Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Timeline

Two hundred nineteen years ago the new nation ratified a Constitution that enshrined both fundamental guarantees of liberty and the institution of slavery.

One hundred and eight years ago, the Supreme Court decided Plessy v. Ferguson, effectively gutting the constitutional attempt to guarantee newly freed slaves real equality. Plessy would remain the law of the land for fifty eight years.

Sixty years ago the cold war with the Communist world began. It would be fought in the main as a chess match in former colonies in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and America's moves would not infrequently include supporting dictators and erstwhile colonists.

Forty Four years ago Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act and famously declared that Democrats had lost the South for a generation.

Yesterday the still-young country elected as President the son of a former subject of British colonial rule in Africa.

My head still swims at the thought.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

So we go from P.U.M.A to just U.M.A.

In fairness, there's a chance the President-elect will do something inspired (the presence of Christopher Edley is a good sign).

But we had an election, and the biggest spender won. Moreover, from Bill Moyer's Journal:
KATHLEEN HALL JAMIESON: This has been a disappointing election year in which there were major problems facing the electorate, a campaign process that didn't address them, debates that didn't do as much as they could to inform people about the tough challenges, the tradeoffs, and the likely solutions. Candidates who didn't tell us the full truth about everything that we know that they stood for in the past and would stand for in the future but which nonetheless put forward I think two qualified individuals to be president of the United States.

Finally, in what sense is this fulfillment of the legacy of Martin Luther King when that legacy has been rejected by fans of Antonio Gramsci, their publicist/publishers, and their nationwide audience?

Bridget Callahan said...

I know. It's mindblowingly cool to be alive right now, watching everything accelerate. But I think it may be even more historically significant in the long run that the INTERNET won this one.

Anonymous said...

It's so awesome that the political hack Heslop Licata took it on the chin on Tuesday.

Maybe she needs to donate even more money to the Democratic party and they will find something for the haus frau to do!!!

Scott Piepho said...

Anon:

You use my blog to anonymously trash a personal friend of mine? Good to know I get the classy readers.

FYR even the Thos Fordham foundation noted that Heather was an effective board member. As a campaigner for herself, less effective, as she would probably agree.

If you happen to know me in real life, do not run that house frau smack to my face.

Anonymous said...

I love it when liberals make such awesome street threats!!

Step off Yo! Don't be running that smack to me homey!

So lame.

Anonymous said...

Pho,

Friendship aside, how big a loss for the Board is Heather's defeat?

Is Dr. Owens-Fink more capable than the district's current member-elect?

Do you see a need for a State Board with the knowledge and skills to hold Governor Strickland accountable?

John Ettorre said...

Well said.