Everyone In Rome Wears A Toga!

In response to the often repeated Internet meme regarding how Republicans cannot possibly be anti-minorities since Lincoln freed the slaves:

The facts do not support your position. Yes, the Republican Party was once the most liberal party on the face of the planet. Conservatives all over the world bitterly condemned Abraham Lincoln and his supporters. They were called the Radical Republicans because they were so extremely liberal. Does this mean that the Republican Party is liberal today?

That was 150 years ago. It does not mean they are liberal now. The Romans threw Christians to the lions in the past. That does not mean the Romans throw Christians to the lions today.

In the 1960s when the Democrats became the party of civil rights, a group of Democrats called the Dixiecrat's rebelled. They ceased being members of the Democratic Party and became members of the Republican Party. They did this because the Democrats were in favor of civil rights and the Republicans were totally opposed to them.

The Democrats were supporters of Jim Crow over 100 years ago. They became the enemies of Jim Crow in the 1960s. The Republicans were supporters of Jim Crow only 50 years ago. And much more recently than that.

People change. Political parties change too. To say, "my party was liberal during the Civil War" does not say anything about what your party is today.

Idle Thoughts -- Multiple Identities

Another slice off the top of my head.

Can one have both a national and an ethnic identity?  Strange question in my opinion.  From my point of view, this is like asking can a person own a bicycle and a car? They're both modes of transportation, but they are not mutually exclusive.  

Let's make up an imaginary case. Well, partly imaginary. This individual is based on a dear friend who died some years ago. Was he American? You better believe it! I wonder if I need say any more than, he carried a badge. If there's any group that has a strong tendency to be firmly and devotedly patriotic, it's men in uniform, and this is even more true of those who carry a badge.

After all, these individuals are entrusted with the police power of the state.  They are charged with representing the government in a one-to-one contact with a sometimes hostile public. If they don't regard themselves as thoroughly American, it's a surprise. In a very real and practical sense they are the government for most Americans.

Congress and the president are far away. We don't end up in court very often. And we only deal taxman once year, unless we've been naughty or careless.  But unless we are stuck in the house all day, we are very likely to at least see one policeman drive by on a daily basis, which usually causes us to quickly buckle our seatbelt or get off the cell phone. Maybe both.

So there was no doubt that he was a loyal and patriotic American, which did not stop him from being a wild-hearted Irishman.  Irish poetry or Irish whiskey, pretty much Irish anything, was part of his definition of himself. If you wore a kiss me I'm Irish button on St. Patrick's Day, he laughed and said, "Nah, you're not Irish.  But I'll allow it, just for today."

He made it clear that he was very tolerant but that there was no race that could equal the Irish race. If you tried to call him on racial profiling he would only say, "Of course we're a separate race!  Isn't that obvious?"

I don't think I have ever known anyone more American, and I'm absolutely sure I've never known anyone more Irish. Conflict? I never saw any.

The Supremes

The Roberts Court to corporations: Not only are you human beings, you are American citizens of the most superior class. Your rights are greater than those of mere members of the species, Homo Sapiens.

The Roberts Court to gays: You are tentatively accepted as having the potential to become full American citizens. You may now attempt to convince the states to grant you this privilege.

The Roberts Court to Blacks and other minorities: Please return the back of the bus.

Rejoice

From the LA Times -- Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio has become one of the most prominent elected Republicans to announce his support for same-sex marriage, a "change of heart" that he said began when his son told him that he was gay. --

Sen. Portman's rather remarkable declaration has led to condemnation from both sides. There are those among the tolerant angry at him for taking so long to finally get here and over his previous record. There are those on the conservative side angry him for having changed his position.

I'm reminded of Abraham Lincoln. There are those who criticize him for having taken so long to finally realize that abolition was an absolute necessity. And there are those, even in this day, who criticize him for offending the South's "right" to traffic in human flesh. In Lincoln's case, I'll agree with Fredrick Douglas. Douglas said that it was terrible that it took Lincoln so long to finally get there, but, he added, at least he had finally arrived and it was pretty hard to criticize that.

Senator Portman was lost, but now is found; was blind, but now he sees. Good for him.

In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents. -- Luke 15:10

The Voting Rights Act

In opening the hearing on the Voting Rights Act, Justice Antonin Scalia referred to the law as a "perpetuation of racial entitlement,". So Justice Scalia joins the Taney Court, affirming that Backs are second class citizens whose right to vote is merely a racial entitlement, not an actual right. Note: the Taney Court delivered the infamous Dred Scott decision, which ruled that Blacks weren't even citizens. Scalia has made some progress, at least he thinks they are citizens, just without then full rights thereof.

Affirmative action. A great idea that failed in the real world. Intended to heal
and reverse the pernicious effects of racism, it inflamed and aggravated tensions without effectively meeting the needs of those suffering from centuries of abuse. The newer Texas system is more effective and race neutral. I strongly support it.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fla-na-court-affirmative-action-20120222%2C0%2C2933055.story&h=5AQGVNaGlAQECsutT6tiT29W59cbAO5AKd8cKjSaHHbbL7g

Shawn's response: Being that Affirmative action was initially intended to promote "equal opportunity" in due time to "heal" discrimination and subsequently dissipate the need for such initiatives ... Yes I would agree that it "Failed" ... However, being that this didn't work for the "healing" of discrimination, it did successfully help A LOT of minorities in areas of the workforce as well as education obtain that which would have been even harder to obtain had not such initiative been in place. The fat that it "Didn't" work completely as planned proves that.

My response to Shawn: Agreed. It did good work in its day. I was a strong supporter in the beginning. I believe now that it has become more negative than positive and believe that we need to address the ongoing root problems that deny a fair chance. I've been convinced for decades that guaranteeing admittance to junior college, state college, or state university if you meet certain grade standards, is one effective solution.
No games, no tricks. You earn it, you get it. This promise must be made clear to all kids in elementary school and it MUST be kept. For those who fear a new entitlement, the grades must stay high in college and financial support must be on a sliding scale. Also, recall that the entitlement of the GI Bill made us the wealthiest nation in the history of the planet in the 50's

And later:

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fla-ed-affirmative-20120223%2C0%2C6933836.story&h=NAQHfASwMAQHwKhFLvL1-9tv8tDFeYGbhKXyzOZJmkCjmQQ

The other side of the story. Affirmative action did much good in the beginning, but I believe that the time has come to change the focus to ending the causes, not simply mitigating their results. I suggest four essential changes: 1. A "GI Bill" for America's youth. If you earn admission to higher education, you get it. Think of it as a salary for the work done in K through 12 education. 2. Stop the war on minority young men, which is a war on their families. These men belong at home with their wives and children, not incarcerated at such unbelievable rates. A white man arrested for drug possession is very likely to get probation and treatment. A Black or Hispanic man is almost certain to get imprisoned. 3. Give a future back to inner city kids. Growing up in gang and drug infested neighborhoods makes many children believe they will not live to grow up. Why try when you are soon to die anyway? 4. Give principals much more authority and responsibility for their schools. Government meddling by incompetent amateurs, from local school board members to US senators has steadily and predictably degraded our once world class education system into a test driven national disgrace. Reform not the schools, but the system of political education systems which care more about ideology than about teaching children.