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Aging Klan Supporter Apologizes For Cross Burnings And Violence
Spartanburg Herald-Journal
/April 5, 2009
Hoping to get into heaven, Elwin Hope Wilson, 72, says he wants to atone for burning crosses, marching with the Klan and beating up Freedom Riders.
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on April 9th, 2009 at 10:06 am
After a FULL LIFETIME of hurting and injuring people who did absolutely nothing to him. Now crippled and nearly blind from diabetes. At age 72 and in the eleventh hour of a wasted and otherwise worthless life, he’s sorry? WOW…
on April 9th, 2009 at 10:06 am
You know I think about the hell these people caused and I say let God forgive them. How in the hell are you going to make people life hell for your entire life then when death is knocking on your door you want forgiveness. I would’nt forgive them,my heart has hardened to these people who are the nastiest people in the world , murderers of little girls all around cowards. I’m sorry you can kiss my ass you made my people suffer, you made us feel like animals and I hope when you go and meet your maker he calls you a nigger and points to a sign that says niggers on other side.
on April 9th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Instead of asking for forgiveness he should see what he can do to change the legacy he has helped create. Go speak to people that still perpetuate hate. Though it seems his only motivation is burning in hell for all eternity. Not exactly true penance.
on April 9th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
If you read the story, he is trying to make amends. Yes, it is sad that it took him so long before he realized what he’d done was bad, but he doesn’t have a handy time machine to go back and change the past — and seppuku is frowned upon in America.
I’m as far away from religious as someone can be (outside of PZ and the like) but if it was religious fears and realizations that brought him to seeking forgiveness — from the specific people he injured — I have no problem with that.
Blacks could even forgive George Wallace in his later years, and supported him. It is not for me to forgive him myself, because I am white, but I have no problem believing him and welcoming his self-realization.
on April 9th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
So, our aging Klansman feels the cold wind coming on? Ho-hum…I think the term ‘forgive’ is one that needs some exploration. I have always believed in ACTIVE, not PASSIVE forgiveness. When you just forgive someone across the board, to my mind at least it’s as if the victim is saying. “Well, all right then, I forgive you.”…implying: what the perpetrator of the hateful act did back then was really okay. Cross burning, bomb planting in a church, harassment of people for simply being a certain race is as NOT okay as it gets. I believe forgiveness must be an active process, meaning that the person who wants to make amends has to GET OFF HIS BUTT AND DO THE WORK. I like the idea mentioned about creating some type of legacy, which might give scholarships to young people of color, or underwrite a particular community service entity which has as its main focus, the betterment of relations and opening dialogue between opposing cultures and groups. THAT to me, is a real way to ‘forgive’, and make a real difference in the bargain. And, to have it mean something for the future, to the people who will be born into this world, hopefully creating a better world than Mr. Burning-Cross-On-The-Lawn is about to leave!
on April 9th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Since he’s now being so honest, how about turning himself in to the authorities for the crimes he committed against his fellow human beings…I’d welcome that kind of self-realization!
on April 9th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Please read the article before responding…
The heart is a strange, hidden affair. It has faintly remembered connections to the universal and eternal, which may seem clearer at both ends of our mortal timelines. The world has little but ridicule to offer a heart softened, and yet it actually indicates a position of respect (at last, in some cases).
on April 10th, 2009 at 12:46 am
Did the last two commenters read the article? He didn’t bomb churches — what he did was bad enough, but he’s not a murderer. Turn himself in? Even if the Statute of Limitations didn’t apply, he’s 72 years old, blind, and, probably dying. What good would it do any of his victims to have him die in a jail cell waiting for a trial.
Establish a legacy? In words, yes, In material ways, how? Klansmen — at least of the 3rd Klan — were the poor whites, the ones who needed ‘someone to look down on.’ And now he’s sick, and probably doesn’t have a pension. Maybe his ‘souveneirs of the 50s’ might bring in enough to cover his remaining months or years, maybe a bit more, but not enough to ‘establish a (monetary) legacy.’
He is a sad old man, not even understanding his own rage. But he has come forth, he’s spoken at churches, he’s begged forgiveness. Maybe I’m a gullible old fool, but
I believe him.
He’ll never sleep well, he’ll die trying and failing to understand who he was when he did his horrible acts, he’ll see the memories, the ghosts, and will be haunted forever. He’s doing what he can. I won’t call him a hero, but he’s no longer a monster, and I have no idea what more someone in his condition can do to ‘atone.’
on April 10th, 2009 at 9:37 am
I understand the anger at what he did. I understand the skepticism regarding his motives. I understand the willingness of people he harmed to forgive him. We should all be grateful that this story did not die with him, and that he has probably caused a lot of people just like him to do some soul searching. No matter what you think of him, be grateful for what he has chosen to do, and given you the opportunity to ponder the meaninglessness of racial hatred.
No one can say he isn’t a brave man, and as a black man, I understand that publicly asking for forgiveness has taken more courage than any of the despicable things he did.
on April 10th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
I sincerely hope this man means what he says. He still seems a bit hard about things. The one whom he really needs to get right with now is God Almighty. I know he talked with a friend and a minister and says he is right in his heart now. We are not to question this man about how he feels in his heart, we do not know. I just recently found out that my grandfather was a member of the Klan years ago. I was totally shocked and sickened by this revelation. I do not think he did anything mean to anyone but I do not know. My father never taught me and my brother to hate anyone no matter what color their skin. We never used the N word growing up and were taught to respect people. It is still shocking to see how many hate groups there are in this country. I can not imagine hating anyone who has done nothing to you and teaching your children this same evil life style.
on April 29th, 2009 at 11:31 am
The old man is a traitor to his race.