Politics and Policy Goldie (in HorsesAss.com) reports on an article by Adele Fergusen, a prominent figure in Republican politics in Washington State, in which she writes that she doesn’t understand why more blacks don’t vote Republican. She also writes that blacks need to understand that, in a way, they should be thankful that their ancestors were slaves, because it caused them to be born in America. Funny, but her comments were the same thing a lot of white’s believed in the 1840’s ~ 1860’s (both North and South). The following is from one of Robert E. Lee’s letters, dated Dec. 26, 1856 (four and a half years before the Civil War began): “...There are few, I believe, in this enlightened age, who will not acknowledge that slavery as an institution is a moral and political evil. It is idle to expatiate on its disadvantages. I think it is a greater evil to the white than to the colored race. While my feelings are strongly enlisted in behalf of the latter, my sympathies are more deeply engaged for the former. The blacks are immeasurably better off here than in Africa, morally, physically, and socially. The painful discipline they are undergoing is necessary for their further instruction as a race, and will prepare them, I hope, for better things. How long their servitude may be necessary is known and ordered by a merciful Providence. Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild and melting influences of Christianity than from the storm and tempest of fiery controversy...” Quoted from Civil War Home So, I guess Fergusen’s views haven’t progressed much further than those of a Confederate General in the past one-hundred fifty years or so. Interesting, for a party that still claims to be the saviors of the African-Americans! At least the Democrats took on the crusade of desegregation in the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s, even though it ultimately cost them much of the vote in the South - showing that they put their conscious over politics. The Republicans haven’t done much for the African Americans since the enactment of the 14th Amendment. Caveat: I should mention that I admire a lot about Robert E. Lee, despite posting the comment above. His racial views were actually rather moderate for the time, compared with other whites from both the North and the South. But of course, we have learned a lot since then, and anyone who carries those same attitudes today still has their heads stuck in the middle of the 19th century. (Posted by RHP6033)        Copyright 2006-2007 - Brookridge Associates Inc. All rights reserved.