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White Pride Denied

Elizabeth Wright - 8/11/2007

Did you know that the terms "Black Power," "Black Supremacy," and "La Raza" (The Race) are all trademarks that have long been approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office? Even the Black Panther Party's slogan "Burn, Baby, Burn" (which still evokes the threat of rioting and mayhem), had no problem winning official trademark recognition. And then there's "African Pride," "Black Pride," "Chippewa Pride," "Cuban Pride," "Indian Pride," "Jewish Pride," "Red Pride," and lots more -- all aimed at acknowledging a race or ethnicity. And all terms approved by the U.S. government.

As Reported by American Renaissance and Free Republic, when Justin Moritz, a former law enforcement officer, applied to trademark the phrase "White Pride Country Wide," he was rejected in no uncertain terms. Registration of the words was not only denied, but the phrase was ruled "offensive" and "immoral." More succinctly, the trademark office claimed, "... the proposed mark consists of or comprises immoral or scandalous matter."

Incredulous, Moritz's next step was to appeal the decision and give trademark officials a chance to reconsider his request. He first did some homework and accumulated a list of all the trademarks given to terms that acknowledge pride of race or national origin. He came up with over three dozen relevant terms or slogans, many referencing people of color, which objectively could be deemed close relatives to "White Pride Country Wide." All to no avail. Rejection of his registration was upheld, and to add to his vexation, his $1,300 trademark application fee was deemed non-refundable.

Moritz next turned to the ACLU, which, unsurprisingly, refused to petition the trademark office in his behalf. He then contacted the Center for Individual Rights, a public interest law firm. CIR did not take the case, but did place it on the website of the Federalist Society, where lawyers sometimes choose cases to handle pro bono. As of August, Moritz had not been contacted by a willing attorney.

Let's face it, it would be surprising if Moritz found support, especially among whites. After decades of inundation about the evils of "white racism" coming from all directions, and most especially from the media and education establishments, the average white is programmed to avoid anything that smacks of conscious endorsement of his own race. In the current social climate, to display favorable regard towards that which is white, not only is forbidden, but is viewed as an automatic disparagement of non-whites.

A "White Pride" T-shirt is deemed a threatening symbol, whereas a "Black Supremacy" slogan on a button or garment is viewed as an understandable, albeit angry response to undeserved past abuses. Any public effort to promote a white theme is doomed to failure, even if the proper bows to racial diversity are adhered to. Whites learn early to censor themselves, in order to comply with the rules of the race game.

The white who does not learn how to keep his head beneath the radar could wind up smeared with the "racist" label -- a potentially ruinous accusation. He who slips and fails to follow the politically correct race protocol could find himself in a turbulent situation. Given the existence of "hate crime" laws -- ambiguous statutes conceived primarily to entrap whites -- it is best to keep any socially unorthodox thoughts to oneself. As several cases demonstrate, punishment for Thought Crime has arrived in America.

Knowing that whites are on the defensive in this peculiar, one-sided shadow play, self-appointed "watchdog" groups, i.e., the professional "anti-racists," are quick to target a slogan like "White Pride Country Wide" as an arrogant manifestation of white supremacy. Honest intentions do not matter, since this is a "Gotcha!" game. Once the taboo "supremacist" has been applied, other whites will run for cover, eager to dissociate themselves from anyone who might bring on "race" troubles.

In a society now immersed in identity politics, where the education system and a reinforcing media work overtime in pummeling young minds with racially correct propaganda, there is little prospect that fairness will prevail in the near future.