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08-23-2018

 

Mike J. Carroll

Murphy Village

North Augusta, S.C. 29860

mikej.carrollauthor@gmail.com

 

Aiken Standard

326 Rutland Drive N.W., PO Box 456
Aiken, SC 29801 
(803) 648-2311

 

Rebuttal: “North Augusta man charged in murder-for-hire insurance fraud scheme”

 

 

Sirs;

 

An article was written by Tripp Girardeau, July 5, 2018, entitled; “North Augusta man charged in murder-for-hire insurance fraud scheme,” is bursting with innuendo, out-and-out lies, propaganda, and falsely uses ethnicity not only to convict the accused but also to endorse discrimination and racism. The journalist begins his indictment of Charles Mercier an insurance agent by stating he is associated with the North Augusta American-Irish Travellers, why? North Augusta Irish Travellers were not involved in this crime, yet they are referenced throughout the article, why?

 

American-Irish Travellers migrated to the North Augusta area in the late 1950’s and developed a community once known as “The Camp,” now known as Murphy Village. They patronage countless businesses throughout the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). “Mercier, who is an insurance agent in North Augusta, is said to be a member of the Irish Travelers who lives in Murphy Village, according to the Star-Telegram.” The reprinting of a known lie in a deliberate attempt to single-out an ethnic minority and expose an entire community to discrimination, intolerance, prejudice, and racism is disgraceful. Racism is a strong motivator for those who seek to punish an ethnic minority irrespective of truth. Condemnation levied despite there being no relationship either in blood or marriage. Reminiscent of times past that brought enduring shame on those who promoted atrocities inflicted on the victim and devotion to the belief of the superior race. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party who condemned the Jewish race, the Southern plantation owner who chained and whipped his African property into a grotesque pile of flesh, and the Native-Americans drove from their encampments, the men and children slaughtered, and the women raped. History is overwhelmed with examples of the innocent being called savages and the barbarians called Christians.

 

A southern newspaper founded in 1867, following the atrocities committed against the African-American race should never print false allegations and promote innuendo against an ethnic minority. Such actions are a stark reminder of those who long for the days when they freely condemned the Africans, Asians, and Hispanics, desperately seeking another minority through which they can express their bigotry, induce punishment, and promote xenophobia. A newspaper that republishes deception and lies to promote sensationalism and increase readership for revenue ensures the decline of a respected publication to a discredited tabloid. Journalism is the collection and editing of truth by a reporter not a pathetic display of ignorance. If it is the truth that you seek buy my book, entitled; "Irish Travellers: An Undocumented Journey Through History," available on amazon.com and Barnes & Noble

 

The United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) was adopted by the General Assembly on December 19, 1966, and came into force on March 23, 1976, ensuring the protection of fundamental human rights. The United States of America both ratified and is a signatory to this important international human rights document. Article 27: “In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practice their own religion, or to use their own language.” Irish Travellers are an ethnic minority in their homeland of Ireland and other countries. The American-Irish Traveller population in the USA is 0.001529% of the total population of 327,000,000. American-Irish Travellers meet all the elements required to be recognized as an ethnic minority in the USA and denying this recognition is a violation of the ICCPR. American-Irish Travellers are not a cult or gang and are not made up of con-artists and criminals, referring to them as such in the public domain is a violation of their civil rights and international law.

 

I ask that you print my rebuttal, but I don’t expect my response to be published because the truth is feared far more than a lie.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Mike J. Carroll, American-Irish Traveller

 

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