Now here's a dillemma for you

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

I believe in the First Amendment--but what if a group exercising it hurts an entire community?

In the little town where I work, there's a mall that is dying. The owners have hired a new manager, who happens to be a relative of one of my coworkers. Coworker told me in conversation that the manager is having trouble getting any national chains to rent space in the mall--and its not because of no traffic or high rentals. It's because of the reputation of the town and the county. You see, there is an active KKK organization headquartered in a wide spot in the road about 20 miles from this town. They hide behind a "Christian Mission" type organization, and once or twice a year send out mass mailings explaining to everyone in town how anyone not a WASP like them are spawns of the devil, and how the County Commissioners should shut down the county's largest employer, an international freight hauler, because of their policy of non-discrimination.

When the first one of these letters came out, the entire County Commission wrote an open letter stating their support of the employer and the tolerance policy. They said that even though the KKK had the right to free speech, THEY had the right to state that the Klan represents a tiny minority of the people of the county. There have been no court actions against the KKK because they haven't broken the law--but I have no doubt if they were dumb enough to do so, they would be hauled off to jail and there would be a fair trial. But apparently many retail chains doubt this.

I can understand how the people around Westboro Baptist Church feel--I just hope that those clowns haven't hurt their community too much.

[bbinacan]

1. Where is this town?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Northwest Arkansas

and it is still a growing area of the country--lots of retirees coming from the coasts because of low taxes and low prices for land. The town itself is only about 13,000, and yet it is a commercial hub for a large area. There are a few minorities in the county, and more moving in (mostly from Central America, to work in the chicken processing plants).

[ikojo]

7. Is this Harrison Arkansas?

I have a friend who used to live down that way. She didn't want her daughter educated in Arkansas, especially that area, so she packed the family and moved to suburban St Louis. She's been here six years and is happy with her decision.

My friend said the racism is thick down that way, thanks to the KKK.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. Yep

There is racism here to some extent, but then there's my boss, a native, who hires extra workers in the summer. A couple of summers back, it was a college baseball player (my boss is an ex-jock who is nuts about baseball). Anyway, said player was African American. Boss said anyone who refused to let the baseball player in to do service was NO LONGER A CUSTOMER OF HIS. And this is a small business, mind you. Most of the owners of small businesses that I talk with are ashamed of the racists. I don't know if it is because it hurts the business climate or if they just don't like that attitude. My husband has had some co-workers who spouted racist ideas, but the attitude didn't appear to percolate up the chain of command.

But you are right about the schools-imho they are terrible. To begin with, the most important qualification to be a teacher is to have friends or relatives on the school board. Glad your friend moved to another area.

[panader0]

2. I hate the klan as much as anyone

but they do have the right of free speech. Better to appeal to the potential renters. Clowns can hurt a community, no doubt, but we must never give up free speech.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Absolutly

what I'm trying to figure out is how to overcome the bad publicity they've generated.

One of the Klan's leaders has a son in high school who, after a tournament, refused to shake hands with an opposing player because that player was black. Made the Democrat-Gazette, which covers the entire state of Arkansas.

And this KKK group is really racist--my coworker, who is an Italian-American, was called to service one of their houses, and they refused to let him in because of his ethnicity.

[KAZ]

8. "Free speech"? How quaint. My copy of the Constitution...

.. seems to be shredded at the moment. I do remember hearing something about this in the past. But now I can say something like the KKK should be KKKilled.

[zalinda]

5. My sister lives in that area near Clinton n/t

[Rosemary2205]

6. it's been my experience

Corporations care more about money than politics or religion. It's likely they pulled out in the first place because the sales were either stegnant or dropping -- not because of the KKK.

Chains are moving away from malls and into stand alone stores or strip shopping centers -- specially in the south. IMHO your county and the mall owners should really think about a redevelopment plan to rework the mall and surrounding parking into maximizing the space to having outdoor storefronts. I've seen several malls redevelop this way and save the mall.

I think farther north interior malls are still working out because of the weather factor. They double as facilities for people to get out and have some exercise.

BTW the most successful shopping districts I've seen going up recently have been a hybrid between live/work/shop/play facilities.

[ikojo]

9. Lifestyle centers are the up and coming

retail developments these days. Malls are dying because rents are high and people, especially working people, don't have the disposable income they once had.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. Thanks

I'll be sure to pass this information along.

[Wiregrass Willie]

12. You bet !

Corporations care more about money than politics or religion. It's likely they pulled out in the first place because the sales were either stegnant or dropping -- not because of the KKK.

I agree. If the profits looked good, the Corporations would open stores there even if they had to:

(1) Join the KKK or

(2) Help to hang them all.

Don't attribute morals where there are none.