuck you to the president on a day that there are children, families out for the holiday. It encourages mockery and ridicule on a public platform and it's fucking low life, ignorant bullshit. The justifications that this stupid man is making are completely crap. And to give it an award? These people really need to be exterminated.
ReplyDeleteIt just makes me sad.
ReplyDeleteIsn't there a lot of military in Norfolk, VA and there was a 95% approval of that idiotic whatever you want to call it? Don't believe it for a minute!
ReplyDeleteThere is way too much disrespect of our good President Obama shown and I'm absolutely sick and tired of it.
He'll go down in history as one of our best POTUS and it's going to drive the white folks on the right bug fucking nuts and they'll deserve every bit of it!
It's Norfolk in Nebraska where ignorance and racism are allowed to fester.
DeleteBeaglemom
Dems Decry Nebraska Parade's 'Obama Presidential Library' Outhouse Float
ReplyDeleteDuring the Norfolk, Nebraska. Independence Day parade on Friday, one float depicted President Obama's presidential library as an outhouse, spurring state Democrats to denounce the float and the message it sent.
...However, residents and state Democrats were offended by the float.
"You see people laughing, pointing at it, smiling, looking positive about it. I immediately felt sick to my stomach," Norfolk resident Glory Kathurima told KMTV. "I knew what that meant and I knew there was no sort of political statement being made by an image like that."
Norfolk City Councilman Dick Pfeil made it clear that the town didn't support the float's message.
"The City of Norfolk doesn’t condone that," he told the World-Herald.
The Nebraska State Democratic Party condemned the float, calling it one of the “worst shows of racism and disrespect for the office of the presidency that Nebraska has ever seen," according to the World-Herald.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/nebraska-float-presidential-library-outhouse
Norfolk VA is a military town & pretty supportive of the president. This took place in Nebraska.
ReplyDeleteI hang my head in shame as a resident of the state.
ReplyDeleteAnd the President is our head of state. You know, the political leader of the "Republic" that these rascist cowards just LOVE to pledge allegiance to.
Some allegiance.
I'm just surprised they left off the noose.
Breathtaking racism.
ReplyDeleteFound another article with a different photo of the float--front view of the Obama image--if anyone's interested.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/obama-presidential-library-float-at-norfolk-nebraska-parade-draws-criticism/article_22f03464-04ab-11e4-bf54-0017a43b2370.html
Are there NO black people in Nebraska? This level of racism is towards ALL blacks, not just the President. This is starting to get scary. If this level of racism and disrespect is allowed to continue, there will be bloodshed of a level this country has never seen and it won't come from foreign terrorist but from within.
ReplyDeleteThey think that's funny because they have never seen a library or read a book. They also want to teach creationism instead of real science, making sure than none of their kids can be admitted to a good college or university since the SAT exam is based on real science.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why the concern troll only trolls the posts about the Palins. So far, no troll comments, or maybe it's just too early.
ReplyDeleteBecause it is a Palin and they are not interested in anything not Palin. Ever. Sarah Palin blames blogs particularly for her 2008 outing as the ignorant and greedy human she is. She is obsessive. The VP loss is a raw wound from which she will never heal. Count on it. Ask her family, she is mentally ill.
DeleteThat float certainly is "morally objectionable." If parents see it go by and laugh with their children beside them, then the children know that it is fine to show disrespect to the president of the United States and, moreover, to show disrespect to a president who is racially different. The town fathers should be ashamed that they allowed it in their parade. What a way to befoul the Fourth of July which should be fun and all inclusive. There should be no place for virulent and ugly politics or racism on the Fourth of July. The day belongs to all of us.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Fine Christian folk too, I'll bet. I wonder if this is what parade organizers refer to as bathroom humor?
ReplyDeleteThe racial makeup of the city was 88.0% White, 1.6% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 6.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.1% of the population.
ReplyDeleteNebraska is one of the most racist states I have ever visited. Never again will I go there, I listened to my relatives and their neighbors continually pass judgment on other races and religions without recognizing how racist, intolerant and ignorant they sounded. It was a backward hell hole. It seemed clear to me Americans are deluded about their place in the world and it was pretty shocking how few of them had traveled to other parts of the world or experienced other cultures. In fact, they seemed proud of this. Anywhere else they would have been considered brain dead.
ReplyDelete"Anywhere else they would have been considered brain dead." Not true, unfortunately. I've had the misfortune of living in many, many places that are just FULL of parochial morons. For the most part they are simple, and well-meaning, but they are just completely IGNORANT of the world outside their immediate vicinity beyond which they have never traveled. It always amazes me how many people just haven't gone much beyond the border of their own county and definitely not beyond the state line. Some of this has to do with lack of money to travel, but some of it has to do with a lack of curiosity or fear of the unknown. I think one of the best things anyone can ever do for their children is to see to it that they get out and see the world - let them go on class trips or vacations with friends even if you can't take them. But SOOO many people will not do this. And they live everywhere.
DeleteHowever, they DO have a phone: http://norfolk.gopickle.com/listings/11044105-Independent-Order-Odd-Fellows
ReplyDeleteMethinks this group of Oddfellows should have its charter revoked:
ReplyDeletePhilosophy and purpose
"As an organization, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows aims to provide a framework that promotes personal and social development. Lodge degrees and activities aim to improve and elevate every person to a higher, nobler plane; to extend sympathy and aid to those in need, making their burdens lighter, relieving the darkness of despair; to war against vice in every form, and to be a great moral power and influence for the good of humanity."
To clarify, the Oddfellows Lodge in Norfolk, NE, sponsors the parade. People sign up morning of parade and get in line.
ReplyDeleteFuck the USA. Seriously. It is the most backwards place on Earth. Might as well fuck the Constitution as those who seem to profess to know it best are also most quick to sodomize it with their diseased cocks whilst the most homely and brow-beaten women admirers look on to the detriment of their own rights.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fucking pathetic cuntry. Glad I never lived there, nor will I ever.
I'm an Omaha native now living in Norfolk. I was at the parade and was absolutely horrified when I saw this float go by. I had family visiting from out of town that I took to the parade and I was mortified and ashamed. I knew I lived in a conservative town, but there's a line (or should be) between conservative and racist. This float leaped well past that line. It makes no real political statement. It's a crass, crude joke that had no place in a patriotic parade. That was not a display of our independence. It was a display of ignorance!
ReplyDeleteAmy Sanderhoff · Owner at Sanderhoff Marketing
Amy, I saw your comments after the story in the Omaha paper. All we can do is what you did, speak up and be heard. Those who have a shred of goodness and decency and said nothing are the ones who should be as ashamed as those who had a hand in making this float & those in-charge who approved of it. We have proudly ignorant folks throughout our land, but doesn't make it any easier to understand.
DeleteI grew up in Norfolk and was always proud of the small community. Not now, not ever again. Whoever approved that addition to the float is as much to blame as the person who built it (probably an old fuddy duddy). Norfolk has not had to deal with the colors of the real world much and it shows in a horribly, embarrassing way. I doubt I will ever come back, unless for a funeral, and my trip will be very quick. Shame on you, citizens of Norfolk for representing this community this way. A big apology to the President and the rest of the country is in order here...how will you respond Norfolk, Nebraska???
ReplyDeleteI hope you also express these sentiments to your hometown paper.
DeleteIt's not only offensive but it is a shame that our forefathers fought for such idiots. Racism is alive and well in Norfolk........shame on the committee! They need to think about the meaning of the 4th of July!
ReplyDeleteRemember what happened to The Dixie Chicks when they said they were ashamed that George W. Bush was from Texas? The religious right, radio networks and every redneck south of the Canadian border sought to destroy them for speaking badly about President Bush. Oh, boo-hoo.
ReplyDeleteThis float is LIGHT YEARS WORSE. And it was cheered by 95% of the parade attendees and given an award! VIVA RACISM! Now the crazies don't need to hide it anymore: A parade float - on the 4th of July!
Wow. Not only was the float incredibly offensive AND inappropriate, but the level of prideful ignorance that is being paraded to defend it is appalling. I will be sure not to spend any money in Norfolk whenever I happen to be passing through it on the way to someplace else. How embarrassing to the rest of Nebraska. I know a lot of very smart conservatives in Nebraska, but the people in support of what was done are not part of that group.
ReplyDeleteTotally unacceptable on so many levels for a family oriented parade celebration celebrating our nation’s independence. Anyone that has any moral or social conscious or sense of right and wrong would never fathom that this would be OK. It is wrong for so many reasons, there is not enough paper and ink to write them down or any argument that would convince those with an altered mental compass that this OK or funny. I applaud the people who voiced their negativity at the parade.
ReplyDeleteLet me just call it like it is: a racist statement disguised as "freedom of expression and political satire." And justifying it because 95% of the people enjoyed it is like justifying a lynching because 95% of the people present thought it was funny.
ReplyDeleteAs a 40+ year resident of Norfolk, I am deeply saddened and embarrassed at such a disrespectful, tasteless display of political opinion as depicted on this float. Not all Norfolkans are like that. If you go to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows website, it talks about Friendship, Love and Truth. That tasteless float violated the basic foundation of the Odd Fellows and I am even more appalled that it received an Honorable Mention prize. As we celebrated our freedoms and our rights to be different this 4th of July, I am again reminded that there are far too many out there who believe that if you don't look like me, talk like me, work like me, worship like me, etc., you are not my equal and never will be.
ReplyDeleteNot much I can say that hasn't been said, just my 2 cents worth - a sitting President, the FIRST African American President in a country which has had hundreds of years of race based slavery in our history, with all its attendant ills. An armless effigy of a black man by an outhouse is a threat to be taken seriously. I hope this group and the City of Norfolk gets a visit from the FBI. They deserve one, for sure. Bunch of ignorant bigoted yahoos, living up to their worldwide reputation. Shame.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe only restriction for entering a float is that it can’t be considered morally objectionable. That basically translates to a ban on nudity to sexually explicit messages, Konopasek said.
ReplyDeleteHow the hell did we end up with a culture where sex or people without clothing are offensive, but racial hatred isn't?
Sick that they did this, even sicker is the organizer defending it. Gee, let's lynch the President in effigy and do it from an outhouse! Bet he owns the only dry cleaner in town and is making a killing from the kkk doing their outfits, hoods and matching purses.
ReplyDeleteThe President doesn't deserve this at all.
I don't know about KKK robes, but we had a dry cleaning plant that did a lot of robes for church choirs in very large churches years ago (one was jimmy swaggart's church). I worked on the Men's Formalwear side of the biz. One time, a few of the girls in the dry cleaning plant were going to sneak up on me with a pillowcase they had cut holes in and one of those white church robes as a joke (I was young early 20's and they were all black and loved to give me a hard time, but they were great and I loved em, so picking on me was fine) Anyway, when I walked through the coat press area, she tapped me on the shoulder, and I knew who it was because she was only about 4'10", but I said "DAD! I DIDN'T KNOW YOU CAME BY." We all laughed our asses off. She asked me if I had a lighter to help get "that damn cross started on fire". I said "Dad, are you still trying to burn that old green wood? You know that shit don't burn good!" and you shoulda heard them laughing. Funniest thing was I didn't even notice that that there were 5 or six wearing robes until one of em said, "sorry, but we could only make one hood, so we share". Good memories of a more innocent time.
DeleteI'm confused are you saying this is the organization that sponsored this disgrace?
ReplyDeleteAnd that was the whole purpose of the article. They wouldn't have dared to write an anti-Obama article with that headline. Making it pro-Obama was a way of getting the subliminal message across. Most racists won't read the article but clip the headline! Disgusting.
ReplyDeleteIf you look closely at the photo, there is a young African American girl looking at the float. How is seeing this and the disgusting braying fools laughing going to affect her life ? How excluded from this community will she feel ? I can only hope that she has adults in her life that can explain that not everyone is this stupid, bigoted and close minded.
ReplyDelete