Hooded Horrors

This summer I built a big, 800-pound Namaste Gnome out of concrete block and mortar. He may be big, but he's cute—as gnomes are supposed to be. We just had a snowstorm that transformed my endearing gnome into something that appeared to me as rather sinister...not cute at all.

Why did I have that reaction as I looked at my gnome? As I approached my sculpture for a closer look, I realized that what made it now seem a little threatening was that his cap had been altered into a straight-up conical point by the snow, rather than have that fetching forward-tilted point that gnome hats typically have. As I pondered my snow-covered gnome, I also notice that his face was covered up. Then it hit me: he looked more like a member of the dreaded Ku Klux Klan than a sweet, peaceful dwarf.

Growing up in America, one becomes enculturated by images and news reports of the KKK, a white-supremacy secret movement that originated after the Civil War. Its members wore white sheets with pointed hoods, that hid their faces—eyes peering through two spooky holes. Ever since that beginning, Klan members have spouted hate messages aimed at blacks, Catholics, Jews, and immigrants. Unfortunately, the Klan is still active today's unforgiving environment. When I look at a photo of a Klan gathering, I cannot keep from shuddering, as I remember some of the horrors they have committed.

Several years ago I saw my first images of religious penitents, parading through the streets of Spanish cities. I was rather shocked to see the costumes that they wore strongly resembled the KKK garb. The Spanish processions occur during Holy Week, just before Easter. Their outfits date from medieval times—their tall conical hoods conceal their faces, so they can demonstrate their penance, without revealing their identities. As with members of the KKK, their eyes peer through holes in their hoods.

I have had a struggle viewing the Spanish religious processions as not appearing sinister, like the threatening KKK. I know that my reaction is because I grew up with those hooded horrors, knowing they had evil on their minds, rather than a pious individual exhibiting regret for his sins.

It is fascinating that something that appears appealing can be transformed into something threatening by a modest change. Cute puppies—with their snub snouts and big eyes—can become menacing attack dogs, as they grow up. Cartoonists can change the look of a sketch from an adorable visage to a menacing face, with the stroke of a pen. I had not realized how a little snow could change my gnome from a cute dwarf into a threatening racist. I quickly brushed the snow away.

The photos below show images of my gnome (before and after snow), contrasted to Spanish penitents and KKK members surrounding a burning cross.