Kelly Tilghman "Lynch Tiger Comment"

My two cents regarding Kelly tilghman’s “racist” comment…I can not pretend that racism does not exist, but to a much lesser extent than some want to pretend. To turn this obvious compliment into anything else is sad. I cannot believe no one has mentioned the origin of the word lynch in blogs I have read on this topic. The definition of the word is to execute without due process of law, especially to hang, as by a mob. This term did not come about during the african american struggle for civil rights, though their is no doubt many african americans were victims of this horrible practice. Word History: In the late 18th century, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, was troubled by criminals who could not be dealt with by the courts, which were too distant. This led to an agreement to punish such criminals without due process of law. Both the practice and the punishment came to be called lynch law after Captain William Lynch, who drew up a compact on September 22, 1780, with a group of his neighbors. Arguing that Pittsylvania had "sustained great and intolerable losses by a set of lawless men ... that ... have hitherto escaped the civil power with impunity," they agreed to respond to reports of criminality in their neighborhood by "repair[ing] immediately to the person or persons suspected ... and if they will not desist from their evil practices, we will inflict such corporeal punishment on him or them, as to us shall seem adequate to the crime committed or the damage sustained." Although lynch law and lynching are mainly associated with hanging, other, less severe punishments were used. William Lynch died in 1820, and the inscription on his grave notes that "he followed virtue as his truest guide." But the good captain, who had tried to justify vigilante justice, was sentenced to the disgrace of having given his name to the terrible practice of lynching. This is, was and always will be a black eye on this nation's history, but because some racists used the term to describe their crimes against african americans does not make it a racist comment in and of it's self. As many benign words, lynch most certainly could be used with racist connotation. The reason I find this situation so sad is because if this kelly woman was racist in the slightest degree she absolutely would have a comment like that on the taboo do not say in unfamiliar public settings list of racial slurs that actually are part of a small group of narrow minded people's vocabulary. to be completely honest with everyone, this topic is all I pre-judge african americans about. I am a 32 year old white descendant of immigrants from Ireland who has never judged anyone on anything other than character, so why am I constantly reminded that I should feel guilty about the african american plight perpetrated by someone elses ancestors. My hope for our country is that one day the african american community will stop picking at this festering scab at every single opportunity they get, and let us all heal once and for all.