October 29, 2002
6:34 PM Subscribe
Strange fruit?!
This is about the only article out there on the mysterious death of 23 year old Roger McCainn. He was found hanging from a tree by a chain, his mouth duct taped, his hands bound behind his back. Local police are investigating the case as a "suspicious death".
Oh, did I mention that Roger McCainn was black?
This is about the only article out there on the mysterious death of 23 year old Roger McCainn. He was found hanging from a tree by a chain, his mouth duct taped, his hands bound behind his back. Local police are investigating the case as a "suspicious death".
Oh, did I mention that Roger McCainn was black?
This post was deleted for the following reason:
Black, white, green, or purple, that's a terrible way to go. I'm hoping this wasn't a race crime. A guy can hope, right? This sort of thing makes all white people everywhere look bad.
posted by Samsonov14 at 7:00 PM on October 29, 2002
posted by Samsonov14 at 7:00 PM on October 29, 2002
Umm ... how did the journal poster know anything about duct tape? Did she see it? And how did she know he was hanging from the tree - the article indicates only that a young man was found dead, chained to a tree. In those circumstances, I don't doubt that the police have few clues to go on.
I don't doubt that hate crimes still occur, and there's racism and racist acts out there, but unless there's more, independent, confirmation of the "rest of the story" here it sounds like there's no basis to start crying "lynching in Indianapolis!" just yet.
posted by yhbc at 7:09 PM on October 29, 2002
I don't doubt that hate crimes still occur, and there's racism and racist acts out there, but unless there's more, independent, confirmation of the "rest of the story" here it sounds like there's no basis to start crying "lynching in Indianapolis!" just yet.
posted by yhbc at 7:09 PM on October 29, 2002
This might be a simple typo - Google News suggested Roger McCann and found some stories from the local TV stations.
posted by adamsc at 7:10 PM on October 29, 2002
posted by adamsc at 7:10 PM on October 29, 2002
Okay, that's more to go on, but I still don't see anything about duct tape. That sounds an awful lot like an embellishment added by the teller of the story.
posted by yhbc at 7:14 PM on October 29, 2002
posted by yhbc at 7:14 PM on October 29, 2002
The article says both hanging and chained to the tree. Confusing. However, I don't see how this belongs on Metafilter. I don't see how everything but racism has been ruled out.
posted by Hall at 7:14 PM on October 29, 2002
posted by Hall at 7:14 PM on October 29, 2002
Not sure why this was posted here. It's awful, we're all diminished when someone is murdered, but what's to discuss?
posted by RylandDotNet at 7:21 PM on October 29, 2002
posted by RylandDotNet at 7:21 PM on October 29, 2002
My thought exactly, Hall.
I read about another disturbing murder today.
posted by shoos at 7:26 PM on October 29, 2002
I read about another disturbing murder today.
posted by shoos at 7:26 PM on October 29, 2002
Oh, did I mention that Roger McCainn was black?
Stoking the fire is always a good posting technique.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 7:27 PM on October 29, 2002
Stoking the fire is always a good posting technique.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 7:27 PM on October 29, 2002
Samsonov14: Why does this make all white people everywhere look bad? Does Tony Blair look bad because of this? He's white. Terrible death, terrible post.
posted by Frank Grimes at 7:48 PM on October 29, 2002
posted by Frank Grimes at 7:48 PM on October 29, 2002
shoos: all murders are disturbing.
hall: because we can't discuss politics and religion 24/7. It seems racism is the latest meme.
The possibility of another lynching in enlightened America is a topic some may want to discuss.
Frank: In the case of Tony Blair -- I think it's the terrible lighting during Prime Minister's Questions.
posted by ?! at 7:53 PM on October 29, 2002
hall: because we can't discuss politics and religion 24/7. It seems racism is the latest meme.
The possibility of another lynching in enlightened America is a topic some may want to discuss.
Frank: In the case of Tony Blair -- I think it's the terrible lighting during Prime Minister's Questions.
posted by ?! at 7:53 PM on October 29, 2002
How terrible. The only thing worse than this would be for Dina Temple-Raston to write a book about it.
posted by bradth27 at 8:32 PM on October 29, 2002
posted by bradth27 at 8:32 PM on October 29, 2002
This sort of thing makes all white people everywhere look bad.
How do you figure? I find that claim preposterous. Such a crime reflects upon those who perpetrated it, and perhaps secondarily upon the society within which such individuals flourish unremarked and unrestrained (if, indeed, they do), but it certainly says NOTHING about any other individuals with no connection whatsoever to the crime. You might equally contend that "this sort of thing makes all black people everywhere look like weak victims who can't defend themselves properly." Sheesh.
posted by rushmc at 8:36 PM on October 29, 2002
How do you figure? I find that claim preposterous. Such a crime reflects upon those who perpetrated it, and perhaps secondarily upon the society within which such individuals flourish unremarked and unrestrained (if, indeed, they do), but it certainly says NOTHING about any other individuals with no connection whatsoever to the crime. You might equally contend that "this sort of thing makes all black people everywhere look like weak victims who can't defend themselves properly." Sheesh.
posted by rushmc at 8:36 PM on October 29, 2002
"Umm ... how did the journal poster know anything about duct tape?"
She apparently heard from the news on a local radio station. It's hard to link to such things unless they are on NPR...
I know that it's possible to see this as just another murder and therefore a throwaway post, but then again, the same thing could have been said about Matthew Shepard.
Lynchings don't happen all that often in "enlightened America", and obviously this isn't widely known news yet, yes... I'd say it's a very valid subject to post about on MeFi.
posted by insomnia_lj at 8:39 PM on October 29, 2002
She apparently heard from the news on a local radio station. It's hard to link to such things unless they are on NPR...
I know that it's possible to see this as just another murder and therefore a throwaway post, but then again, the same thing could have been said about Matthew Shepard.
Lynchings don't happen all that often in "enlightened America", and obviously this isn't widely known news yet, yes... I'd say it's a very valid subject to post about on MeFi.
posted by insomnia_lj at 8:39 PM on October 29, 2002
the same thing could have been said about Matthew Shepard.
Or a huge number of other, anonymous murder victims who don't particularly interest the MTV set.
posted by shoos at 8:55 PM on October 29, 2002
Or a huge number of other, anonymous murder victims who don't particularly interest the MTV set.
posted by shoos at 8:55 PM on October 29, 2002
Hmmmm... the poster seemed to know more about the crime than was revealed in the press....that's suspicious.
I think we have a clue. Someone call the cops, quick!
posted by nyxxxx at 9:04 PM on October 29, 2002
I think we have a clue. Someone call the cops, quick!
posted by nyxxxx at 9:04 PM on October 29, 2002
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posted by insomnia_lj at 6:36 PM on October 29, 2002