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Why Doesn’t the Southeast Missourian Want you to Know about This Man?


Saturday, February 17th 2007

Readers of the Missouri Bushwhacker Blog and those in the Southern
Movement already know about Mr. Edgerton, but this is exactly the
reason why I submitted an Opinion-Editorial to the Southeast Missourian
newspaper about him recently.

While people in the Southern Movement know about H.K. Edgerton,
there are many more people who know nothing about him. I thought
it would be a good idea to tell the public in general about Mr.
Edgerton, his ancestry and his fight to help save our heritage.

On February 3’rd, 2007 I submitted an Op-Ed to Mr. Sullivan about
H.K. Edgerton, with the following introduction:

"Sir,

In honor of Black History Month, I would like to submit the following
Op-Ed about Mr. H.K. Edgerton.
Sincerely,

Clint E. Lacy"

I received the following email in response to my request, from
Mr. Sullivan:

"Clint: I think you’ve covered this material in your
July 5, 2006 op-ed column “Blacks, American Indians, Jews
fought for Confederacy” and your Nov. 11, 2006, letter “Students
defend their heritage.”

Joe Sullivan
Editor
Southeast Missourian"

Not to be deterred, I submitted a Letter to the Editor to the
Southeast Missourian on February 9th,2007, thinking at least a
little information about H.K. to the public would be better than
none at all. But this time I chose to not only to expose the Southeast
Missourians bias in relation to Mr. Edgerton, but also on several
other subjects as well…

"I noticed that in the February 9, 2007 edition of the Southeast
Missourian that an Editorial entitled: Black History was published
stating
that:"When Paxton Williams portrayed George Washington Carver
during last
summer’s Chautauqua festival, he made quite an impression. Thanks
to
Southeast Missouri State University’s events to celebrate Black
History
Month, Williams returned last week as part of the Multicultural
Speaker
Series. Five other Black History Month events are scheduled, and
they are
worthy of the attention of anyone who wants to learn more about
the
African-American experience in this country."

It is interesting that the Southeast Missouri mentions who they
think
is "worthy of attention" during Black History Month.

When I submitted a submission about Mr. H.K. Edgerton I received
an
email from your editor, Joe Sullivan stating that I "had
already covered
this subject" in July and November of 2006, though he clearly
wasn’t
concerned about "over coverage" of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. last month
as the paper published 12 stories on this subject alone.

Mr. Sullivan made it clear to me that he does not consider Mr.
Edgerton
as a "worthy" subject for Black History Month, however;
if you would
like to learn more about Mr. Edgerton you can visit his website
at:
www.southernheritage411.com

The Southeast Missourian has shown overwhelming bias in this
subject,
the Jetton-Lipke debate, and coverage of Chief Paul White Eagle
in the
past week alone ; it should be more objective in future publications."

Attempt number two was "no dice" as well. So hoping
that the third attempt would be a charm, I once again pounded
out another Letter to the Editor to the Southeast Missourian,
which was submitted on February 13th,2007. It read:

"This is the third time I have tried to get a submission
published in
the Southeast Missourian as of late. Maybe three times will be
a charm

The first time it was an op-ed about Mr. H.K. Edgerton, a Black
Southern Heritage Activist. It was quickly rejected by one of
your editors. I
guess Mr. Edgerton represents "the wrong kind" of history
for the
Southeast Missourian.

Since last week I have noticed multiple instances of bias perpetrated
by the Southeast Missourian.

The coverage of Chief White Eagle was misleading; however, it
probably
came as no surprise as the American Indian is used to broken promises.
I agree with Joy Bell that, "To suggest that any native group
has to
prove its legitimacy using documentation from within the white
culture is
no different than relying on the fox for factual verification
about
what happened to the hens"

It is no different with Yankees either Mrs. Bell. Our history
is
written in "blue ink", and Yankees would rather rely
on the "fox" than on the
facts.

I’ve also noticed there has been no shortage of anti-Jetton rhetoric
either. I supported Jetton’s opponent in last year’s election,
but think
he did the right thing by stripping a politically-correct South-hater
of leadership power.

Lipke is a liberal, which is why the Southeast Missourian loves
him.

In each example of bias I have given it is evident that the Southeast
Missourian’s loyalties are with the national Republican neocon
party,
not the welfare of Missouri."

To my surprise on Friday February 16th, 2007, my third attempt
was successful. Or was it? This is how it read after publication:

"To the editor:Since last week I have noticed multiple instances
of bias perpetrated by the Southeast Missourian.

The coverage of Chief White Eagle was misleading. However, it
probably came as no surprise, as the American Indian is used to
broken promises. I agree with Joy Bell: "To suggest that
any native group has to prove its legitimacy using documentation
from within the white culture is no different than relying on
the fox for factual verification about what happened to the hens."

It is no different with Yankees. Our history is written in blue
ink, and Yankees would rather rely on the fox than on the facts.

I’ve also noticed there has been no shortage of anti-Rod Jetton
rhetoric. I supported Jetton’s opponent in last year’s election,
but I think he did the right thing by stripping a politically
correct South-hater of leadership power. State Rep. Scott Lipke
is a liberal, which is why the Southeast Missourian loves him.

In each example of bias I have given it is evident that the Southeast
Missourian’s loyalties are with the national Republican neocon
party, not the welfare of Missouri.

CLINT E. LACY, Marble Hill, Mo. "

There was only one thing missing. Did you notice the difference
between the Letter that I submitted, and the Letter that the Southeast
Missourian published?

H.K. Edgerton was missing. His web address was missing, all traces
of him that were found in my original Letter submission were edited
out.

Now the inevitable question must be asked; why?

Perhaps the paper thinks it was too controversial of subject
to publish during Black History Month;why?

After all, H.K. Edgerton is Black. Does he not have the right
to be honored during Black History Month? Do I not have the right
to admire him, or tell others about him , so that they may learn
more. If not , then why?

Perhaps it is the truth that H.K. brings with him whenever he
is asked to speak publicly. Is the public not entitled to the
truth? If not then why?

Why doesn’t the Southeast Missourian want the public to know
about Mr. Edgerton?

Questions,comments? Email them to me at: clintlacy2@yahoo.com