Poli (Sigh): Time To Uncouple From Tom Metzger’s Legacy
By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews
Maybe now, the blemish of racism tied to Warsaw can start to permanently fade.
If you don’t know about the life of Tom Metzger, here’s a brief synopsis:
He was born in Warsaw and eventually became a grand dragon with the Klan and then gave birth to the White Aryan Resistance.
He made a life out of hating people, teaching others to hate people and devising violence against minorities. He’s essentially was the leader and outspoken spokesman for skinheads.
Eventually, he became nationally known and appeared on those combative afternoon TV shows like Geraldo Rivera.
What is never really clear is that the evolution of this racism blossomed in California after he served in the U.S. Army and moved away from Warsaw. Much of his notoriety flourished during his life on the West Coast.
Metzger returned to live in the area for an unknown number of years before he made a final return to California.
My understanding of Metzger is limited, but from my recollections, he was more of a gadfly who wrote letters to the editor and was viewed as the old town racist. I distantly recall a feeble attempt at a Klan rally in Warsaw in the 1990s and wouldn’t be surprised if he had a hand in it.
Metzger ran several times for public office in California and always eventually lost. In 2010, he ran an ad in the Times-Union announcing intentions to run for Indiana’s Third Congressional District seat, an idea that never got off the ground.
Metzger died earlier this month in Helmet, Calif., at the age of 82.
His life was effectively summed up in a lengthy story in the San Diego Union-Tribune, which referred to him as one of the “most influential figures in the nation’s White supremacist movement who mentored a violent generation of neo-Nazis.”
The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday weighed in on the death of Metzger: “A dark chapter of hate closes with the passing of Tom Metzger — a notorious figure who helped to poison the hearts and minds of others with his xenophobia, racism, antisemitism and bigotry … We can now relegate him to the dustbin of history and take a collective breath.”
Local leaders have often said Metzger’s connection to Warsaw spanning decades has brought undue attention to the city.
At the same time, one can argue that Metzger’s racist DNA still lingers in some not-so dark corners of our neighborhoods.
Thank goodness he was not an active participant in local rallies held this year involving Black Lives Matter.
But then again, keep in mind his legacy likely rose up again this summer as Frank Nitty reminded us on social media of a lingering reputation as he passed through Kosciusko County on his “march” to Washinton D.C.
Warsaw needs to work hard to further eliminate the Metzger blemish and is moving in the right direction with two groups espousing the things Metzger despised – bringing people together and reinforcing a necessary sense of respect for everyone.
We need to learn from Tom Metzger and then never look back.
* * *
Dan Spalding is the editor at InkFreeNews.com.
He covers city government and politics and always welcomes your input.
He can be reached at dan.spalding@inkfreenews.com or at (574) 855-7612.
