“I feel badly about some of the things I did when I was young,” says retired farmer Vern. “We didn't know what we were doing back then,” he adds, recalling the time he and some friends toppled over headstones in an African-American cemetery. Farm life in St. Paul, Minnesota, during the early 1960s was difficult. “Short days, long winter nights and plenty of boredom,” replies Vern when asked about the reasons for his actions. His friends had never known any minorities; they know they had heard of such groups. Vern's social world was saturated with ethnic stereotypes, ignorance and young males seeking out mischief.

Vern later came to realize that his actions were racist, but larger questions loom. What of those who never regret their actions? Where do naiveté and social faux pas end and where does hate begin? How much were Vern's antics influenced by his cronies? What if there were countless Verns and they were state sanctioned? Vern at age 16 and never in trouble with the law may have something in common with Buford Furrow Jr. at age 66.

While most people grow out of adolescent antics, some do not. These same individuals may commit similar acts throughout their lifespan. Buford Furrow Jr. was one such individual. Furrow made national news for one brief moment several years ago.