Post-election fire at Springfield church raises questions

Is this going to start already? I think America has said that they are ready to move forward so stop with the conspiracy theories. Enough is enough!!

a church being burned is a hate crime, but when the catholic churches were vandalized with anti-catholic graffiti and feces rubbed on the statues that wasn't? sounds like a double standard based on race.

Whether this was accidental or not, I think we can expect to see a lot more of this in America, as the knuckledraggers and bigots get whipped into a frenzy by hate radio. WTTK here in Boston is a prime example. If you can stand to listen, compile a list of their advertisers, then contact these businesses and tell them you won't be supporting them as long as they advertise on this shameful and traitorous, garbage-spewing and deceitful station (the exception being the Jim and Marjorie Show from 12-3.) I tuned in today to see if they were being gracious in defeat, and rising to Obama's challenge re: whether people were Americans or Republicans. Fat chance of that! I heard Obama called 'a bastard' 'a piece of garbage' a fascist' and the racially movtivated slurs were appalling. Hit them where it hits: call their sponsors. Republicans.

Great point Peter. I am tired of the term "Hate Crime". Crime is crime, regardless of the color, religion, sex, etc.

You keep investigating......Let us know when "YOU" realize hatred! A random African- American Church gets burned on the dawn of the 1st African- American president being voted into office? Yeah ... Okay! Don't matter though..."We" realize without struggle there will be no progress. America has spoken! Get over it! And don't take too long; it will look funny.
What those idiots don't realize is that they are dipping into their parents money. Change is here and so is GOD (Remember the snow in Africa this summer). This will be on your SOUL!

if it was done by 'Haters'...they will get their Karma back 10 fold! I hope!!!

The media has to turn everything into something its not. they did the same thing with Obama made people think hes this wonderful guy when hes really just another POS politician

Crime is not a crime when it is committed to instill fear instead of for personal gain. There's a big difference between stealing money or bread to further yourself than to burn a church or kill a person because of the color of their skin or who they sleep with, causing others to be fearful and mistrusting of their fellow man.

You "crime is a crime" apes need to get a grip.

Obama's color must not be made into an issue. He is Black AND WHITE. It doesn't matter what color we are. We are One Family and America is our home. We better start treating each other as such or we are gonna have a lot of racists morons with crushed skulls...America is waking up and we'll never go back to certain mistakes of the past. I'm sick of the F-ing media doing their share to make race an issue, too...the idiot who whole this story is exacerbating the situation. Start making T-Shirts if you can with positive, intelligent messages to help shift people's consciousness in a positive direction, Stop wathing TV and the news and create the reality YOU want!

I do agree with both David and Peter. Also I like to point out is that Obama may be African American but I want to know is how he can claim to be black when his mother is white. Yes he is half black but is half white.
So just put the race card out of the mix and let see what this idiot (which by the way all politicians are) can pull off. I personal believed that no matter who won, this country is royally screwed. All I can say is GOD BLESS THE USA.

First, I'd like to say I truly hope that this church will be able to rebuild.
I saw this story on the news and could NOT believe the parishioners were already saying that it was a hate crime. When Bush was elected..the first or second time... I'm sure there happened to be fires the same day... you didnt see the white population up in arms assuming that it was a hate crime. Obama IS the next president. Celebrate your victory, and STOP segregating. Any fire is a tragedy, it doesnt matter who attends it.

It is what it is... People will do what ever they want so learn to accept it.

I hope it was an accident, but there are so many idiots

My sons Professor last night said- beautiful
Rosa sat so Martin could walk
Martin walked so Obama could run
Obama ran so our children could fly

I'm white and it chokes me up

A black church is burned a few hours after the first black president is elected and you people think it's a coincidence? or that it's not racially motivated? WAKE UP, people!

It's not a question of him "claiming to be black, Kelly." There are very few blacks in America who don't have white blood. But all people like you see is the color of their skin. That is - and will continue to be - the problem. For you idiots who think this country is royally screwed, try living somewhere else for a while. You'll come crawling back once you realize that this is the greatest country on Earth.

Those of you who don't know what a hate crime is or who think this is just the media with another conspiracy theory are obviously white and have had the privilege of living in your only little bubble of comfort all your lives and have never had to know what racism or discrimination feel like to those who are in the minority. I am white, but I am also gay, and I do know what the sting of discrimination and hatred feels like, as do all minorities.
If you don't like calling Barack Obama black because of the fact that he's half white, fine. Then you can refer to him as a person of color. It is the color of his skin, after all, that some people find objectionable. I personally think it's wonderful that a person of color has been able to overcome all obstacles, including racism, to achieve the highest office in our country and I think Barack will be the best president we've had in many years.

I really wish people could not focus on the negative right now and just let the investigators do their job. This is a time for our people to rejoice and unite.

You got to love it. The building is still smoldering and the leader of this predominately black church has the nerve to state, "This was a special time in our nation's history, but I also know not everybody was happy and celebrating." And further said, "After 71 years of being an African-American, you know these things happen." Interesting!

Don't you think it is odd that 96% of all blacks in this country voted for Obama? Do we really think that all 96% agree with his policies? I guess, we just "know these things happen." Come on! Let the fire be investigated and a cause determined before we make this about race. Maybe the whites in this country need to start doing the same....we could start with the numbers from the election. Let's keep in mind that racism is not just a black issue, it runs both ways. These quote were not "Christ" like by any stretch of the imagination and represent hatred and racism. Shame on this bishop.

While I think that it is great for the country to have elected a black person from a historical and national perspective, we need to keep in mind that this nation is still deeply divided - just look at the election statistics (whites had voted for McCain at 54%). I believe that once he is sworn in to office, Obama should immediately issue an executive order that affirmative action is abolished for all federal positions and he should encourage the same for all colleges and state positions as well. We have come so far in this country, it is time that we heal all the wounds that divide us and truly let liberty and equality rain. From this day forward, we look only to qualifications and not the race/nationality of a person for state/federal and college acceptances. That is the right thing to do for a nation as divided as we are today. It will bring the hope and change that a nation so divided really needs and create opportunity for all to increase wealth and pay the higher taxes for purposes of redistributing.

Anyone who can sit here and attempt o justify or make claim that “hate crimes” don’t exist anymore is foolish and more than likely is a racist themselves. The ethnographic footprints of American history are covered in blood. To insinuate that racism in America doesn’t exist is stultifying. I remain transfixed at the level of ignorance that is running ramped in this country. Be mindful of the fact that we are living in a new day. We won’t be marching and having sit-ins this go around. The days of non-cooperative civil disobedience are over.

I grew up about 15 minutes from there and my church is just down the road from where that building was being built. Whatever it was over, it was arson, as it was confirmed last night/today. The original church is in downtown Springfield, and they have been saving up for about 20 years for this building. It is a tragedy that all their prayers and efforts and years of waiting have literally gone up in flames. I know my church is going down to this church's service tonight, as are other churches in the area, as a show up support to them. I will say that my church is predominantly white, and i hope that out of this tragedy any walls that are still there will be torn down, and we can all become closer through this experience.