Wednesday, December 18, 2002

Here's what Ol' Strom had to say while running for president at the head of the State's Rights Democratic party (Dixiecrat) in 1948: "On the question of social intermingling of the races our people draw the line. And all the laws of Washington and all the bayonets of the army cannot force the Negro into our homes, our schools, our churches, and our places of recreation and amusement. No decent and self-respecting Negro would ask for a law to force people to accept him where he is not wanted."

His running mate was the governor of Mississippi, a man named Fielding Wright, a particularly virulent racist. At another rally, Gov. Thurmond was caught on tape telling the crowd, "I want to tell you that the progress of the Negro race has not been due to these so-called emancipators but to the kindness of the good Southern people."

On Dec. 30, 1947, a federal judge had upheld a lower court's ruling stating, "No election machinery can be upheld if its purpose or effect is to deny the Negro, on account of his race or color, an effective voice in the government of his country or the state or the community where he lives." On April 19, 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the challenge brought by the state of South Carolina to this ruling. Strom Thurmond was shocked, stating, "Every American has lost part of his fundamental rights."

Thurmond later told an audience: "I took Truman's picture off the wall of my office when he stabbed the South in the back. Let's fight this battle to the end."

Now Trent Lott could have talked about many facets of a very long and colorful life lived by Strom Thurmond. Remember, Thurmond was born in 1902 and grew up in a very different world. He only survived by changing.

Instead, here is what Trent Lott did say: "I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years either."

If you know what Thurmond stood for at that time, you can't pass off, or misinterpret, or not be offended by Trent Lott's allusion. Kudos to President Bush for lambasting the soon-to-be Senate majority leader. If Bush really means it, Lott will not be elected majority leader of the Senate, leaving it up to the citizens of Mississippi to decide his political fate. If Lott stays, I believe on election day people will, and should remember which party has placed him in charge!

Timothy J. Parker

Peachtree City