The saddest thing is to watch later generations twist themselves in logical and offensive pretzels to justify an absolute inhumane institution and choices their ancestors made in order to get richer. What's so horrifying to me about the Jim Crow laws and black codes and Klan uprisings and celebratory lynchings and lynching post cards and formations of the Citizens Council and APWR legal funds to get keep them out of jail (all, by the way, using the Confederate emblem still in our flag as their symbol against integration) is that so much of this racist tradition seemed to be to justify backward what was absolutely unjustifiable.
The shame has never been in facing these horrors, learning and teaching from them, and apologizing for them. The shame has always been in refusing to do those things and, thus, continuing the cycle.
Of course, justifying and rationalizing and downplaying the horrors of slavery as some try to do (see above) is just off-the-charts disgusting and racist. You can't argue in 2013 that you don't have the information to know better.
Reminds me of the [Northside Sun's whole "give thanks for slavery" flub.][1]
Slavery and racism are not synonymous. A smarter way to think about racism and slavery is that the American slave trade doomed generations of racists (people who tried to keep or justify a system that benefitted the dominant culture) both trying to keep the advantages of it and to deny or justify it, or try to silence anyone who tries to discuss it.
In other words, it's a cause and effect thang, and it ain't pretty, as we witness so often in some of the comments here.
Darryl, so black Americans (and even white ones) are not to be offended by the huge American slave trade that brutalized so many white people ... because you've found other examples of slavery in the world!?!?!?
what kind of freakin' racist-ass logic is that???
Pardon my French.
Some of you boys are reaching a new low on this whole justify-slavery shtick. And confirming the worst about yourself. Congratulations.
Bill, are you a fan of the Civil War? The Confederacy was formed to protect slavery for the very reason that is stated right at the top of MIssissippi's (and other state's Articles of Secession). Are you trying to argue that we should, somehow, be PROUD of this? That's astonishing if so, and telling. Some people do still live in the past.
> In the momentous step, which our State has taken of dissolving its connection with the government of which we so long formed a part, it is but just that we should declare the prominent reasons which have induced our course.
Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product, which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin.
Read [more about the regional Chamber here][1], Ann. It covers five counties: Hinds, Rankin, Madison, Copiah and Warren.
Otherwise, I completely agree that any agreements either direction should be in writing and subject to public scrutiny well before anyone votes for a tax increase.
Ah, that was sarcasm. Why be sarcastic about such a thing? We're not arguing that we haven't changed. The point is that the media have a responsibility to reflect life today, not continue their selective reporting of the past. Why that premise deserves sarcasm completely escapes me.
donnaladd says...
The saddest thing is to watch later generations twist themselves in logical and offensive pretzels to justify an absolute inhumane institution and choices their ancestors made in order to get richer. What's so horrifying to me about the Jim Crow laws and black codes and Klan uprisings and celebratory lynchings and lynching post cards and formations of the Citizens Council and APWR legal funds to get keep them out of jail (all, by the way, using the Confederate emblem still in our flag as their symbol against integration) is that so much of this racist tradition seemed to be to justify backward what was absolutely unjustifiable.
The shame has never been in facing these horrors, learning and teaching from them, and apologizing for them. The shame has always been in refusing to do those things and, thus, continuing the cycle.
Of course, justifying and rationalizing and downplaying the horrors of slavery as some try to do (see above) is just off-the-charts disgusting and racist. You can't argue in 2013 that you don't have the information to know better.
On MoJo: Chris McDaniel Spoke at Confederate Ball; McDaniel Denies: I Was at an ALEC Event
Posted 24 October 2013, 6:48 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
Reminds me of the [Northside Sun's whole "give thanks for slavery" flub.][1]
Slavery and racism are not synonymous. A smarter way to think about racism and slavery is that the American slave trade doomed generations of racists (people who tried to keep or justify a system that benefitted the dominant culture) both trying to keep the advantages of it and to deny or justify it, or try to silence anyone who tries to discuss it.
In other words, it's a cause and effect thang, and it ain't pretty, as we witness so often in some of the comments here.
[1]: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/20…
On MoJo: Chris McDaniel Spoke at Confederate Ball; McDaniel Denies: I Was at an ALEC Event
Posted 24 October 2013, 6:16 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
Darryl, so black Americans (and even white ones) are not to be offended by the huge American slave trade that brutalized so many white people ... because you've found other examples of slavery in the world!?!?!?
what kind of freakin' racist-ass logic is that???
Pardon my French.
Some of you boys are reaching a new low on this whole justify-slavery shtick. And confirming the worst about yourself. Congratulations.
On MoJo: Chris McDaniel Spoke at Confederate Ball; McDaniel Denies: I Was at an ALEC Event
Posted 24 October 2013, 6:10 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
Drumroll: Now comes the part where an obnoxious white man tells an African American woman what she should think about slavery. News at 10.
On MoJo: Chris McDaniel Spoke at Confederate Ball; McDaniel Denies: I Was at an ALEC Event
Posted 24 October 2013, 6:07 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
Bill, are you a fan of the Civil War? The Confederacy was formed to protect slavery for the very reason that is stated right at the top of MIssissippi's (and other state's Articles of Secession). Are you trying to argue that we should, somehow, be PROUD of this? That's astonishing if so, and telling. Some people do still live in the past.
On MoJo: Chris McDaniel Spoke at Confederate Ball; McDaniel Denies: I Was at an ALEC Event
Posted 24 October 2013, 6 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
Thank you, Charles. I love you and Anne. Thank you for being two of the bright stars of Jackson. Big hug.
On No Time to Fear
Posted 24 October 2013, 5:56 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
Pride in what!?! I have southern pride, but I sure as heck don't need to celebrate the Confederate cause to express it.
Why Mississippi seceded and joined the Confederacy:
http://www.civil-war.net/pages/mississi…
How it starts:
> In the momentous step, which our State has taken of dissolving its connection with the government of which we so long formed a part, it is but just that we should declare the prominent reasons which have induced our course.
Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product, which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin.
Pride in this? Really???
On MoJo: Chris McDaniel Spoke at Confederate Ball; McDaniel Denies: I Was at an ALEC Event
Posted 24 October 2013, 11:35 a.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
Here's the Chamber coverage area, in a visual:
http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photo…
On Lumumba: Chamber Won't 'Betray' City on Tax Commission
Posted 23 October 2013, 2:02 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
Read [more about the regional Chamber here][1], Ann. It covers five counties: Hinds, Rankin, Madison, Copiah and Warren.
Otherwise, I completely agree that any agreements either direction should be in writing and subject to public scrutiny well before anyone votes for a tax increase.
[1]: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/20…
On Lumumba: Chamber Won't 'Betray' City on Tax Commission
Posted 23 October 2013, 1:57 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
Ah, that was sarcasm. Why be sarcastic about such a thing? We're not arguing that we haven't changed. The point is that the media have a responsibility to reflect life today, not continue their selective reporting of the past. Why that premise deserves sarcasm completely escapes me.
On At Least Jackson Media Cares About One Murder Victim
Posted 21 October 2013, 12:45 p.m. Suggest removal