THE New York Times today describes the 2008 racially-motivated arson that destroyed a black church in Springfied, Massachussetts as a “hate-fueled fire.” A crime that is more than two years old, in which the perpetrators have been caught and punished, still calls for passionate condemnation. In contrast, the brutal execution-style murder of a young white couple by two black men in Tulsa, Oklahoma last week has not even been covered by the Times, let alone been identified as “hate-fueled.” The media coverage elsewhere of the murder of Carissa Horton and Ethan Nichols, who were robbed in a park and then shot in the head, has overwhelmingly referred to the crime as “senseless” or “random,” not as an act of racial hatred. 

Here is the statement of the black preacher of the church that was destroyed in 2008:

“Unfortunately, it was a confirmation of my experiences as an African-American,” Bishop Robinson said, adding: “My faith teaches me to forgive, and I forgive them. But I cannot be accepting of their behavior. I cannot be victimized by hatred. So I have to move forward.”

In contrast, the mother of 21-year-old Ethan Nicols said she forgives the killers and that she isn’t angry. She does not identify any racial motive in the killing of her son. She said:

“When we think people are getting away with it, even the ones who do get away, hell is where they’ll face their consequences.”

Judging from media reports, no one mourning the deaths of the young couple has said anything as strong as Robinson’s words that he “cannot be victimized by hatred.” 

Daniel Guajarrdo, dean of students at Oral Roberts University, where Carissa was a student, makes this fatalistic statement: “I think you wouldn’t be human if you didn’t ask why. And so we’ve asked why so many times, and that’s part of the process. We probably won’t get the answer as to why.”

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