Posted on 06/27/2003 10:32:07 PM PDT by AJ Insider
No Respect for the Dead
I really wasn't that surprised that many of the national news reports would dwell upon Trent Lott's remarks at Thurmond's retirement party and I was even less surprised that most of the articles written today would include mentions of Thurmond's changing views on race and integration. It is a bit interesting that the NY Times, that running joke of a newspaper in Gotham, chose as its headline: Strom Thurmond, Foe of Integration, Dies at 100. Of all the things they could mention about Thurmond, the headline writer/editor chose to leave it as just Strom Thurmond, Foe of Integration without even mentiong he held office of any kind. The actual obituary in the Times, written by Adam Clymer, is as balanced as you could expect from Clymer and the Times. Best of the Web discusses some of Clymer's bias in the article. Jeffrey Gettleman's piece in the Times Saturday is a stark contrast to Clymer's.
Governor Mark Sanford's written statement praised Thurmond and an interview with Fox News did the same. In the television interview, Sanford threw in a little twist (as if he were concerned about future criticism he might receive for praising Thurmond.) He mentioned the impact of all that Thurmond did, some of it good and some of it bad. This statement surprised me a bit, especially considering the strong written statement issued by Sanford that called Thurmond a "Colossus."
My friend Michael Graham's take on Thurmond's death really isn't that surprising either. Graham ran the campaign of Harold Worley against Thurmond in the GOP Primary in 1996 after Jim Miles backed out of running. Graham's assessments might catch some off guard so soon after Thurmond's passing, but he lacks the vitriol of those on the left and the handful on the right.
Graham: Can't we be honest in our tribute? Strom Thurmond held office a long time. Many South Carolinians liked him. He reflected their values very well. He set many records and will be remembered in many, many rounds of Trivial Pursuit. But that's it. Stop the nonsense of implying that Sen. Thurmond accomplished anything, other than the successful political advancement of Strom Thurmond. He was a basically good guy with very bad fundamental ideas who lived to be so old that people stopped caring what he believed because he could no longer articulate it anyway. That's all. He was no Reagan, no Goldwater, no Moynihan. He wasn't even a Fritz Hollings, whose name actually appears on some significant national legislation. He was just Ol' Strom, and that's all anyone ever asked him to be. have no desire to speak ill of the dead, but go to the Hot Sheet and read the absolute drivel S.C. politicians are putting out about Strom. Sen. Graham's comments about his "legacy" are particularly disturbing. WHAT legacy? Sen. Thurmond's office was legendary in its ability to keep track of birthdays and graduations--I got a couple of these machine-signed letters from Thurmond myself. But handling my Social Security check isn't a "legacy."
Graham's candor is restrained and respectful compared to that of others, including some who claim to be conservatives. Andrew Sullivan, who is known more for being an openly gay conservative/libertarian than he is for any actual substantive thoughts, strikes out at Thurmond in a crude attempt at humor (Thanks to Wrisley.com for being the first place to point it out.)
Sullivan:
SODOMY LEGAL IN SOUTH CAROLINA: Strom Thurmond dead. On the same day. It's a funny old world, isn't it?
Sullivan later linked to a 1997 story from The Onion, a parody news site, discussing Thurmond's change of heart on the gay issue after a sexual encounter with a gay man.
Continuing in this vein, another self-professing conservative and blogger - A Small Victory - trashes Thurmond and in the process gets her link yanked from our list.
ASV: Strom kicks the bucket. I bet even the worms in his coffin find him distasteful. Good riddance to 100 year old racist rubbish.
Best of the Web also summarizes how Thurmond's record on race changed over the years with links to many of the points made today in other places. One of these is one mentioned by Mort Kondracke on Fox News Channel tonight - that Thurmond worked to abolish the poll tax and cracked down on lynchings as Governor before he ran for President as a Dixiecrat.
Other sources have also mentioned Thurmond was one of the first Senators to hire a Black staff member (Tom Moss in the early 1970s) and that he received over 20% of the Black vote in his last election in 1996.
If Thurmond was still as evil as many of these morons are alleging, then why did Congressman Jim Clyburn, head of the Congressional Black Caucus, say, "Senator Thurmond was symbolic of the Old South, but his willingness to change over time set an example for many South Carolinians."
Some of the same liberals online who are taking such delight and glee at the death of Thurmond are the same types of people who tried to insinuate, at the Mondale pep rally disguised as a memorial service for Paul Wellstone, that Norm Coleman was being disrespectful by leaving his name on the ballot after Wellstone's death. Those in attendance in Minnesota even booed Trent Lott as he attempted to eulogize his departed colleague.
Joe Biden, a liberal senator who will be delivering a eulogy to Thurmond at Tuesday's funeral, said the following: "I believe Strom Thurmond was a captive of his era, his age and his geography. I do not believe Strom Thurmond at his core was a racist. But even if he had been, I believe that he changed."
Even Tom Daschle, who didn't see eye to eye with Thurmond on many issues, could separate the personal from the political with his statement, even if Jesse Jackson could not.
Jackson: "While we offer condolences to his family, we cannot revise history."
Most of the criticism comes from those living in liberal enclaves in the northeast and west who feel that they are more enlightened on matters of race than those of who they feel are just dumb rednecks in the South. I guess none of them remembers the Watts riots in 1965, the L.A. riots in 1992 or the busing riots in Boston in 1974.
The trend, especially among leftists, is to totally trash anyone whom they disagree with, especially following their death, in an attempt to rewrite history to paint the person as more horrible than the facts bear out. Had anyone been making wisecracks about Wellstone's death last year or writing biased stories about him, we would have never heard the end of it from the liberals.
It is apparent that none of these people know how to keep their mouths shut until later. Even if you totally dislike everything a person stood for, you should hold your tongue upon their death, for your spewing will do nothing but make the grief of that person's loved ones worse. It won't change any of the things you didn't like about that person and it won't accomplish anything other than inflating your ego while tramping on someone else's grave.
I guess Michael Graham was right in Redneck Nation; the worst qualities of the South in the past have been adopted by liberals all over the country, who didn't take any of the good qualities with them.
There were several freepers who criticized those making those comments. I am not even in the least bit suggesting that the vast majority of freepers aren't that hate filled.
I am suggesting that a large minority of people here are bitter, and spew hatred when a liberal dies and that we need to get our house in order before criticizing others.
I thought you wanted me to show an example of people spewing hate. If you want me to go through a text analysis on % of people spewing hate, versus those freepers who criticize them, I can do that. I would say off the bat, just from eyeballing it, that about 70% of freepers posting were respectful, but a good 30% weren't. Yes, a majority. However, the minority is so loud, and so filled with hate, that it does make those of us who don't engage in vile statements look bad in comparison. My guess is that our ratio of good to bad is better than DU's, but at the same time, I would still argue that our record here is nothing to write home to mom about. Being marginally better in this regard than DU is nothing to write home to mom about.
Don't those folks (the ones who aren't toeing the party line) get called a Freeper and banned? :=)
There were several freepers who criticized those making those comments. I am not even in the least bit suggesting that the vast majority of freepers aren't that hate filled.
Sorry but it sure sounded like you were.
I am suggesting that a large minority of people here are bitter, and spew hatred when a liberal dies and that we need to get our house in order before criticizing others.
Well, there certainly are some that do that. But, as I said, they do get criticized quite soundly when they do.
I thought you wanted me to show an example of people spewing hate. If you want me to go through a text analysis on % of people spewing hate, versus those freepers who criticize them, I can do that. I would say off the bat, just from eyeballing it, that about 70% of freepers posting were respectful, but a good 30% weren't. Yes, a majority. However, the minority is so loud, and so filled with hate, that it does make those of us who don't engage in vile statements look bad in comparison. My guess is that our ratio of good to bad is better than DU's, but at the same time, I would still argue that our record here is nothing to write home to mom about. Being marginally better in this regard than DU is nothing to write home to mom about.
No text analysis necessary. I think you've got the numbers about right. Thing is, you're looking at just one thread on one web site. The original post was talking about several (actually, probably dozens of) instances of this kind of crap being printed in major newspapers.
BTW, we're nowhere close to just being 'marginally better' than DU. Have you read much of the unmitigated garbage that they spew over there? It's scary that some people on this planet 'think' that way.
Actually I avoid DU. It is not good for my blood pressure. Anyways, I apologize for not being clearer. I hope I cleared up what I was trying to say. We all miss the mark, but the very next instant is a chance to try again.
Yeah, me too. :=)
Anyways, I apologize for not being clearer. I hope I cleared up what I was trying to say.
Thanks but no apology is necessary; actually, I may have been a bit out of line in my criticism of you - apologies for that.
We all miss the mark, but the very next instant is a chance to try again.
Thank God for that.
Stay Safe !
I was almost ognorant enough to ask ," What Italians in the South back then?"
Then, I remembered the sad fates of two Mormon missionaries in Blacksburg , South Carolina back in the early 20th century. Seems they managed to get killed by the Klan. I've personally seen the door that the Klan shot through,since a LDS friend of mine kept it in his basement as a reminder.
Times can be tough when your race,religion,politics,etc. is unpopular.
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