I dare every South Carolinian, of all colors, to watch "To Kill a Mockingbird", and then ask themselves this question:
Who, among the candidates, is Atticus Finch?
My guess is that they would say that John Edwards is the closest thing to Gregory Peck's exemplary character...and they would be proud to know that he is one of their own brothers. As a fellow Carolinian, I know that most Carolinians want to distance themselves from the cruel bigotry of the old South, just as Atticus Finch distanced himself, at great cost to personal comfort and security.
Here is the wikipedia description of Atticus:
"Atticus is the book's most upright character, representing the moral ideal of both a lawyer and a human being: he is brutally honest, highly moral, a tireless crusader for good causes (even hopeless ones), a virtual pacifist and, for the most part, devoid of any of the racial or class prejudices afflicting the other citizens of Maycomb. He goes to great pains to instruct his children on the importance of being open-minded, judicious, generous neighbors and citizens. "
Go rent the movie tonight, before you vote, and then come back and share your thoughts. You could win up to one dollar!
