The Arguments of the Texas Ku Klux Klan

Brad Dinerstein

English 1101

Mr. Manzione

November 3, 2003

The Texas Knights of the Ku Klux Klan use a variety of tactics to address various arguments supporting white supremacy and preservation of the white, Christian race. Their website offers various statements on the logical notion of the organization’s creed, character, dilemma, and dedication. These statements use a variety of arguments that mainly appeal to the reader’s character and emotion. The group tries to evoke a sense of pride in the reader’s race in order to allow him or her to sympathize with their arguments.

The main argument of the Texas Knights is that they are working to preserve their heritage, history, and creed. In almost every section of the site the group claims that they are not a hate group and do not discriminate against any group, race, and creed. These ridiculous disclaimers become redundant and are repeated word for word prior to ridiculous hate filled arguments. The group’s main argument is that they believe they are different from other races and strive to keep and preserve their differences. Most of these arguments are based on fallacy rather than actual facts and/or concrete evidence.

The main argumentative tactic for the group’s basis is an appeal of character. They at various times mention that every race has a specific duty to be proud of their prospective history and heritage, regardless of its ethnic origin, and they as white Christians, are simply doing their part. A large source for their argument found in almost all aspects of their site is the fact they are working to protect their children, teach them right, and protect the future. The group claims it is their duty as adults to preserve and promote the safety and innocence of their children by educating them to “love their race, be proud of who they are, and where their roots are.” I personally found this to be the most bizarre of all arguments presented by the group, being that they are in fact educating their children to be racist, and that in turn is destroying their safety and innocence as children, forcing them to believe something that comes unnatural. These arguments are appeals to character in that they argue that it is an individual’s duty to have pride in their race, no matter what race that is, and to pass that pride and separation of races to future generations. The group claims that everyone has that specific duty, and they, as white Christians, are simply carrying out their duty like the rest of us should. The group argues that the preservation of one’s history, even though it may be racist and separate from other cultures, is essential to the advancement of one’s future. In perhaps the group’s most outrageous argument, they claim that “racial separation is not a measure of hate for another race. It is a measure of love for one’s own.” The group argues here with the attempt to appeal to the reader’s sense of patriotism, frustration, and anger. This is also shown by stating how there are those hungry and homeless in America who should be taken care of first rather than those homeless in other nations. The Texas Klansmen also make claims that attempt to appeal to the reader’s sense of religion and duty as a Christian. In arguing against homosexuality they again make a superfluous argument in stating “God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” To further strengthen this stupid statement, the group argues that homosexuality is an abomination before God and should not be permitted because it influences are children. This argument attempts to appeal to religious individuals who care for their children, for should seem to be a large percentage of the world’s population. Claims and arguments such as these are used to appeal to the character of the reader, with the objective to convince them to believe that their arguments are right and just.

Another basis of argument the Texas Klansman use is an appeal their reader’s heart and emotions. These arguments present evidence, weather how illogical it may be, and use it to persuade the reader to think more carefully about certain facts and issues. For example, crime is a highlighted focus of concern in the group’s platform explaining how America is the most violent nation in the world and this violence is a direct result of the pampering of criminals and who at the same time is attempting to disarm its law abiding citizens. This form of argument is used again when the Texas Klansmen allude to the Constitution of the United States. In closing their opening argument, they ‘politely’ ask the reader to keep in mind that everyone has the Constitutional right of free speech. They elaborate on this right by defending their “rare privilege to openly share ones point of view.” They elaborate this argument of free speech even further by mentioning that this right was “given to us by people that have died to protect our freedom and the Constitution of the United States of America.” This ridiculous argument not only serves to appeal to the reader’s heart and emotions, but also to their false sense of patriotism, their sense of anger, and their sense of frustration. The ultimate goal of such claims is to evoke a sense of sympathy and outrage, increasing the strength and relevance of the argument to its readers. This tactic is also used a variety of times in referring to the general American public as “the Tax Payers” where their hard earn money is being used support immigrant children that are possibly going to be detrimental to both society and to the economy. This reference is again used in arguing against US support in aiding anti-American nations. In fact, the group refers to this use of the tax payers’ hard earned money as “ludicrous and wasteful.”

No real, concrete facts are ever presented to support the arguments of the Texas Knights. Various facts are presented to support different arguments believed by the group. No facts include any real numbers or statistics, just outrageous claims and vast generalizations such as “America’s public schools, colleges, and universities, have been turned into political indoctrination centers run by liberals, communist, and atheist” and “America is being transformed into a new Mexico.” These statements presented as facts by the Texas Klansmen are nothing but outrageous claims with zero provided support or evidence that just makes the group’s members seem ignorant and stupid. Again rather than presenting concrete evidence, the group has just made broad generalizations and presented them as facts in a persuasive and convincing manner.

Perhaps the most ridiculous, but amusing arguments by the Texas Klansmen are those that are equivocations.  My favorite to laugh at occurs in the group’s written platform in the first line of its abortion section. It simply states “Thousands of innocent children are slaughtered each day at Baby killing centers all over the country.” The group uses this half truth to emphasize their stance on abortion in attempt to further stress their views of abortion as a form of murder.

The Texas Klansmen argue strongly that the faults in our society, economy, and government, are all due to the integration of race, the acceptance of homosexuality, the failure to control violence, problems in foreign policy, and the practice of policies such as affirmative action, immigration, and welfare. The group greatly attempts to appeal to both the character and the heart of the reader, trying to reach the reader with a sense of patriotism, pride, and outrage, in order for him or her to sympathize with the arguments of the group. The only problem is that the Texas Klansmen base both their arguments and position on specific issues only on fallacy rather than fact. Their arguments come out of their own corrupt and ignorant ideologies and have no real, strong pertinent evidence to base them upon.