Nikki Haley - poster Gov for the GOP

 

For many people in our state, the flag stands for traditions that are noble. Traditions of history, of heritage, and of ancestry. 

The hate filled murderer who massacred our brothers and sisters in Charleston has a sick and twisted view of the flag. In no way does he reflect the people in our state who respect and, in many ways, revere it. Those South Carolinians view the flag as a symbol of respect, integrity, and duty. They also see it as a memorial, a way to honor ancestors who came to the service of their state during time of conflict. That is not hate, nor is it racism.

That's an excerpt from Gov. Nikki Haley's much lauded announcement that she was FINALLY recommending removing the Confederate flag from South Carolina's statehouse grounds.  (Law degrees that only 2/3 passage by the state legislature can actually lower it, let alone remove it.)

What is astonishing about Gov. Haley's statement is how oblivious she - and apparently much of the fawning media - is about flagrant contradictions in what she said.  That's not a partisan opinion.  It's a matter of objective history, if white southerners can look at it through an unbiased lens.

Traditions that are noble - such as...?  The only answer Southerners like Gov. Haley & Sen. Lindsey Graham give usually pair with heritage. Or they might mention revered ancestors who fought for a cause they believed in at the time.  What they always leave out is that the vaunted heritage is forever tainted with the unspeakably inhumane, that the cause their ancestors so nobly fought for was not simply "state's rights," but the specific right for any new state in the Union to welcome slavery within its borders,  to blazes with the lethal consequences. 

Just read CSA Vice President Alexander Stephen's famous Cornerstone Speech, which clearly (if somewhat verbosely) laid out what set the glorious Confederated States of America apart from any civilized nation heretofore on the face of the Earth:

Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner- stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth. This truth has been slow in the process of its development, like all other truths in the various departments of science. It has been so even amongst us. Many who hear me, perhaps, can recollect well, that this truth was not generally admitted, even within their day. The errors of the past generation still clung to many as late as twenty years ago. Those at the North, who still cling to these errors, with a zeal above knowledge, we justly denominate fanatics. All fanaticism springs from an aberration of the mind from a defect in reasoning. It is a species of insanity.  

Very interesting...  The tone of the arguments he makes - that Northerners are fanatics who reject the fact that the negro is born subordinate to the white man - sound a tad like ones made today against people who seek some sane form of gun control.  The South was convinced that Northerners were out to abolish slavery everywhere.  Today, gun advocates are convinced the call for wished for/never passed laws requiring background checks is the diabolical first step toward seizing everyone's guns.  

But I digress.  Back to Gov. Haley.  She freely acknowledged that, "The hate filled murderer who massacred our brothers and sisters in Charleston has a sick and twisted view of the flag. In no way does he reflect the people in our state who respect and, in many ways, revere it. Those South Carolinians view the flag as a symbol of respect, integrity, and duty. They also see it as a memorial, a way to honor ancestors who came to the service of their state during time of conflict. That is not hate, nor is it racism."

Ah hem...  Gov. Haley - you're clearly talking about WHITE South Carolinians, 'cause it's a safe bet that African-Americans do NOT experience the Stars & Bars as a "symbol of respect, integrity & duty."  Governor, it's time for you, an Indian-American, to be a leader in recognizing that reality.  

And it's time for all responsible reporters & commentators to stop singing her praises for calling (after how many days?) the removal of the Confederate flag from South Carolina's statehouse ground & start noticing it took her almost a full week to stop saying that the state needed to heal before the legislature could start considering the fate of the Confederate flag flying over the statehouse grounds.  Almost a full week, where she made it clear that keeping the flag flying would help, rather than exacerbate, the healing of those most touched by the tragedy.  And for that she's touted as a political force to be reckoned with in '16?  

If she'd stepped right up to the plate, yes.  If she made her statement before hadn't national & world opinion surged against her & South Carolina, yes.  If she spoken before the powerhouse CEOS & even the Charleston Chamber of Commerce called for its removal, yes.   

But she didn't.  

I hope she's satisfied with being the GOP poster Gov, because her own words will sink any national political hopes.  Nuff said.    

Reminder -  the governor can only call for the flag's removal.  Actually making that happen is up to 2/3 of the state legislature.  Now, THAT will be an interesting session!

Tucker Carlson - epitome of today's Conservative

In response to President Obama's call following the Charleston tragedy, Tucker Carlson suggested starting with disarming the president's Secret Security detail.


“The president has said a number of times guns are the problem, guns cause violence. There’s nobody in the world surrounded by more armed people than President Obama himself. I notice he’s not suggesting the people around him disarm. He wants to remain protected, but the rest of us have to go without means to self-protection.  ~  “The president’s position is that guns cause violence, guns are inherently bad and dangerous.  The rest of us need to disarm and not protect ourselves. And he’s exempt from that?”

Tucker - thanks for another example of why the present GOP is so...  is there a word in the English language to describe my sense of disbelief? Nope - at least not one I can use in polite company!

Healing heartbreak

It seems that at least two of South Carolina's state legislators - Todd Atwater & Mike Fair - feel that it would be precipitous, downright "reactionary," to call for the lowering & removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of S.C.'s statehouse.  

        

As State Senator Fair put it, "We should not be debating this matter, and we should not be leveraging the grief to try and advance a political position.”  State Sen. Atwater was a tad more nuanced - "I don’t think it’s right to have the discussion before we’ve had time to mourn for those who’ve lost their lives."
 
Hey, at least these two representatives of the people were willing to talk about it.  Seems a hefty majority of the rest are dodging making any comments.

It speaks volumes that Mike Fair considers it a political issue & Todd Atwater wants time for people to mourn, apparently completely missing that the Confederate flag continuing to fly on the statehouse grounds is salt in the wounds of those who lost friends & loved ones in the Emanuel AME church shooting.

It's clear neither man has the least interest in healing the heartbreak of those who are grieving the lost, which goes far beyond Charleston to include South Carolina, the United States & the world.  

Gentlemen - get a clue, then get a spine!

CHARLES MORGAN, Jr. - a good & faithful servant

Looking for material for an older2elder posting about the impact of the AME Church shootings on my older friends, I stumbled across an article from the 09/13/13 The Atlantic.  The article itself isn't searing, but the excerpts in are, taken from a speech made by a young lawyer delivered at the Birmingham Young Men's Business Club the day after a bombing at the 16th Street Baptist church killed four little black girls. 

If ever there was an Alabaman in 1963 who could be described as an outlier (someone differing from others in his group or set) - it was certainly Charles "Chuck" Morgan, Jr. - but not so much that it stood out to everyone.  He was clearly a voice for justice & equal rights, but still managed to remain within the fold enough to be a respected voice & presence in Birmingham, where he was a rising young lawyer.  Until he made a speech that would change everything, a speech delivered one Monday morning to a young men's professional club.  After that, southern society considered he'd put himself beyond the pale.



As the article describes it, "a white man with a young family, a Southerner by heart and heritage, stood up at a lunch meeting of the Birmingham Young Men's Business Club, at the heart of the city's white Establishment, and delivered a speech about race and prejudice that bent the arc of the moral universe just a little bit more toward justice."  

Chuck Morgan "would recount years later (that) he had jotted down his remarks 'from anger and despair, from frustration and empathy. And from years of hopes, hopes that were shattered and crumbled with the steps of that Negro Baptist Church.' He had had enough of the silent acquiescence of good people who saw wrong but didn't try to right it."

Chuck Morgan was - as someone in this day & age would expect - a Democrat.  But back then, being a southern Democrat was totally different from our present day.  It wasn't until the mid-late 1960s that the men & women who'd had been "dixiecrats" swarmed to the GOP.  Until then - certainly in 1963 - southern Democrats typically resisted voting & any other rights.  So, his comments must have stunned his audience of young southern males.  

Thanks to the article, I was also introduced to "Big Jim" Folsom, an early influence in Chuck Morgan's life.  "Big Jim," a moderate who believed in integration, served two terms as Alabama's governor.  In 1962, he was defeated in his bid for a 3rd term - by George Wallace.  

It got me wondering - what if  "Big Jim" had won that third term, had been Alabama's governor in the crucible of the mid-1960s?

For someone who was 10 in 1962, the year "Big Jim" lost to George Wallace, the article stirs memories.  If I had been born in 1962 or later, it would serve as an excellent lesson of what it was like to be a member of the white ruling class in the heart of the South.  It is a reminder of what could happen when a member of that elite spoke out after a terrible tragedy that touched all but the coldest hearts.  

Chuck Morgan learned the hard way that (as he later described it) the mere topic of race was a trap that "every white man in Alabama was caught up in."   White Birmingham turned against the prominent young lawyer.  After receiving threats against his wife & children, he left the city he loved, where he'd lived since he was 15.  

So, whatever happened  to Charles Morgan, Jr.?  Was his life left in tatters from the aftermath of his speech?  You tell me:

• In 1964, he established the Southern Regional Office of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Atlanta.  
• He was involved in the ACLU's push to impeach Richard Nixon.
• Was named the ACLU's National Legislative Director.
• Successfully appealed to the Supreme Court to have Julian Bond restored to his seat in the Georgia House of Representatives after he was barred from it due to statements he'd made opposing the Vietnam War.
• Wrote two books - A Time To Speak and One Man, One Vote. 
• Served on the legal team appealing Muhammad Ali's conviction as a draft dodger, taking it to the Supreme Court where the team successfully cited Ali's refusal to serve was based on his religious beliefs. 

In 1976, Chuck Morgan again make comments that would affect his life.  Attending a Washington, D.C. party (back when D.C. parties were legendary, both socially & politically), another guest, from New York, said he'd never vote for Jimmy Carter because of his Southern accept.  Chuck Morgan let him know in no uncertain terms, "That's bigotry."

Because of those off-the-cuff, spot-on words, Chuck was officially reprimanded by the head of the ACLU for making a public statement regarding a candidate for political office, which was strictly forbidden.  To avoid any possibility of his comments harming the ACLU, he resigned.  

Strange but true - after returning to private legal practice, Chuck Morgan represented the Tobacco Institute in opposing smoking bans & won several cases for Sears after the company was accused of discrimination based on race & gender.

After a remarkable life, Chuck Morgan died at 78, from complications due to Alzheimer's disease.  I will hold honor him in my heart for all he did to expand the opportunities & lives of so many he never met, never knew, who are forever in his debt.

Well done, thou good & faithful servant.

projection

My mother completely bought into blacks "rape our women" and "they don't want to work," which is understandable given that she was born & raised in the early 20th century in Baltimore, which has always been more southern than northern in its culture & attitudes.

The thing that long left me scratching my head was how she completely ignored which race had the actual history of idealizing women of their race while raping women of another, who thought that it was a mark of a true gentleman never ever doing anything that could be remotely interpreted as hard labor.  

When people talk about blacks raping women & looking to do as little work as possible, they are projecting onto one race the proclivities of another.  FACT:  it wasn't unusual for the child of a white plantation owner who'd raped a black slave to be a house servant or worse; the master could do whatever he wished with the child, as slave status descended through the mother, not the father.

When you hear the words, "They rape our women," remember this reality.  The sorry fact is the words are a projection of a history too unsavory to stomach, so its reassigned to the vanquished victims.