Saline County Kansas Republican Jim Gile Is A Bigot

 

In yet another example of old school bigotry and racism in Kansas, (not that many families of the Kansas "old school" racists have really been in America long enough to be "old school", but that's another post) Saline County commissioner Jim Gile made a decidedly racist crack at a city counsel meeting the other day, and after a half hearted apology, resisted a well placed call for his resignation, insisting that racist remarks at public podiums were okey-dokey "back in his day" and that he actually represents his district very well, despite, and because of, his obvious bigotry!

The remark was made about roof repairs of government buildings. Giles expressed a desire to hire an architect, rather than allowing a contractor to do what he referred to as "nigger rigging". When asked what, exactly, he meant by that, he said, "Afro Americanizing". So there you have it, Kansas. An actual admission to racial prejudism from the podium by an elected official. Anywhere outside of Kansas, especially anywhere that boasted a population of truly civic minded intelligensia, who care about their community, their children, and the future of this nation, would have run out of forms for picketing permits by this time because of the commissioners remark. But Saline County appears to only have a handful of persons who find Gile an anachronism. Yet, as many American families of African descent have resided in this country longer then most Kansas Caucasion families, the excuses invoking an "old school" attitude don't really provide an equation that explains the commissioner's bigotry, either.

Okay then; this is exactly why Kansas children are seldom equipped to attend college or live successfully outside of Kansas. It's quite possible that Jim Gile actually DOES represent Saline County. That's incredibly sad. Shouldn't New Hope Baptist Church in Seneca, Kansas, and Westboro Baptist Church make enough of a statement about bigotry, without any help from officials who represent the views of the general public in Kansas?

"I am not a prejudiced person," Gile told the Salina Journal. "I have built Habitat homes for colored people."