When I moved to Charlottesville in the mid-70’s, I was presented with many culture shocks. Some were minor annoyances (there’s a chance of snow tomorrow, y’all, and schools will be closed), others made life a …..
No, I’m not talking about the fact that Downtown Charlottesville, Inc. refused to acknowledge that the only historical place of worship was the synagogue that used to be on Market Street- until the residents moved it brick by brick to a less noticeable Jefferson Street location. Or, the fact that the (almost) 200 page phone book was replete with Christian symbols, so one would know which businesses were safe to frequent.
No, to me, the bigger problem was that after all that work we did to integrate America, to make it possible for Blacks and Whites to attend good schools- together-this was not the norm in Charlottesville. And, folks used their religion and religious institutions to foster such hate and denigration. (Most of the Whites Only institutions were “Christian Academies”. )
And, over the past 25 years, we’ve had Republican wordsmiths insure that they and their minions used words and phrases that served as dog whistles. You know- the intimations they offered were to attract folks who would proclaim they were for equal rights, equal treatment, and yielded safety nets for those less fortunate citizens. Knowing full well their discussions were clearly about the opposite conditions.
Which is exactly what the Governor of Indiana (Mike Pence) and the Indiana state legislature are doing right now. Oh, sure, they claim they are just protecting folks exercise of religion. As long as that religious practice lets them promote hate, destroy civil rights, and generally return America back to the days before desegregation and equal rights prevailed. (Don’t get me started on their BS campaign against the purported illegal voting, which means they can impose a modern version of poll taxes and other restrictions meant to render votes for folks with different opinions than they hold impossible.)
It’s time for us to be counted. It’s time- yet again- to stand up for what our Declaration of Independence and Constitution declare- equal rights and equal treatment for all.
If it means we boycott the NCAA’s this weekend- because they are being held in Indiana- that’s unfortunate. But change for the better sometime requires discomfort for us.
By the way- ALEC (the Koch Brothers’ attempt to control state legislatures against the wished of the voters) denies it is behind this push. (See yesterday’s post on April Fool’s, if you believe their denial. After all, these bills pop up RIGHT AFTER there’s an ALEC conference in that state.)
And, it seems that Arkansas is desperate to prove it’s ability to promote bigotry. Let’s see if Asa Hutchinson really does veto their version of this bill. Even WalMart is against the concept.
Indeed, everyone should have rights. I don’t live in America, so I’m not conversant with the facts you share, but we should all have the space we need to live in peace in our own country.
Thanks for the visit and the comment, Francene.
It is a big issue- and there are similar ones all over the place- in the Middle East, in Europe, in Asia, and in Africa, as well as in the States.
It’s folks like you and me who need to insure they are repealed, removed, and altered to protect us all.
RT @RAAckerman: Who’s the April Fool?: http://t.co/UWBDDGEwvk #in #blogboost #blogtribe #adjuvancy #racism #bigotry #politicians
I looked at this and was thoroughly confused. Now that you say that this is a bad thing, I am wondering why the first openly gay basketball player sounded like he was for the thing.
As for the rest of the town’s BS, I haven’t seen that in Texas. The yellow pages here don’t put crosses on certain businesses. I agree that private schools are not integrated in general; but in South Texas where the majority are Hispanic, that group was not discriminated against. There was only a small black community so I can’t say.
I am really sorry that the synagogue had to be moved. That sucks big time.
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I can’t account for what ONE gay basketball player may say, Ann. But, the NCAA let Indiana know in no uncertain terms that this was unacceptable. And, they are not known to be pro-gay.
I know for a fact that the Yellow Pages in Texas DID participate in that practice in the past- when I had an office in Corpus Christi and Dallas.
Who’s the April Fool? | http://t.co/vv94ntp3Ih via @Adjuvancy #Indiana #Arkansas #Christians #law