Remnants Of The Past
This will have a lot of people upset (via ISOU).
Since I am not familiar with the law in question I'll allow that it could possibly contain language in addition to the segregation language that should not be repealed. That's the defense being used by the advocates who stood against the repeal.
If that were true I could support the way the citizens of Alabama voted. Federal law has already addressed the segregation issue so really the segregation law being on the books in Alabama doesn't really hurt anybody. However, I would encourage them and their legislators to take steps to preserve the part of the law they wanted and get rid of the segregation part as it is a piece of history that does little more than divide.
I think its too early to start crying "racism" as the follow-up to this vote will tell the tale. Will legislators re-write the law to exclude the segregation portion while preserving the other addressing schools and taxes?
I hope so.
CNN Newsnight - There's a clause in the Alabama state constitution that says there should be "separate schools for white children and colored children." That's their language, not ours.
Removing that language was on the ballot earlier this month, and it may surprise you to learn that Alabama decided, though just barely, to leave the language in the constitution. There's a recount under way tonight.
In any case, the people who argue in favor of keeping the language say it isn't about race at all. It's about taxes. . . .
Congress passed the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Segregated schools are illegal. Federal law overrides the Alabama constitution.
But they did vote against repeal. Some who did say they were objecting to repealing a section that says Alabama does not guarantee anyone the right to a public education, arguing that could mean higher taxes.
Since I am not familiar with the law in question I'll allow that it could possibly contain language in addition to the segregation language that should not be repealed. That's the defense being used by the advocates who stood against the repeal.
If that were true I could support the way the citizens of Alabama voted. Federal law has already addressed the segregation issue so really the segregation law being on the books in Alabama doesn't really hurt anybody. However, I would encourage them and their legislators to take steps to preserve the part of the law they wanted and get rid of the segregation part as it is a piece of history that does little more than divide.
I think its too early to start crying "racism" as the follow-up to this vote will tell the tale. Will legislators re-write the law to exclude the segregation portion while preserving the other addressing schools and taxes?
I hope so.
