Jackson Free Press

Things are looking so positive in Mississippi. State Democrats chose the most qualified candidate for state treasurer regardless of race. Dialogue has started to happen about intelligent issues. There are signs that more progressive voters may turn out to the polls this November. Then: wha-powww, right in the kisser! Dear Gov. Musgrove: Your invitation to bring Alabama's "10 commendments" monument to the Capitol is a silly political ploy that may well lose you more votes than it gains (say, like this one). You are smart enough to know that the reason the First Amendment contains an anti-Establishment clause is in order that the Freedom of Religion can exist and be enforced. By pretending otherwise, and courting the vote of that conservative rural chick in Kemper County, you are insulting the intelligence and thumbing your nose at the support of many, many potential voters in Mississippi who understand that not allowing religious monuments in government spaces will help afford them their religious freedom. You are certainly doing *nothing* to help increase turnout among those who are so frustrated with the lack of a choice in political candidates. You don't play politics with the U.S. Constitution, not if you care about what's in it, or the people you serve. You should be ashamed. Furthermore, it's actions such as these that, in the long run, tarnish the reputation of our state and encourage our bright, young people to go live somewhere else where thinking and intelligence isn't ridiculed and mocked by our political candidates out to pander for some quick and easy votes. We deserve better. (I'm not even addressing Barbour's pander here; he's a member of the Grand Old Panderer party, so it's expected.)

Previous Comments

ID

136094

Comment

CNN headline today: "Mississippi covets neighbor's monument" OK, here's a teachable moment; often the reason national media treats Mississippians like idiots is because our elected officials do idiot things that make us look really bad. How about, instead, Gov. Musgrove comes out and makes a statement about how protecting the right to exercise religious freedom is the most important aspect of the First Amendment (or one of the most) and while he believes in the Commandments (presumably; death-penalty decisions aside, but I quibble), the state of Mississippi understands that the government has no right to tell citizens how to worship, thus endangering their religious freedom guarantees. But, no, instead he writes a letter that makes us, once again, look ignorant of our own Constitution and its guarantees of freedoms. Fellow Mississippians, when are people -- outside and inside the state -- going to stop assuming that only idiots live in this state??? And when are we going to stop letting them do this to us? I'm sorry, I am blown away by Musgrove's little letter: So much freedom was fought for and won in this state -- we so deserve better treatment than being once again used as a collective pawn in someone's game. http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/08/28/ten.commandments/index.html

Author

ladd

Date

2003-08-29T11:48:25-06:00

ID

136095

Comment

I knew all of this was going to set you off. Interesting that the Guv not only rushed to this bait but also took the liberty of hooking himself through the gills. He might have more to win from the play but as your repulsion demonstrates he also has more to lose. It is the smack of early season desperation that surprised me. Blackmon has to be one unhappy camper. Nothing like having to circumnavigate a unexpected landmine placed by a colleague in your own party. This is going to be a great election.

Author

Reader

Date

2003-08-29T13:45:45-06:00

ID

136096

Comment

"Great" is not really the word I would use -- -- but otherwise I pretty much agree with you. He screwed up royally in my book, and in that of folks I've been hearing from all morning who were planning to vote for him in protest of Barbour if nothing else, and aren't so sure anymore. And these aren't pierced-nose lefties I'm talking about here. I'm referring to educated people of faith and long-time Mississippians who also happen to believe dearly in the U.S. Constitution and its brilliance. Musgrove's going to have to work pretty hard to keep a lot of my readers in his camp now, I suspect. And these are votes he needs and was probably taking for granted. Lord knows, I hope Blackmon doesn't jump on this panderous bandwagon.

Author

ladd

Date

2003-08-29T13:57:38-06:00

ID

136097

Comment

"Lord knows, I hope Blackmon doesn't jump on this panderous bandwagon." She may not have much of a choice understanding how many religious conservatives (political center-left moderates) are in her base. This is a much more dangerous issue for her than the flag could ever be. If that monument some how, some way goes on tour and ends up here how could Barbara not be there as part of that welcoming party? Amy Tuck is probably sending ol' Ronnie a nice box of thick filets with a couple bottles of a good Cab for his Labor Day weekend BBQ. One I'm quite fond of -- and aptly named for this occasion, Carmenet DYNAMITE -- would be an excellent selection as part of any thank you gift.

Author

Reader

Date

2003-08-29T14:33:09-06:00

ID

136098

Comment

Amy Tuck is probably sending ol' Ronnie a nice box of thick filets with a couple bottles of a good Cab for his Labor Day weekend BBQ. One I'm quite fond of -- and aptly named for this occasion, Carmenet DYNAMITE -- would be an excellent selection as part of any thank you gift. ...because now Tuck's stance on the state flag issue is not as newsworthy as Musgrove's invitation.

Author

Ex

Date

2003-08-29T14:57:24-06:00

ID

136099

Comment

Reader and Ex, I tend to agree with you both: Blackmon so stands to lose here. Why couldn't Musgrove have let her help him keep his seat--which I honestly believe she can do--rather than turn around and potentially help her lose hers? And Ex, I'm much more in shock over this one at this particular moment, although Tuck's thang was still disgusting and deserves attention as well. It's really all breathtaking. (And I like the Carmenet idea. giggle)

Author

ladd

Date

2003-08-29T16:09:05-06:00

ID

136100

Comment

Reader and Ex, I tend to agree with you both: Blackmon so stands to lose here. Why couldn't Musgrove have let her help him keep his seat--which I honestly believe she can do--rather than turn around and potentially help her lose hers? Blackmon's winning the Lt. Governor nomination is already helping Musgrove, who obviously is concerned more with winning his re-election campaign than other state contests.

Author

Ex

Date

2003-08-29T16:51:29-06:00

ID

136101

Comment

Geez: Every now and then I get together with fellow grew-up-in-Mississippians (There are a lot of us in Manhattan). Someone invariably asks whether we'd ever consider moving back. And the answer is invariably the same:" ____ no! Why would I do that?" And Gov. Mugrove's behavior, which sadly may actually work as he intends it, is a perfect example of why Mississippi can't stop its brain drain.

Author

Nia

Date

2003-09-03T16:47:34-06:00

ID

136102

Comment

Nia, beware the homing device that seems implanted in the brains of all Mississippians. I spent 18 years living in Northern California, with no real intention of every moving back to Jackson. Until, one day, for some reason, moving back became imperative. And it's not just me - there are alot of us here in Jackson. There's no real logic to it - it just seems to happen. (My personal goal is to live here until people quit saying "You're from Mississippi?! Why do you live in Mississippi?! You don't *seem* like you're from Mississippi?!") So - beware that homing device. If/when it goes off, at least you'll have JFP to keep you sane.

Author

Kate

Date

2003-09-03T17:43:47-06:00

ID

136103

Comment

Nia, I was you, too; I thought I would never move back to Mississippi until a few weeks before I did. (Watch your 40th birthday; that's often when it happens.) But it's the best thing I ever did. And I can't talk you how many exciting things are happening here right now, especially in Jackson. The creative community is really growing and finding its legs, so to speak. And should you happen to be one of the many Mississippians who have left but harbor a desire (perhaps it's dormant, but it's probably still there) to make a difference in your home state some day, you can find many, many ways to do that here. You can make a difference by just showing upóliterally. Showing up at cultural events, openings, the new art walks; every warm body is needed in the burgeoning progressive/creative renaissance in Mississippi. I loved Manhattan, and will always consider it one of my homesóbut honestly I never felt like what I did there really mattered. I feel like it does here, and I'm not the only one who feels that way. And don't let anyoneóor the outcome of any electionsótell you that there aren't amazingly progressive people left in your home state; they're all over the place, and they're really finding each other these days. I'm with Kate: we're working really hard to, first, dispel our own people's notions that Mississippi sucks. When we get past that barrier, the rest of the world will stop thinking that, and start admiring us for how far we've come. Just wait. It's going to happen. And while we're at it, we're hoping to encourage a whole new crop of people to consider running for officeóso we can leave the pandering and demagoguery (which isn't limited to a particular as Musgrove's latest bombshell showed) in the past where it belongs, and stop electing people who make us look idiots.

Author

ladd

Date

2003-09-03T20:00:55-06:00

ID

136104

Comment

OMG! If 40 is the crossroads, then I reckon I better start packin'. I don't keep up entirely with MS politics, but dear ole' Ronnie doesn't seem too bad (compared to some of the alternatives)--or too bright. Does he really figure he can sway enough conservative votes to keep himself in the governor's mansion? And why the heck isn't he doing more to get those black folks who would vote for him just because he isn't Republican to the polls?

Author

Nia

Date

2003-09-03T21:54:15-06:00

ID

136105

Comment

I think the homing device is programmed differently for various natives, but you do have to watch that 40th birthday, I tell youóalthough from some of the folks I've met recently, it's obvious that it can start buzzing sooner (which we don't mind from this end; we need all the youthful energy we can get to help heave us off the bottom of the barrel). Per Musgrove: Bear in mind that reaching black voters could have been exactly what he had in mind by inviting Moore's monument this direction. Faith is very important to African-Americans here, and was a vital aspect of the Civil Rights Movement. And I respect that immensely. But, as you can see in my editor's note this issue (which I'm posting soon), I urge all Mississippians to understand that we can't allow an elected official to establish a religion BECAUSE they hold their faith so dear.

Author

ladd

Date

2003-09-04T11:07:35-06:00

ID

136106

Comment

If Ronnie's letter was that well-thought-out, then be afraid, really afraid: Never in the history of the duplicitous relationship of American politicians and their non-white constituents would an elected official have so cleverly used a people's means of surviving cultural domination than by subverting and twisting it to stay elected and offer nothing in return. If Ronnie were THAT smart, he would realize he has more to gain--beyond elected office in Mississippi--if he courted the black vote and actually offered something of true value to the community. Attacking segregation, which is increasing faster in the South than anywhere else in the US; funding Headstart, which is being chased to its death by the GOP; dismantling the prison indistrial complex; etc. But that takes more guts than smarts. And I'm not sure Ronnie has either.

Author

Nia

Date

2003-09-04T12:02:08-06:00

ID

136107

Comment

Excellent points all around, Nia. And don't forget the need to speak even louder about the problems (especially unfunded mandates) with No Child Left Behind, which are really going to have an impact on African-American students in the state. Musgrove, to his credit, has spoken to the media about this, but they haven't picked up on much of it.

Author

ladd

Date

2003-09-04T13:26:26-06:00

ID

136108

Comment

If safe to say that when a headline refers to "The Intelligent Vote" the writer is talking about herself/himself, not some other group of voters that may feel differently. Nothing about the "Modest Vote" here. In any case, I would suggest that one of the many lessons of the 2000 Florida presidential election was this: if you're lucky enough to have your vote counted, don't waste it on candidates that can't win. If a few hundred Naderites had stayed home (or voted with their heads) we wouldn't be sitting in traffic today cursing President George W. Bush.

Author

David

Date

2003-09-12T15:03:49-06:00

ID

136109

Comment

Yeah, well, modesty is overrated. In fact, I don't mean it that way -- the truth is, I consider Jefferson and Madison pretty intelligent folks, and I don't think they would "vote" for Musgrove's decision on their "separation of church and state" clause if they had the opportunity today. I definitely believe that the "intelligent" approach to the First Amendment is to understand what is there, why it was put there, and to not then pander to emotionalism for political purposes. And from what I'm hearing on the streets since Musgrove's pander, a lot of folks agree with me. As for Nader in 2000, I wrote impassioned columns then about how a vote for Nader was a vote for Bush and, probably, bad policies and a bad economy. And I got the closest the left comes to sending hate mail in response. (The right sends much nastier hate mail, BTW, from my experience.) I will be writing another column before the election about this very quandary -- but I do think it comes a time when the bigger picture has to kick in, and we have to stop making compromises that insult our intelligence, as well as our conscience--and to build a better, more democratic future, and protect our freedoms. We have to look past the next four years. If y'all hadn't noticed, I take our constiutional freedoms very seriously; it's what sets the U.S. apart. I wouldn't vote for Bush because I don't believe he wants to protect real freedom, and now I feel the same way about Musgrove. My conscience is simply now speaking louder than the voices that tell me to hold my nose and vote for the so-called lesser evil.

Author

ladd

Date

2003-09-12T16:58:22-06:00

ID

136110

Comment

Donna, you sound like an original intent legal scholar. Funny, but I never thought you would hold the same legal philosophy as Justice Scalia.

Author

jimjam

Date

2003-09-12T17:27:52-06:00

ID

136111

Comment

I know a few "intelligent people" who voted for Nader. And their argument baffles me now even more--since none of them will admit to error: They claimed that if Naderite votes were to put Bush in the White House then people would see clearly how truly awful Bush and the neocons are. Hunh? I figured that would never work if for no other reason than that nobody is dumb enough not to see through Bush's rhetoric. Clearly, I was wrong on that score. It's only now that I understand that there are lots of "other intelligent people" in the US who are actually surprised by the Bushies and their (anti-)public policies. These folks are actually surprised by the Let's Leave As Many Children Behind As Possible education bill and by the debt that GENERATIONS to come will be drowning in. And sadly, most of those people want a plaque of the 10 Thou Shalt Nots in their courtrooms, so long as they don't have to acknowledge any other religions (Justice is for Christians only apparently), any other cultures (Sorry, whites only. Well, maybe a few blacks and latinos to prove we aren't really prejudiced), or any other languages (If you can't speak English, you deserve to go to jail).

Author

Nia

Date

2003-09-13T02:52:06-06:00