When Searching for Extremists, Don't Forget South Carolina

Attempting to draw the line between those who engage in passionate political discourse and extremist incitement is one fraught with risk for American terrorism analysts. After partisan talk radio and the blogosphere went ballistic over some awkward wording in an overall excellent prescient report on right-wing extremism, DHS apparently disconnected the printers in their Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division. There hasn’t been much output from them since.  Pundit Michelle Malkin, nominated for a Pulitzer in bigotry for her magnum opus  book  “In Defense of Internment: The Case for ‘Racial Profiling’ in World War II and the War on Terror” was highly critical. She called the report an embarrassingly “shoddy” piece of “propaganda.” 

Following complaints about their report on Islamic radicalism the NYPD quietly issued a clarification two years after its release and right before the city’s most recent plot, that rightly said: “NYPD's focus on al-Qaeda inspired terrorism should not be mistaken for any implicit or explicit justification for racial, religious or ethnic profiling.” The FBI and certain Muslim groups are trying to resolve disputes about the extent of FBI monitoring of mosques. And after a January 2009 government report on eco-extremism that movement retaliated by exporting valuable arsons and explosive producing crimes to pipelines in Canada and drug companies and banks in Mexico.

Monitoring for potentially dangerous folks based on wide ranging political affiliations, as well as geographic origins, or religious belief for that matter can ensnare innocent folks and alienate potential allies when it is overbroad.

Intense political jousts like the raucous one over healthcare mostly involve peaceful mainstream folks, but the presence of real extremists should not be ignored either. Several key, though non conclusive, indicators of extremist philosophy to look for include an embrace of violence, opting out of preexisting communal social and political bonds, a distinct historical narrative, and a rigid embrace of falsehoods and conspiracy theories.

Danger Lurks South of The Border

While overbroad and inaccurate analysis of the extremist risk is often faulty and bigoted, it can sometimes be equally humorous. Though some broadly look to annoyed conservatives, and others to animal lovers, pro-life advocates or those who fast during Ramadan in their wide-net search for dangerous extremists, I narrow my focus on the state of South Carolina. For centuries these aloof rebel folks can’t seem to get along with anybody—even each other.

While much has been made of South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson’s recent  “you lie” outburst toward President Obama, the guffaw barely moves the needle on the national historical political conflict scale. At times political differences and personal enmity can grow so intense that it is the politicians themselves, rather than disenfranchised fringe dwellers who resort to incivility, or even violence.

While the Wilson event is barely a “dishonorable mention” on the Palmetto State’s longstanding varsity roster for no holds barred political conflict and division, it does offer a starting point for analysis—at least from a humor standpoint. First off, for the record I am not even one of those people who are a bit wary of folks who come from places with a crescent moon on their flag. Most people outside of South Carolina don’t even know what the flag looks like because the Confederate battle flag still flies prominently over the state capitol grounds-prompting some economic boycotts.

Let’s look at the numbers: The Southern Poverty Law Center counts 45 hate groups in the state—the highest per capita of any state in the union, if it still in fact is in the Union. Mississippi and Louisiana have a combined total of only 44 hate groups. There are so many hate groups in the state that a store—The Redneck Shop--had to open to supply these folks with all their bumper stickers and apparel. These sales hopefully will make up for losses due to the socialist boycotts over the rebel flag. And don't forget that Al Qaeda aider Jose Padilla called a South Carolina military brig home, albeit against his will, for five years.

The state reported a whopping 156 hate crimes in 2007 compared to 0 in Mississippi, 6 in Alabama , and 14 in Georgia. Of course 55 agencies in South Carolina actually submitted completed crime reports, while only 8 departments in all those other states combined bothered to, but that kind of accuracy ruins my headline point about the state’s dangers.

Next let’s look at the turbulent history and angry political orientation of the state. When they couldn’t get along the rest of Carolina, they split in 1719.  Then in March 1776 they skirmished with the British and became the first state to declare independence. The state was also where a disgraced Aaron Burr sought refuge in 1804 after killing Alexander Hamilton in a New Jersey duel.

 Author Robert Maxwell Brown explained, “Among all Southern states before the Civil War South Carolina was the leader in sectional extremism.” South Carolina born Andrew Jackson couldn’t get along with his own Vice President, another South Carolinian named John Calhoun. Shortly thereafter, the state spawned the Nullification Doctrine—the contention that if states find a federal law to be unconstitutional, they can just ignore it—kind of like Congressman Wilson’s stance on manners.  “Turncoat” Jackson, who since claimed to be a Tennessean, obtained Congressional authorization to use military force against his birth state, if necessary, forcing the South Carolina legislature to make a temporary reversal on Nullification.  Calhoun was even falsely suspected by conspiracists, and by the President, of being behind a failed assassination attempt on Jackson by an insane house painter. South Carolina later took Nullification to the extreme when it became the first state to secede in 1860 and the place where the first shots of the Civil War were fired in 1861.

By historic standards Congressman Wilson is downright genteel. In 1857 South Carolina Congressman Preston Brooks severely beat Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner over the head with a thick gold tipped cane in the Senate chambers after the Massachusetts senator insulted South Carolina’s senator (and Brooks’ uncle) over slavery. While Wilson got his reelection coffers filled as a result of his outburst, South Carolinians sent Brooks dozens of canes to replace the one he split over Sumner’s head. Despite the foregoing I am not quite ready to put checkpoints up on interstate 95 at the state lines.

The point of this tongue in cheek exercise is that a dose of judgment is needed when sifting for dangerous extremists out of a larger peaceful group. Extremism is often a contorted carnival mirror reflection of actual controversies in the mainstream.  The key for analysts of right-wing and other extremism is to be able to differentiate dissenters from destroyers. Extremists have opted out—they seek to destroy and exploit the processes, diversity and institutions of our pluralistic democracy beyond winning on an issue or particular set of issues. The risk of wildfires doesn’t mean we should ban blowing grass from the landscape. However, it is also important to be aware that in troubled times when atmospherics change, sparks, even unintentional ones, pose a greater risk as the dry grass of extremism spreads. 

Comments

[Noxiousbob]

With all do respect, there are a number of places that I think of being more extremist than South Carolina. I think we'll be a little too distracted by foxy Argentinians to do anyone much harm. Seriously, what about the Jena six thing or the pastor in Arizona? Lets not make blanket statements about states. Driving a wedge further into the country is Glenn Beck's job.

[Timothy2700]

Where do you get your statistics regarding black on white crime?
Most of the statistics I've read says there is more black on black crime then what you stated.

If you want to get technical I can't EVER remember seeing white men lynched on a daily basis
as the AA man. Or dragged behind a truck just because of the color of his skin.

Racial hatred is a part of this country and has been since the AA was brought here to do cheap labor.
For some the mind set is still the same. In my 52 years it's cahnged somewhat...but we still have a long way to go.

[dynwit]

Huh? The article never mentions "black on white" crime. It mentions "hate crimes," which often involve white-on-black crime, not vice versa.

[230AL]

I'm 50.My generation lived through desegregation of schools etc.The youth and children knew striving for the equality as proposed by our founding fathers was the right path.What happened ?

[sixyfivepercentwater]

South Carolina sure came as an unpleasant surprise to me when I moved there from England. I had grown up outside DC in a relatively affluent area, and then travelled around the world. When the opportunity to move to SC presented itself, I thought "sure, why not?"

I soon was taught why not in a big way. I found myself transported in the Wayback Machine to Mayberry RFD on bad acid. I could get past the outrageously embarrassing accents, but I found it hard to adapt to a world of big hair, long fake nails and snotty attitudes. I cannot count how many times I was called a "Yankee," as if that were a derogatory term, and I was even told to "go home," even though owning a house in the area kind of meant I was already home.

Most Americans have never left the state they were born in, and in South Carolina it certainly shows. These people also have some of the nation's lowest educational scores at every grade level, and that shows too. My former experiences with family vacations on the coast did nothing to prepare me for the reality of the dark interior of that state. They still have dog fights down there. The mullet is the state haircut. Many of them believe the "literal word" of the Bible, with all its discrepancies and inaccuracies. And sullen attitude is what passes for "hospitality."

[Neopolitan]

I assume you saw all of this over a period of time in the trailer park where you resided near a swamp in the "dark interior". That's a wholesale indictment of an entire state based on what you chose to take back with you after you graced the state with your presence. (Never made it to Charleston, Columbia or Kings Mountain - did you?) Judging from where you claim to be from - I assume you never managed to spend much time in Southeast DC and bypassed it when traveling from your "affluent" neighborhood when you motored around the Maryland/NVA area. Time spent there may have prepared you for your purgatory in SC. There are a lot of mullets in Maryland by the way. Maybe you ran into a former Maryland citizen. If you decide to come to the coast starting at Myrtle Beach and go all the way to Charleston/Beaufort areas, you won't find many people who "never left the state". Most of them are just like you - transplants from New York, New Jersey, New England, Ohio, and the DC area. Nowadays it is rare to find someone from SC running a business in Myrtle Beach. By the way - dog fighting is illegal in SC - what were you doing there?

[sixyfivepercentwater]

My experience was just my experience, and clearly wasn't yours. People are different. I'm sorry you have such a problem with that, but that's your problem and not mine.

[lindasha]

"Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and on the front porches of Charleston,"

I am blessed to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth, if there are a few bad apples getting too much press lately, well too bad. I'll stay in paradise and watch out for the snakes.


As to the secession suggestions, I'd agree if only we are allowed to put hefty tolls on I-95.

[NYCexile]

Just doing your part to widen the cultural divide, eh Mr. Levin?

[totalliberal]

Sherman's men saved the worst of their destructive march through Dixie for South Carolina.

[sixyfivepercentwater]

That's an odd notion, since there was never all that much to destroy in that state.

[RandomMandarin]

They burned down BOTH libraries.

[gettingitright]

Don't forget that the yahoos in Texas want to secede. Their leadership is evidence of reverse evolution too.

[Neopolitan]

Seems most of the people posting comments have already forgotten Senator Lindsay Graham from SC called for the Republican Party to scrub the radicals on the right and also voted for Supreme Court nominee Sotomayor. It's more interesting to cull the worst tabloid events in the state and use it to dishonor the entire populace. I would really like to know what constitutes a "hate group"? Is it one guy spinning out bad emails or a thug with a roadside shop that sells bumper stickers? The State is usually cited for starting the Civil War but SC also had more Revolutionary War Battles fought in it than any other State. The demographics of the state are changing as more and more people from the northeast and the Atlantic seaboard retire along the coast and in the interior of the state in the mountains. As a former law enforcement officer in SC, I see this article by Brian Levin as amusing and mean spirited at the same time. He did mention that SC was the only state he looked at in the south to report hate crimes, so I suppose we can be thankful for that. Brooks, by the way, caned Sumner because Sumner was viewed as a drunkard and not worthy of a challenge to a duel as was the custom in that time. He had also used coarse language in his speech criticizing Brooks' uncle and made jokes about his uncle's handicap.

[EbonBear]

A "hate group" is one whose only reason to exist is the demonising and opression of a particular ethnic, religious or social grouping. For example, the KKK, Aryan Nations and most of the militias. Neither the guy sending out emails or the thug with teh roadside shop qualify. But if the thug with the roadside shop has a bunch of friends with similar views who sometimes organise to go and bash black people, they would count.

When the SPLC says there are 45 hate groups in SC, remember that most of those groups are fairly small, numbering perhaps half a dozen. Usually, there's only one or two that have sufficient numbers to actually be a threat. So, why monitor the smaller groups? Not because they pose a threat but because they provide a quick snapshot of the public mood.

[Neopolitan]

I sincerely hope that the small hate groups don't reflect the mood of the state as a whole. SC has a lot of problems. It never fully recovered from Reconstruction. Cotton was king in the 1800's and that has been replaced with imports. The textile mills closed years ago and unemployment is getting to be the worst in the nation. In Horry County where Myrtle Beach is located, the unemployment rate is already well over 10 percent and expected to reach 14 percent by the first of next year. This means the State's revenue is sinking. Over one third of the state is African American and the education system is in trouble financially. During the prelude to the Civil War in 1860, a former SC attorney general who was an anti-seccessionist, James Louis Petigru, remarked after the State seceeded from the Union that "SC was to small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum". While the politics remain volitile, there is a glimmer of hope with people like Lindsay Graham.

[Rmath]

So much for the "genteel" South..

Wilson's behavior exposed the phony image of the "Southern gentleman".

[SENCvoter]

I live on the Southeastern coast of North Carolina with Myrtle Beach only one hour away. And my husband and I, who are from California originally, say that it's a whole different world down there.

[PlaceboStudman]

I tell ya, these white supremicist christian terrorist groups scare the bejesus outta me a thousand times more than any muslim, most of whom cant scrape 2 coins together to feed their family let alone harm anybody. I figure they've gotta be pretty priveledged to be able to fight through the drudgery of every day life to find hate in their grain of sand sized heart

[Tim303]

Well said.

[NCScientist]

I'd like to throw this idea out to my fellow Huffposters...do you think the anomalous nature of US politics vis a vis the rest of the West might be due to geography? We are the only western country with a relatively large (albeit shrinking) rural, white populace. The rural white populace is spread over a very large area. Progressive ideas seem to take root most readily in urban areas- the largest 100 urban centers in America went for Obama- many by double digits. Canada, which is next door, has most of its population in a few cities and nearby environs. Our rural areas have until recently been geographically and culturally isolated. The internet has become the 'cat amongst the pigeons' for many of my rural and southern students- a great many of whom are politically progressive. If this trend continues, we may be witnessing a real paradigm shift in some parts of the nation.

Any thoughts?

[MeddlingMonk]

Well, the rural population became the minority in the 1920s (and has been shrinking every since). It is perhaps not coincidental that it was in the 1920s that the KKK suddenly became more active and surged out of the South and to most of the rest of the country (at least the rural parts). Of course, it was in the 1920s that the far right became a big deal all over the world and it was only natural that the US would experience the same blight, but I think that only in the US was this a largely rural phenomenon. I could be wrong, but that's the impression that I've always had of that period.

[bdaved]

Could you give a little support for that statement about the U.S. being the only western country with a relatively large rural white populace?

[dynwit]

Ummmm.... isn't the popularity of country music enough evidence for you?

[mariah793]

I have to say, however, that nothing is better than a hammock on the porch of a Pawley's Island beach house, or walking the beach at sunrise. Or shrimp n grits with champagne.

[seawolf77]

You are right South Carolina is absolutely chock full of nuts and Arizona is not far behind. Some people out there still have their Daddy's holster, for a six shooter. I;m not making this up. I wonder what it is about conservatism that does and I keep coming back to the belief in a false mythology that is at the heart of it. Why do you think we have Christmas? Christmas is the biggest indocrination there is. Take away Chriistmas and you take away all the good that comes form a lie.