idiotism

[wickedflea]

Every once in a while (OK, quite often), I get reminded that I live in Mississippi.

To wit -- a recent posting to our university newsgroup, in answer to the question "What would you say were the top (up to 5) reasons for voting for the new flag over the old flag ?":

On 12 Apr 2001, Wendell L. Ladner wrote:

> My top five reasons:
> (1) To please the NAACP
> (2) To please the NAACP
> (3) To please the NAACP
> (4) To please the NAACP
> (5) To please those who actually like the new design
>
> If you wish to voice a written reply on this you have to 5 pm
> today (4/12/2001) to get a e-mail article to the Starkville Daily
> News to go in Sundays paper. Address to: DNEWS@NETDOOR.COM
>
> This "hot issue" is a people to people issue and always has been
> since it was started a few years ago. Our state flag was never, ever
> used in a way to "hurt" or "degrade" the American Negro or anyone
> else for that matter. It has always been the people of Mississippi
> over which the flag flies. A new flag will not resolve that issue -
> take my word. You know, I was kind of surprised that the new national
> government established after the Civil War actually allowed the state
> to keep the Confederate symbol within the flag. I think folks knew
> then what the rest of us "normal" folks know now - that the confederate
> symbol was a lasting memorial to those Americans who fought and died
> for what they thought was right. And one of those rights was the
> ability to own SLAVES - regardless of color or creed. Keep in mind
> that slave ownership is NOT the same a civil right abuse - that is
> entirely TWO completely separate issues at hand.
>
> Anyway - BE SURE TO VOTE COME TUESDAY AND HAPPY EASTER.
>
> Wendell Ladner - 9th generation Mississippian.

My response:

Are you on crack? Exactly how is slave ownership NOT a civil rights
abuse? And so what if they fought for what they believed was right? It
wasn't.

Get off the pipe...

------------------------

pretty weak, I know, but I just didn't have the energy for much else. People are fucked.

Comments

[auxillarypriest.livejournal.com]

Is that the best argument that imbecile could come up with? Fortunately Wisconsin (where I live) was actually a free state so we didn't have to worry about these "issues."

I don't believe that all southerners see the flag as a negative symbol. Still why should any state in America honor the confederate army that raised up to engage our country in a civil war? We were in a cold war with Russia for decades.In tribute of that we didn't put a hammer and sickle in the bottom right hand corner of our flag?

I do believe this is an issue that the state itself should decide in a vote of its citizens, this is a democracy is it not? All power to the people my friend. Hopefully the good voters of Mississippi will vote with their conscience.