Is a Salute to America’s History Inherently Racist?

A photo snapped at a gathering hosted by a national Republican Women’s organization is raising eyebrows after it was posted online and spread across the internet.  The image shows a white South Carolina Republican Senate leader dressed in Confederate attire posing with two blacks in costumes characterized as reminiscent of slavery.

Is a Salute to Americas History Inherently Racist?

The image has brewed up a national firestorm of controversy.

Dot Scott, an NAACP leader in Charleston, said Thursday that the image of Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell “is just another blight” on South Carolina, a state which continues to struggle in balancing modern-day political correctness and its rich but scarred past.  In 2000, the state was thrust into the national spotlight as legislators debated whether the old Confederate battle flag should continue to fly over the state’s capitol.

McConnell, a Civil War re-enactor and history enthusiast who objected to removing the flag from atop the capitol in 2000, is defending the photo.  In interviews with newspaper reporters in Columbia and Charleston, McConnell said the photo shows how far race relations have come in the state.  ”Tell me what is offensive about having the differing parts of the culture there?” he asked. “This picture says, if anything, how we cross cultural lines.”

Is a Salute to Americas History Inherently Racist?

The purported “slaves” in the image are actually Sharon and Frank Murray, a couple who have been working for two decades in preserving the Gullah culture.  Ms. Murry says she was invited to the GOP gathering to represent an historical culture of South Carolina. “The clothing we wear is 1860s skilled artisans wear,” Murray said. “We have never said that we are trying to re-enact slave characters because we are not. That evening it was to introduce the Gullah culture.”

But Scott says the Murrays have their history wrong.  ”They are dressing as we were — as our ancestors were at that time. We were slaves,” she said. “In 2010, while we‘re trying to say we’re in a post-racial era, South Carolina’s elected officials both locally and nationally have continued to do things that are really atrocious.”

Murray says she and her husband have posed with numerous re-enactors portraying soldiers from both the North and South over the years.  During the Charleston GOP meeting in question, she and her husband discussed Gullah culture with the crowd and sang the hymn “Heaven Belongs to You.”

“The basis of that song is if you pray right, if you act right, if you treat people right — if you do all of that then heaven belongs to you,” Murray says.

Is a Salute to Americas History Inherently Racist?

Murray also says she found the internet comments surrounding the photo ironic.  ”We are hearing so many things that contradict if you pray right, and act right and treat people right,” she said.

The picture of the Murrays posing with McConnell spread across the internet after blogger Will Folks posted them on Fitsnews.com Tuesday night.  Folks, a former spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford, was most recently in the news for claiming in May that he had a sexual relationship with Republican gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley in 2007.  Haley denied the affair and Folks offered no proof.

McConnell, who has been a re-enactor for 20 years has been under pressure this week to apologize for the image, but remains steadfast in denying any wrongdoing.  ”What the ladies had put together was a smorgasbord of Southern culture,” he says. “It was reflected in the dress, the historical accuracy of the performances and even down to the food. It was wonderful, entertaining and educational night for those visitors. It showed the approach we have in this state of a shared history.

“If somebody is trying to be politically correct and use a tunnel vision on it and hook in the slavery issue, they’re on a slippery slope toward narrow-mindedness and they should extend the charity of understanding. Receive it in the spirit that it is presented.”

Comments (154)

  • Truncheon
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:51pm

    I believe Dot Scott and the NAACP could generate significantly more interest if they chose much higher profile black people dressing in slave garb.

    For instance, they could focus on Denzel Washington and a whole lot of other black Americans all dressed up and acting like slaves in the 1989 movie, “Glory”.

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097441/

    I mean, we’re talking Denzel, Morgan Freeman, Matthew Broderick….man, the publicity that could get is incalculable…..

    Report Post » Truncheon  
    • Debrabate
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 8:08pm

      Lets not forget judd nelson in Soul Brother… he was actually a white man playing a black man. I dont seem to remember the NAACP screaming Racism over that movie!

      Report Post » Debrabate  
  • pajamash
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:48pm

    How is this different than the Shirley Sherrod incident. The NAACP is spouting off before knowing all the facts. The NAACP owe the Murrays an oppology and offer them a payment for their historical portrayal and discussion on the Gullah culture!!!

    Report Post »  
  • ARCHON
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:46pm

    I know let’s put Negroes in the Roles of the Founding Fathers, Caucasians as Indians, and Japanese Tourists as the Slaves.

    now nobody will be offended.

    Report Post » ARCHON  
    • noverton
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 9:22pm

      You need to learn your history. There were many “negros” who fought and died for this country during the Revolution… but no one then singled anyone out due to the color of their skin… they were simply Patriots and Heros!

      Report Post »  
    • umrebel1991
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 1:45am

      Very true Noverton. African-Americans have played a part in every major conflict of the US including serving on both sides in the Civil War. They have played a part in the formation of this country from the very beginning. That is why the race card does not bother me, because it is simply untrue.

      Yes, we had slavery, but that was more than 150 years ago. Last time I checked nobody born in this country since that time has ever been a slave or owned slaves. So, I owe nobody anything and they have the right to nothing.

      They will have to earn it just as I do. If that makes me racist, then so be it.

      Report Post »  
  • OneRepublic4us
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:37pm

    I understand why the Liberals and the NAACP have a problem with it. They have tried before to re-write history and bury any reference to African linguistic and cultural heritage. The pride of this cultural heritage undermines the NAACP and Liberals portraying blacks as perpetual victims.

    Report Post » OneRepublic4us  
  • pajamash
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:37pm

    Why is it that Bill Maher can go on national television and say President Obama is a *****. President Obama can say about his grand father that he was a “House N(word)”. No racist calls toward these far lefters. However, racism is brought up about pictures from a re-enactment. What next NAACP? Re-enactments are racist? How silly can you get?!

    Report Post »  
  • spendthrift
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:36pm

    The American citizen is not racist. The racist term is being used by the self-proclaimed leaders of any fringe.

    Report Post » spendthrift  
  • capnjack
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:35pm

    Mr McConnell sir, tell them all to go pound sand.

    Report Post » capnjack  
  • PubliusPencilman
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:32pm

    Your average Confederate soldier was a poor, uneducated farmer who was manipulated and marched off to war to slaughter his countrymen by the traitorous plantation-owning elites. Why anyone would want to re-enact such a gross injustice against both poor whites and enslaved blacks is beyond my understanding.

    Report Post »  
    • Truncheon
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:52pm

      PubliusPencildick asserts emptily: “Your average Confederate soldier was…”

      Empty assertions remain….empty.

      Report Post » Truncheon  
    • independentvoteril
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:58pm

      If you DON’T understand wanting to teach history through re-enactment you have a real big problem

      Report Post » independentvoteril  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 9:03pm

      Truncheon,

      I’m not sure exactly what you are objecting to in my post. It wasn’t a slight on Southerners–it was hardly the fault of the poor white farmer that the slave economy depressed wages, hurt small farms and discouraged the development of public education. This is not an empty assertion–demographically these people made up most of the cannon fodder that the self-serving aristocrats sent against the Union in their act of treason against the United States. So what exactly did you disagree with?

      I partially take back what I said about re-enacting–it can be very educational and cool to watch. However, outside this specific situation, wearing a Confederate uniform and flying the flag celebrates treason and a racist government that would make apartheid blush. History is history, but we do choose what we celebrate.

      Report Post »  
    • baldwin4freedom
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 9:17pm

      The Democrats have not changed much, have they? They are still opressing the black man.

      Report Post »  
    • Jackpine Savage
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 11:45pm

      The civil war was a turning point in our history, and seeing a re-enactment can help bring the war to life.
      If everyone portrayed Union soldiers, the battles would look pretty strange.

      Liberals can be so Funny.

      Report Post » Jackpine Savage  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 1:25am

      First of all, unless I really miss my guess, Mr. McConnell is wearing epaulets on his shoulders, which indicates that the uniform is that of an officer in the Confederate Army. Therefore, the character that is being portrayed is most likely not illiterate or poor.

      Secondly, those who are involving in re-enactment are interested in full spectrum of daily life in their chosen time period. This includes the poor and the illiterate as well as the wealthy and well known. Everyone has a story. Some of the stories we know, others we don’t. Re-enactors help to tell the stories of their personas through their garb, whether it be woven gold threads or rags. It’s about preserving the cultures, like the Gullahs, and making it accessible to those who might otherwise not have a chance to hear about it. The point is NOT forgetting.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • umrebel1991
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 1:52am

      That is one of the most absurd assumptions I have ever heard. This is the whole reason we re-enact to educate people like you on the TRUE history, not what the liberals have fed you in their left-wing educational system for decades. You are just another (although it is not your fault) who knows nothing of the true history of the time period. This is why Beck wants us to study history so we can know the real truth and not believe what we are told and fed.

      Report Post »  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 7:56am

      Wait a minute UMREBEL, what assumption are you talking about?

      And Taquoshi, did you actually read my post? I was not trying to make the point that McConnell was masquerading as an illiterate. I’d try to explain further, but I don’t think you would make any effort to understand.

      Report Post »  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 9:38am

      Let’s see….if I don’t understand, that means that Truncheon, IndependentVoterIL, Baldwin4Freedom and JackPine also couldn’t understand your point. Guess I’m not alone.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 10:04am

      It’s not necessarily an issue of “can’t” understand. I have faith in the idea that all of you are reasonably proficient in basic reading comprehension. What I find more often is that people on this board “refuse” to understand. I see, again and again, wilfull misreadings of anything that disturbs the carefully orchestrated political narrative that Mr. Beck and others have constructed for themselves. Take a look and see how many people have been shouted down and labelled “socialists” for making arguments that have absolutely nothing to do with socialism. Anyone who dares to think for his or herself is dismissed as a Pelosi-follower, or (my personal favorite) *******.

      Orwell’s 1984 was not meant to be an instruction manual. Ignorance is not strength.

      Report Post »  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on September 18, 2010 at 12:45am

      Publiuspencilman,

      In your post, you lumped my responses in with every other response to every other post on every other article in The Blaze. At no time in any of my posts did I “shout anyone down”, nor have I indicated that anyone was a “socialist” a “libetard” or any other name or label, nor have I mentioned “Glenn Beck” or “Nancy Pelosi”. Interesting that you quoted “Orwell’s 1984 was not meant to be an instruction manual. Ignorance is not strength.”

      That all came from your postings, not mine. None of those aforementioned items have anything to do with this topic under discussion on this thread, which is what a re-enactor represents when they assume their garb. I simply stated my thoughts and positions.

      You also stated that while I am capable of understanding, I refuse to do so; and I would like to know what you base that claim on.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on September 18, 2010 at 5:53pm

      Point taken–I was reaching to make a larger point that might not be immediately relative to this discussion.

      Report Post »  
    • baldwin4freedom
      Posted on September 19, 2010 at 12:50am

      I am sorry if I misinterpreted the poor confederate soldiers being now compared to those activists in acorn, naacp, seiu, move on.org, congress and so on. I must also apologize for misinterpreting the plantation elitists being now compared to george soros and many others. Thus, I am way off track of thinking that they have exploited the voters by creating class warfare and the victim stance.

      I am really sorry that I did not see the big picture.

      Report Post »  
  • Gita
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:30pm

    Great challenge Nelsonknew! Also read The Declaration of Independence and see how many of the “facts” of the abuses and usurpations by the king of Great Britian can be applied to what the U.S. government is doing today.

    Report Post » Gita  
    • elfenlied25
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 7:48pm

      I accept your challenge nelsonknew. It just so happens I have my pocket Declaration and Constituion from The Heritage Foundation.

      Report Post » elfenlied25  
  • MSP22
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:29pm

    They said “McConnell, a Civil War re-enactor and history enthusiast”………When the truth becomes a problem………we have much larger issues.

    Report Post » MSP22  
  • nelsonknew
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:18pm

    Friday, September 17th is Constitution Day! I challenge EVERYONE to read the Constitution in its’ entirety on Friday. It should take no more than an hour of your time and be one of the most important things you might ever do!
    http://topics.law.cornell.edu/constitution

    Report Post » nelsonknew  
  • veritas51322
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:12pm

    Now we have the dress police and the food police? Good grief!

    Report Post »  
  • tisherself
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:09pm

    This PC crap is starting to wear a little thin. The minorities in this country must like being owned. First it was the slave owners and now it’s the democrats. It’s time to stop wallowing in the past, and look for a better future. They actually find it if they shed the shackles of dependency that the Democrats have them in.

    Report Post » tisherself  
  • tisherself
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:09pm

    This PC crap is starting to wear a little thin. The minorities in this country must like being owned. First it was the slave owners and now it’s the democrats. It’s time to stop wallowing in the past, and look for a better future. They actually find it if they shed the shackles of dependency that the Democrats have them in.

    Report Post » tisherself  
  • koyettsu
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 5:58pm

    I think it is ironic that slavery was run by Democrats, Democrats fought to keep slavery and created racism across the United States and they have the nerve to tell people what is and isn’t racist on a daily basis.

    Report Post »  
  • TattooQ
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 5:50pm

    Found this in Sunnews.com :
    Sharon Murray said she and her husband were neither portraying freedmen nor slaves. They were invited to teach the women about the Gullah culture, she said. Their garments were replicas of clothing worn by skilled craftsmen of the Civil War era.

    The Murrays were paid for their time, and Sharon Murray said the night also offered the couple a chance to network with political activists who might, in turn, become educated on the Gullah culture and help promote efforts to preserve the history.

    “My husband and I are preservationists,” Murray said.

    McConnell has been a re-enactor for 20 years. He said it provides a chance to bring history alive and to teach the public about the past. He wasn’t paid for his participation.

    Sen. Robert Ford, a Charleston Democrat who is black, stood up for McConnell. Ford said McConnell has done more to preserve African-American history than most others in modern times.

    Report Post »  
  • AMERICA4EVER
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 5:50pm

    I don’t know how we can make pre Civil War movies, or for that matter, any movies involving the two races.

    Report Post »  
  • tmarends
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 5:42pm

    Just another example of the left trying to divide us. Bravo to the Murrays for the work they do in trying to preserve a culture that others want us to forget.

    Report Post » tmarends  
  • nskipper
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 5:42pm

    I would like to know from those who are raising a big stink, how do they understand our history? Maybe they don’t and so they are making up their own history. It happened, get over it and learn from it because you can not change it! Now you can rewrite it, and that seems to be what they want us to do; DON’T LET THEM DO IT!

    Report Post » nskipper  
  • d55may
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 5:37pm

    I am sick of the racist slams for even the most innocence things. It is apparent, the accuser hasn‘t any idea what racism really is or how badly it scar’s. Its just a shame that some people continue to try and divide.

    Report Post » d55may  
  • 30moves
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 5:37pm

    It is living history – I was a Civil War re-enactor (as well as Katie Couric’s late husband – a Confederate no less) and there were African-Americans that participated for the fun of it. No one’s feelings were hurt. Good grief!

    Report Post »  
    • av8trx
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 12:28pm

      I have been to two Civil War Reenactments: one at Reelfoot Lake in NW Tennessee; the other was at Beauvoir, the home of conferderate president Jefferson Davis, in Biloxi. It was a hoot to see, and yes, there were some blacks participating who looked to be having a great time, as were the Murrays. It’s about time that we stand up against these naysayers!

      Report Post » av8trx  
  • driftinghounddog
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 5:36pm

    I see nothing wrong with what they did, but I can see were other people in this world would.

    Report Post »  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 5:36pm

    if only they listened to Beck on wearing costumes.

    Report Post » MrButcher  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 1:12am

      The point of re-enacting is to bring history alive and interact with others within the time framework of the chosen persona. It’s not a costume party, and it’s not a make believe party. Glenn is talking about a totally different type of costuming for totally different reasons.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • umrebel1991
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 1:56am

      As a fellow re-enactor I can definitely support your statement Taquoshi. We do it to educate, not to have a party. We love history and want to keep its memory alive while also trying to tell the true story which so few know in the Civil War period.

      Report Post »  
  • smugsmiley
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 5:34pm

    Slavery and racism are realities and parts of American history. You cannot just take the good, you have to take it with the bad. But we should take it as a sign on how far we’ve come.

    Report Post » smugsmiley  
    • renman95
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:49pm

      I remember Michelle O saying we need to change our history, traditions and conversation. It’s typical Liberal pressure to rewrite history.

      Report Post »  
    • FromtheBasement
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 12:31am

      For once Smubsmiley, I agree with you. I think we do need to remember our history as Americans, warts and all. What’s sad is that it took a controversy to introduce the Gullah people to me. As I did a bit of reading about them, I was amazed by their story. It’s an example of a sub-culture and a people, arising and thriving from beginnings in adversity. They should be celebrated, not used as unwitting “poster children” for political debate.

      Report Post » FromtheBasement  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 1:08am

      As a re-enactor, the garb I choose to wear and the persona that I choose to enact are my choices and mine alone. Once I choose the time period and the persona, the persona needs to be within the correct framework. That does not give a non-re-enactor (a.k.a. the public) the right or the ground to tell me who my persona is or represents.

      The Murrays have chosen their time period and their personas and have dressed accordingly. They also have the right to associate with a re-enactor in Southern Civil War garb. Everyone can say what they want, project as much as they want and be as offended as much as they want, but at the end of the day, the bottom line is that the Murrays were in Gullah garb and associating with a friend who is in Southern Civil War garb.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • av8trx
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 12:21pm

      Smugsmiley, you are right, we have come a long way, but, sadly, many blacks are in slavery to the govt for handouts. They do not realize how great their lives could be if they shook off the dems who keep them there and took responsibility for themselves.

      Report Post » av8trx  
    • Time Rebel
      Posted on September 18, 2010 at 2:36pm

      History is a remembrance of the past. We who are alive now have no right to look back and judge those who came before us. They are our ancestors…and they were humans like us who lived the best they could with the knowledge they had at the times in which they lived. I have a Confederate surgeon on my Dad‘s side of the tree and a Union private from Pennsylvania on my Mom’s side. My granddaughter is half black and half white, so she may well have a slave ancestor. I tell her about history and encourage her to have pride in all parts of her heritage.

      Report Post » Time Rebel  
  • broker0101
    Posted on September 16, 2010 at 5:31pm

    It’s time to stand up and tell the Perpetually-Offended to pound sand.

    Report Post » broker0101  
    • Augustus Cicero
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 6:47pm

      Amen, for far too long we’ve put up with the “Offending by Everything” Victimology Crowd.

      Report Post »  
    • Beckofile
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 7:19pm

      History can be written and rewritten. Can any of you lefties answer a couple points?
      1) Why did Linden Johnson block the civil rights legislation when origionally written in 57?
      2) Why did Al Gore senior vote against civil rights legislation?
      3) Why did more (%) Republicans vote for civil rights
      4) Why did the first Republican (Lincoln) take us to war to end slavery?

      The Democrat party has rewritten history and indoctrinated you loons with it in schools they control.

      Report Post » Beckofile  
    • Debrabate
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 7:46pm

      SO if thst “type of dress” is considered racist, what would the NAACP think if they went into Amish country…. they STILL dress like that as they work. I wonder if that make Amish folks racist to the NAACP….

      In otherwords…. Stop being so darned touchy. I am tired of apologizing for slavery when I and my family (dating back to 1723) have never, will never own slaves…. and since they Murrays were NOT dressed as slaves, they were dressed as artisens of the time period (the same way WHITE people used to dress and I have the pics to prove it)… Time for the NAACP to pick a new fight.

      Debrabate  
    • Buck Bagaw
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 7:52pm

      Mooch-elle Obama’s remarks aside, History cannot be changed. The Murrays are portraying the people of an era and the activities they took part in. It is in fact education of the second order ( the first having actually been there) and without folks like them the knowledge would die. Those who purport to see it a “racism” are really trying to “stir the pot”.

      Report Post »  
    • Independent Tess
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 9:00pm

      Thank you to the Murreys for preserving the Gullah culture and teaching others about it. How BORING the world would be if we were on big PC, homogenous mass!!!

      Report Post » Independent Tess  
    • iatoala
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 9:06pm

      I always wonder when the fuss is about the Confederate Battle flag. Ga my home state had the Confederate Battle flag on our state flag well there was an uproar and guess what it was replaced by a new flag that is identical to the “Stars and bars” Confederate Government flag except for the state seal in the blue field instead of the stars. None of the offended have a clue! The government was the entity supporting slavery. The battle flag was the symbol of the soldier. ****** Lefties!!!!

      Report Post » iatoala  
    • mensaman62
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 9:17pm

      Read David Barton’s “American History in Black an White” Woke me up to the parties we follow now and how far we changed. GOD BLESS THE USA!

      Report Post » mensaman62  
    • RoAdFiXeR
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 9:43pm

      This comes off as a bad GEICO add…Is dressing up as a confederate general and posed with two black friends dressed as the help really a bad idea….

      Report Post » RoAdFiXeR  
    • Parrid1
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 10:16pm

      You are right…as my old man would say….it’s time for them “ to go forth and multiply” aka go f…themselves!

      Report Post »  
    • Alon
      Posted on September 16, 2010 at 11:57pm

      It’s history! We need to live with our history whether we like it or not, as it is a part of us. Geese people, loosen up. Hey obviously the blacks in the picture looked like they were having a good time.

      Report Post »  
    • faktchekr
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 8:10am

      Last time I checked, the Constitution does NOT give you the right to “not be offended.” If you don‘t like it don’t look at it…this is what you progressives have been telling the rest of us when we make the mistake of going to Disney Land on Gay Day.

      Report Post » faktchekr  
    • Disabledvet
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 10:08am

      This si a case of political correctness gone to far, this is only racist because a racist is asking that question.

      Report Post »  
    • v.o.t.e.
      Posted on September 17, 2010 at 12:29pm

      what the left does not understand is that entitlements are a 21st century form of slavery

       
    • Dotprince
      Posted on September 18, 2010 at 5:56pm

      Beckofile is absolutely correct. The progressives can only put forth their agenda if they revise history to meet their specifications. Slavery was bad and it was wrong, but it WAS part of our history. We fought a WAR to remove it from our society. However, that doesn’t change the FACT that it was there and it was part of our history. To reenact it is NOT wrong or bad. It was what it was and history is what it is. To sweep it under the rug doesn’t make it any less true. Those who deny history are doomed to repeat it. I admire the people who are willing to reenact these events. They do a great service to our country. There are some who would be offended if you offered them gold on a silver platter because the platter was not also gold. That’s what the NAACP makes me think of in this instance.

      Report Post »  

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