Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Accused B.T.K. Serial Killer and Stereotypes
The accused fits a classic stereotype, so normally the right-wing would have a field day blaming the evil liberals, Hollywood, activist judges, gay marriage, multi-culturism, etc. for the killings and pointing out how everything would have been OK if only we had the 10 Commandments posted in our schools and went to (a Christian) church every Sunday.
However, the stereotype here is the white, church-going heterosexual "Red-State" family guy image. This may be why folks like Michele Malkin aren't suggesting we lock up everyone fitting that stereotype. (Remember how schools were encouraged to expel all the "goth" students right after one of the high school shootings? The folks pushing that type of idea are awfully quiet right now...)
I am not suggesting mass arrests of white church-going white guys, either - I merely repeat that arresting everyone meeting a given "profile" because some folks meeting that profile commit crimes isn't justice. It might be unreasoning fear, paranoia, redirected racism, or something - it just isn't justice.
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However, the stereotype here is the white, church-going heterosexual "Red-State" family guy image. This may be why folks like Michele Malkin aren't suggesting we lock up everyone fitting that stereotype. (Remember how schools were encouraged to expel all the "goth" students right after one of the high school shootings? The folks pushing that type of idea are awfully quiet right now...)
I am not suggesting mass arrests of white church-going white guys, either - I merely repeat that arresting everyone meeting a given "profile" because some folks meeting that profile commit crimes isn't justice. It might be unreasoning fear, paranoia, redirected racism, or something - it just isn't justice.
'B.T.K.' Suspect Charged With 10 Murder Counts
By MONICA DAVEY
and STEPHANIE ROSENBLOOM
Published: March 1, 2005
WICHITA, Kan., March 1 - The man the police have accused of being the "B.T.K." killer - one of the country's most notorious serial killers - made his first appearance in court today via videoconference from his jail cell and was charged with 10 counts of first degree murder.
...
Bond was continued at $10 million for Mr. Rader, who was known previously as a churchgoing man rather than suspected of being the murderer who called himself, in letters to the police and the news media, B.T.K. - for "bind, torture, kill."
About 12 family members of victims linked to B.T.K. were seated in a courtroom that holds fewer than 50 people. They walked out ashen-faced, not saying anything after having seen Mr. Rader in person for the first time.
After taunting the authorities and the public in the 1970's, B.T.K. went silent until last March, three decades after the killing began, when he sent a letter to The Wichita Eagle claiming responsibility for yet another murder. Inside the letter was a copy of the victim's driver's license and photographs of her body. From there, an avalanche of clues spilled forth, eventually leading to the arrest of Mr. Rader.
