What in the world is going on in Alabama?I'll have to admit a limited knowledge of Alabama politics.I am,after all a Canadian,so you can easily appreciate how I would have a limited exposure to all things Alabama.But,between braving the lineup at Tim Hortons and getting the old igloo decorated for Halloween,I took notice of a newspaper article noting that Alabama voters are being asked,on November 6 to support an amendment to their state constitution which would remove racist language regarding the establishment of separate and segregated schools,and the establishment of a poll tax.High ideals to be sure.But shouldn't this debate have been settled long ago?
Amendment Four is sponsored by state legislator Arthur Orr.It seems Mr.Orr is concerned with the image the current language imposes on his state and the people there of.And that worry might be well invested,because the fact that Alabama's constitution contains any artifacts at all to it's Jim Crow past certainly causes a less than favorable image to form in my mind.That image does not make me want to visit the fine state of Alabama,or,for that matter,invest there.So voting yes to the amendment would show,if only symbolically that the past is past in Alabama.Never mind that segregation is not the reality in Alabama and has not been for many years now.But Alabama had to be dragged kicking and screaming by the feds to it's current progressive reality.Still,the ancient,archaic language remains.That gives birth to a nagging suspicion in my mind that attitudes may not have changed so much as having been hidden under a bushel.Time alone will tell,I suppose,but Arthur Orr is correct-the world is watching.While we here in Canada scarcely give race a second though,and while the United States has a black president-it's first,George Wallace seems as though he my be among the undead in Alabama.At least when Wallace was foaming at the mouth about segregation,the whole world knew where he stood.Prejudice and bigotry driven underground is far harder to deal with though.So come on Alabamans,show us that there is nothing hidden in your closet by voting yes on Amendment Four,even if it's thirty,forty or a hundred years too late.
Amendment Four is sponsored by state legislator Arthur Orr.It seems Mr.Orr is concerned with the image the current language imposes on his state and the people there of.And that worry might be well invested,because the fact that Alabama's constitution contains any artifacts at all to it's Jim Crow past certainly causes a less than favorable image to form in my mind.That image does not make me want to visit the fine state of Alabama,or,for that matter,invest there.So voting yes to the amendment would show,if only symbolically that the past is past in Alabama.Never mind that segregation is not the reality in Alabama and has not been for many years now.But Alabama had to be dragged kicking and screaming by the feds to it's current progressive reality.Still,the ancient,archaic language remains.That gives birth to a nagging suspicion in my mind that attitudes may not have changed so much as having been hidden under a bushel.Time alone will tell,I suppose,but Arthur Orr is correct-the world is watching.While we here in Canada scarcely give race a second though,and while the United States has a black president-it's first,George Wallace seems as though he my be among the undead in Alabama.At least when Wallace was foaming at the mouth about segregation,the whole world knew where he stood.Prejudice and bigotry driven underground is far harder to deal with though.So come on Alabamans,show us that there is nothing hidden in your closet by voting yes on Amendment Four,even if it's thirty,forty or a hundred years too late.
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