Friday, April 22, 2016

Harriet Tubman - Hat Tip to America (video)

Once in a while America shows some class and this was prime time.  In previous discussion, there was a question of whether she is 'historical enough' relative to someone such as Hamilton who initiated fundamental changes in the government, in banking, etc.  However, the question isn't so much what she did but rather what she represents and individual courage, ingenuity, and resistance to an improper authority are shown by few so well as she.




While America shows class, not surprisingly, the GOP candidates do not.  The position was unanimous from them and they even had the (cough) grace not to insult us by starting any statement with 'I am not a racist.'

Every single one of them said, oh yeah, oh yeah, I love Harriet Tubman and putting her on a Treasury bill is wonderful ... just not THAT bill.  Our favorite was when Ben Carson said he thought she should be on a two-dollar bill.  Apparently that nitwit has never heard the expression, 'two-dollar whore,' and it would not surprise us when it doesn't appear he ever heard much of anything else either.

Donald Trump even had open support for Andrew Jackson whom we have noted previously is the proud father of the Cherokee Trail of Tears, one of the most vile acts of mercenary genocide in America's history.  He doesn't represent America, he doesn't even represent humanity.

Many send others down a similar Trail of Tears today but they're likely as unrepentant as Andrew Jackson.  So it goes.  America or at least the GOP doesn't change much.


I am not a racist.  No way, not me.

Kannafoot wasn't racist in any way about it.  His affirmation of Tubman was straight-up and unequivocal.  Perhaps that surprises you for hard-core GOP but I've written before he isn't the denatured model of the current GOP.  He comes from the Eisenhower cut even though he regards Eisenhower as a moderate.

Note a mild critique on that as Kannafoot has strong positions on moralistic issues (e.g. abortion) so there's quite a bit of Bible influence ... but ... we do not know how Eisenhower would have reacted if the matter had been in his face as much as it is now.  It definitely had a high presence due to the number of women dying in chop shops but there doesn't seem to have been much pro rights demonstration back then.

Note:  I have chucked the previous idea of the classic Republican as being represented by Goldwater as I understand he was strongly opposed to the Civil Rights Amendment.  That's an instant killer so he's out.  Eisenhower likely had similar general beliefs on race but his incredible military experience we believe may have endowed him with a more reasoned perspective on people.

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