I begin each day with coffee, English muffin, and the local
newspaper, The Island Packet. It is a
ritual I began when I retired a couple of decades
ago. Former Chief Justice Earl Warren started his morning paper with the sports
section because it is “about winners” and the front section is “about losers.”
I wade right in, however, and take on the front section, then sports and end
with the comics and feel good stories.
Today, before I left page 7 of the 10 page front section I
felt embarrassed for our country and personally down hearted that we have in
many quarters not advanced much in the last 50 or 60 years. Discrimination,
hate and meanness still reverberate throughout many segments of society.
In Oxford, Mississippi, members of a fraternity hung a noose
and old confederate flag on the statue of James Meredith, the first black to
enter the University of Mississippi in 1962. The offenders have been kicked out
of the fraternity and the fraternity chapter has been suspended indefinitely by
the national organization. While the response is good, the basic act itself is
vile and contemptible.
Down in Texas, the rock guitarist, Ted Nugent, on the campaign
trail for a gubernatorial candidate publicly called President Obama a “subhuman
mongrel.” Later as protests arose he went on a radio station to apologize – not
to the President – but on behalf of “much better men than myself.” Obviously,
referring to the candidate with whom he was stumping for votes. Such insults
are the stuff of meanness, hatefulness and stupidity. They demean all of us and
are unworthy of Americans.
And then there is the Arizona legislature, which it is fair to
say, leads the country in anti-immigration legislation and other progressive
acts called for in the 21st Century. This time gay rights are the
focus of the legislative ire. Over “shrill
objections” of Democrats and three Republicans, a bill has been passed, and is
on the governor’s desk, which allows business owners with strongly held
religious beliefs to deny service to gays. (It doesn’t say how to identify gay
people.) Opponents of the measure said it was clearly designed to allow
discrimination against gays. Governor Jan Brewer’s decision may come next week.
The business community considers the bill another “black eye” for the state, and
a major distraction as Arizona prepares to host the Super Bowl next year. Reportedly
four companies have put on hold plans to open facilities in Arizona until they
see if the bill becomes law.
And this is just three stories on one day. Tomorrow it will
be something else. It is embarrassing.We are better than this; if only we would act it.
