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Nazi Christian Youth Alert!

New Trail Life scouting group excludes gay kids & they do a “Sieg Heil!” style salute, too. https://t.co/c3UDn1Vfry pic.twitter.com/Vhvlr3wbyY — Cathy Lynn Grossman (@CLGrossman) March 3, 2014 From the caption of the AP photo accompanying its story about Trail Life: Trail Life members move their arms as they and sing “Taps” in a circle during […]

From the caption of the AP photo accompanying its story about Trail Life:

Trail Life members move their arms as they and sing “Taps” in a circle during a meeting in North Richland Hills, Texas. Trail Life USA, the new Christian-based alternative to the Boy Scouts of America, excludes openly gay members.

This is disgusting, on the part of Cathy Lynn Grossman and the AP both. For one, the caption clearly says these boys were MOVING THEIR ARMS as they sang; the photographer snapped at the moment their arms were in this position. Second, the AP certainly knew the kind of impression that photo would make on the public. If you only see the image, you think you’ve got a pack of Christian Hitler Youth. That is the point.

Again, get used to it. This is how it’s going to be from now on. The media knows exactly what it’s doing.

UPDATE: Here are the lyrics to The Horst Wessel Song the song that those Christian children were singing.

And check this Twitter exchange between C.L. Grossman and me:

 

 

See what she did there?

UPDATE.2: Reader Phil points out that the original caption the AP sent out with its photo did not make it clear that these kids were moving their arms when they were photographed. Here’s the original:

In this Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014 photo, Trail Life members form a circle and recite the organization’s creed during meeting in North Richland Hills, Texas. Trail Life USA, the new Christian-based alternative to the Boy Scouts of America, excludes openly gay members. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

It is possible that this is the caption that Cathy Lynn Grossman saw, in which case her reaction is understandable, and the fault goes primarily to the AP and its photographer L.M. Otero.

UPDATE.3: Then again, where did I read that corrected caption? On the story to which Cathy Lynn Grossman linked. She should have known. There is no excuse.

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