A bit upriver from New Orleans there is a tradition going back some 200 years or so of lighting large bonfires along the Mississippi river levee on Christmas Eve. The tradition is that they are there to light the way for Papa Noel (The Cajun French version of Santa Claus). Every fifty feet or so for miles, families build these tall pyramids made from willow logs harvested from the river batture (the space between the levee, and the water's edge). Some of them reach 20 ft. in height.

Occasionally, these fires are constructed in whimsical shapes. This year I saw fires built to resemble crawfish, stern wheeler river boats, cabins, etc. One even included a real full-sized grand piano. But the one that really took me aback was one that included a ten-foot-cross.

I have lived in this area of the country for an aggregate of 44 years, and have never witnessed a burning cross before. At first I felt sure the cross would be removed before the fire was actually lit. I didn't think anybody in this day and age would be ignorant of the symbolism engendered in a burning cross. People in Southeast Louisiana (especially NOLA) have a long history of more-or-less peaceful co-existence with other races. I figured the cross was there merely as a nod toward Christianity as a main theme of the season. I figured the folks that made it didn't intend to be identified with the KKK and would surely not want to cause the hurt, and feelings of intimidation such a sight would certainly engender. True, most of the participants and spectators in this area were white. However, just a mile or so down the road were equally large celebrations of mostly black folks. That's not to mention the many people, both locals, and tourists from all over that came up from the city to see the fires. Would these bonfire burners really not care what others think, and actually burn the cross?

They did. Everywhere around me I heard people in the crowd expressing disbelief and dismay that they were actually burning a cross. However, I also heard more than one mention that now that Trump was POTUS there would be a lot more crosses burned.

So, my question is this; do you think this is just an innocent expression of religion that just happened to include fire, or is this really a sign of a changing attitude by racists that it is now socially acceptable to express their hatred out in the open now that they have a "friend" (note quotes) in the White House?

I think some of these white supremacists are feeling emboldened by the Trump victory, pretty much the same as groups like BLM felt emboldened under Obama.

Only difference is Trump is not encouraging the hate group like Obama was and is.

all church fires blamed on white supremacists are started by black church members that vote democrat

And regressives complain about the Trump supporters reading fake news...

Anyway, can we just stop all the race baiting nonsense? Or wait, actually - if you all keep it up, it will lead to more future losses for the regressives, more conservative progress and ultimate victory for us. So, I am not sure. Either way, we all win.

No but as you seen your post more than one person has related this cross burning to Trump including ones that haven't even happened.

Maybe it was just a letter "t" - for "trump".