KANSAS CITY IS A RACIST TOWN!!!

I've always known Kansas City was a racist town.

Growing up my parents told me of their childhood in KC and how they were forced to sit at the back of segregated classrooms, dine at segregated eating establishments and swim on "colored day" at Fairyland park.

It's not widely noted but Latinos in Kansas City also suffered under this town's racist past depending on the shade of their skin. Lighter skinned people like myself usually came up with some kind of B.S. story about how they were Italian, Spanish or Lebanese while darker skinned folks (like my mom) were subject to the gamut of racial injustices this town had to offer from segregation to restrictive racial covenants pioneered by one of the architects of this city - J.C. Nichols.

The stories never surprised me, they were told with cold accuracy like some kind of warning, "That's what this City is capable of," my parents seemed to note as the recounted the details with wide-eyed clarity. "There are (many) people out there who still think this way."

Growing up, these warnings about the racist nature of Kansas City and its people were only confirmed time and again. Teachers hoping to stifle my writing ability, other parents and their derogatory questions about my racial makeup, administrators weary of my close knit friendships only with other (lower) middle-class Latinos . . . The role of race, perception and white people's bigotry has been a constant motif throughout my life from run-ins with suburban law enforcement to the parents of every white broad I've banged lady I've dated.

So please believe that I know every argument made in favor of racism and bigotry inside and out. I've heard it all before.

In the midst of this controversy over Frances Semler, the same tired, dishonest, illogical and misleading arguments are being rehashed in order to support the racism of the Minutemen and Semler's virulent rhetoric against immigrants both legal and undocumented.

First off, there is this stupid notion that Mayor Funkhouser stood by his "principles" while ignoring the Latino Leadership in Kansas City and disrespecting them at every turn. Not one person, not even Funkhouser, has identified exactly what principle to which the Mayor is referring. I'm guessing that they're talking about cronyism since it has been noted time and again that Funkhouser appointed Semler without vetting her and above other (more qualified) candidates who submitted to a process that the Mayor championed as part of his "reform." Or, does the "principle" Mayor Funkhouser upholds have something to do with a breach of his promises to the Latino Community when he went hat in hand begging for their support while claiming that anti-immigration rhetoric wouldn't be part of his Administration?

On the subject of the impact of NCLR's withdrawal of their convention in Kansas City, racists from across the metro are downplaying the seriousness of the move. This is a classic, bigoted ploy used to diminish the importance of any minority group in a given situation. This tactic attacks the very existence of a group and questions their validity as part of the community. One racist after the next has lied and claimed that NCLR is made up of illegals when, in fact, it is an AMERICAN advocacy organization which pushes for a cause just like the NRA or the VFW. In fact, many of the group's members also belong to those organizations. Additionally, so many folks who know little about the inner-workings of the KC's Latino Community mistakenly insist that that the NCLR was trying to impose their will on Kansas City, when in fact, it was a group of hundreds of LOCAL LATINOS who sought out the support of NCLR when their concerns about Semler were ignored by the Funkhouser Administration. For the record: This boycott was urged locally.

Finally, there is an unfortunate urge to silence the critics of the Funkhouser Administration along with an effort to see the concerns of Kansas City's Latino Community stifled. Let's not forget that Funkhouser's biggest cheerleaders have mistakenly believed that the criticisms of the Mayor would cease during the summer. Above all, this notion that the critics of any politician or political issue should be forced to remain quiet are inherently fascist, decidedly un-American and completely ignore the Freedom of Speech that citizens (like myself) enjoy. Time after time, proponents of Mayor Funkhouser have had their views published to tens of thousands via the Star but not one columnist has decidedly come out in favor of the local Latino leadership on this issue. Mary Sanchez rarely sets foot in the Latino Community and most folks in my neighborhood wouldn't recognize her and probably don't appreciate her milquetoast, overly apologetic columns. Meanwhile a thieving scumbag like Mike Hendricks is allowed to force the whole Star subscriber base to smell his farts as he gloats over what he perceives to be a victory by Mayor Funkhouser.

An important note about Hendricks which should be pointed out to those who suffer through his columns regarding Kansas City Proper: THE GUY LIVES IN JOHNSON COUNTY. Respectfully, I have to note that this piece of garbage wrapped in skin has no standing in this debate and Kansas City missing out of revenue won't affect his pocketbook one bit. Mike Hendricks is lobbying for a Mayor that he can't vote for . . . LIKE SO MANY VOICES IN THIS SEMLER DEBATE HE ARGUES HIS POSITION AND THEN LEAVES THE PEOPLE OF KC PROPER TO DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ILL INFORMED OPINIONS. Hendricks notes that Semeler is opposed to illegal immigration and this is a half truth. Once again, it's important to note that her extremist view OPPOSES ALL IMMIGRATION.

And today the stream of anti-Latino, anti-immigrant rhetoric inspired by sour grapes feelings due to Kansas City losing a major convention will give light to one simple fact:

THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT FUNKHOUSER ARE ALSO SUPPORTERS OF RACISM.

Currently, the Mayor is touting phony poll numbers which are debatable but EVERYONE is noting that Mayor Funkhouser has almost no support in the urban core.

His credibility in this part of the metro has vanished.

It wasn't his decision to stand by his "principles" which cost him so much political clout but the divisive and disrespectful manner which he went about supporting his stance. Like all bigots, he recruited sellouts to make his position seem more credible. He touted one token gesture after the next in lieu of coming to a real understanding. He offered one bribe after another and assumed that Latino leaders didn't have the same kind of "principles" which he has been arrogantly touting.

All of these bigoted and racist tactics have served only to alienate him from KC's Latino community which once supported Funkhouser by more than 60%.

Now, like it or not, Kansas City has lost a major national convention and THE MAYOR OF KANSAS CITY STANDS UNITED WITH AN EXTREMIST, NATIVIST GROUP KNOWN FOR UNSANCTIONED ARMED ACTION SOLELY AGAINST LATINOS AND HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY THE PRESIDENT AS "VIGILANTES." Funkhouser can claim that he's a liberal till the end of time but rather than heed the outcry of a group which he begged for support during the election, he has garnered the support of a newfound, racist and bigoted constituency of Minutemen (heh) who have no political track record in Kansas City. His actions speak far louder than his words.

Incidentally . . . Just like the school yard, the response to any name calling is an effort to throw the same words right back. Unlike most people, I really don't care what folks might call me because I've long known that people get really offended when you make fun of and completely destroy their flimsy, silly and misguided political fantasies. However, unlike the Mayor or most supporters of reactionary thinking . . . I encourage people to speak and type what's on their mind in the great tradition of American Democracy. I have faith that when supporters of Funkhouser's Minuteman Administration have an open forum to express their view unencumbered, they will be revealed for what they truly are . . . Unapologetic, bigoted, reactionary and racist.

Finally, so many people long to get the last word on any given subject but it should be noted that interest in this controversy, the divisive atmosphere that it has created and the political reality in KC Proper all reveal one simple truth:

It's not over.