Politicians in Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's hometown of Graz, Austria apparently didn't approve of the governor declining to overturn the decisions of the numerous courts and the jury that sentenced The Gangster Tookie Williams to death for murders he was convicted of committing.
Review:
Local officials in Graz started a petition to have Mr. Schwarzenegger's name removed from the town stadium. They sent him a letter to this effect.
Governor Schwarzenegger took the offensive on the matter and rather than biting his nails and waiting for their decision, he faxed them a letter.
In his letter he told them he would 'spare them any further concern' and instructed them to remove his name from the stadium and, oh by the way, they can't use his name or identity to promote their city anymore.
To bring the point even further home. He returned a ring presented to him by the City of Graz. Here's part of what he wrote in his letter:
"I considered the ring as a token of sincere friendship between my hometown and me." "Since, however, the official Graz appears to no longer accept me as one of their own, this ring has lost its meaning and value to me. It is already in the mail."
A few years ago the city council voted unanimously for Graz to be designated as Europe's 'City of Human Rights'. The Green Party, Communist Party and Socialist Party members of the city council prevailed over the minority conservative Peoples Party members. That alone should tell us what happened there.
But there's more. A poll has shown that over 70% of Graz' population is in opposition of their leadership's decision on this matter.
A professor in Graz, Wolfgang Benedek, explains that, among other things, this is the European elite vs. the popular opinion. That also explains a lot.
Suggestions for renaming the stadium included naming it after the Crips (the gang Tookie founded). It was also suggested it be named 'Hakoah' after an Austrian Jewish Sports Club that was banned when Hitler annexed Austria in 1938.
The Hakoah idea didn't go very far. It seems their ideals of human rights only go so far. It was stated they didn't want a day to day reminder of their not so pleasant past!
The town officials have taken mention of Schwarzenegger from their website. They say American's are 'barbaric'.
Now, here's the thing.
1. Schwarzenegger was not the only avenue of clemency that Tookie had. He was the last and the one taking the heat for not granting clemency. Even the 9th District Court of California refused clemency for crying out loud!
2. Why is this any city in Europe's business and why do they care what American laws are? I don't have a problem with it if they want to release murderers to live in their neighborhoods. That's their country. They can do what they want.
3. Lastly, I know that Österreich is not the exact same as Deutschland. However, Österreich did become a part of Deutschland during World War II and their other most famous son was ... well ... Adolf Hitler. Now, I know they don't like being reminded of that, but it is, in fact, a fact.
With a history of executing an estimated 6 million Jews and Lord only knows how many Gypsys and other untermenschen the Austrians/Germans seem to have a new found compassion for their fellow human beings.
But they are reformed. So it seems they can now sit in judgement of the U.S.A.
How reformed are the Austrians?
Not enough to name the Stadium Formerly Known as the Schwarzenegger Stadium after a Jewish Sports Club that was eliminated by their former most famous son.
Will their new found compassion not embrace their Jewish citizens?
Will their reformation continue in the face of an ever increasing Muslim population that is hostile towards their Germanic lifestyles?
My guess is the Austrians are just about as reformed as Tookie was.
More info on this case if you want to read more:
Brietbart
This is London
International Herald Tribune
Brietbart, December 28
The Drudge Report
Previous post I've written about this case:
Clemency for Tookie Williams
To the Terrorists Appologists
Arnold Says No
St. Tookie and Bad Old Benedict XVI
Schwartznegger To Terminate Beloved Children's Book Author
Whew!!! There are tons of posts on this - that'll suffice for now :)
Thanks to Cao's Blog for the Mid-Week Open Track Back Party!
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