I was just in the t/lounge, where we were speaking about what our ideal Snapzu looked like. One user, I think it was spaceghoti, has a great quote: "My ideal Snapzu is an open market of ideas and open discussion. We're not always going to agree, but we're not going to punish each other for it."

I really resonate with that! So, in the spirit of building that community, I'm going to post an opinion that I know a few people will probably disagree with and I welcome any disagreement and comments from you all.

This was a racially motivated killing. I don't think there's any way we can deny that. The shooter had a jacket with the symbols for South African and Zimbabwe apartheid on them - not something you see often in the Southern USA. He went to a historically black church - one that has a history of experiencing racially motivated violence - sat with members of the church for nearly an hour hour and then stood up and murdered six women and three men, all black. He announced to the eyewitnesses left standing that he "had to do it, you rape our women and you're taking over our country. You have to go."

And I can understand why the black community in America is so angry - they have a right to be. There's a complicated backdrop unfolding behind this crime, in a thousand subtle details. A confederate flag at the South Carolina state capitol was lowered to half mast to honor the killings. Media outlets are already describing the killer as "quiet, soft-spoken" and "mentally ill," descriptions which many doubt a black or brown killer would have received. Dylann Storm was taken in alive, despite possessing a gun on his person at the time of his arrest - again, something that anecdotal evidence would have listed as much less likely if the suspect was black.

I'm a younger white woman, and I feel a little odd being the one to speak on a racial issue. But I can understand why black community leaders would be so angry, and I do think this will increase racial tension. And that...

I was just in the t/lounge, where we were speaking about what our ideal Snapzu looked like. One user, I think it was spaceghoti, has a great quote: "My ideal Snapzu is an open market of ideas and open discussion. We're not always going to agree, but we're not going to punish each other for it."

I really resonate with that! So, in the spirit of building that community, I'm going to post an opinion that I know a few people will probably disagree with and I welcome any disagreement and comments from you all.

This was a racially motivated killing. I don't think there's any way we can deny that. The shooter had a jacket with the symbols for South African and Zimbabwe apartheid on them - not something you see often in the Southern USA. He went to a historically black church - one that has a history of experiencing racially motivated violence - sat with members of the church for nearly an hour hour and then stood up and murdered six women and three men, all black. He announced to the eyewitnesses left standing that he "had to do it, you rape our women and you're taking over our country. You have to go."

And I can understand why the black community in America is so angry - they have a right to be. There's a complicated backdrop unfolding behind this crime, in a thousand subtle details. A confederate flag at the South Carolina state capitol was lowered to half mast to honor the killings. Media outlets are already describing the killer as "quiet, soft-spoken" and "mentally ill," descriptions which many doubt a black or brown killer would have received. Dylann Storm was taken in alive, despite possessing a gun on his person at the time of his arrest - again, something that anecdotal evidence would have listed as much less likely if the suspect was black.

I'm a younger white woman, and I feel a little odd being the one to speak on a racial issue. But I can understand why black community leaders would be so angry, and I do think this will increase racial tension. And that's okay - I think that it should. I'm not sure what the solution is, but it seems like speaking openly about it is a good start.

I sincerely hope this doesn't spark a firestorm of racial chaos. Again.

Horrific, and so sad to hear about the Senator.

300 million people living in the US. There will be some who are 'zapped'. Not excusing this, of course, but I am actually surprised by how much this doesn't happen on regular basis. And by "this" I mean massacres. Regardless of race, religion, and many other differences we have in the US society.