Martin Luther King Day is celebrated in January across the country. Robert E Lee Day is celebrated on the same day in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. Georgia, Florida, and Virginia celebrate Robert E Lee on a separate day.
But today, Arkansas held a vote to separate the holidays, just like the enlightened southern states.
You might think that it would be the cool thing to do to separate the holidays. Yanno, just for the sake of appearing to care about the Civil Rights icon. Of course, the bill never stood a chance. But teh crazy was out in full force.
Inae Oh brought us eight ridiculous quotes from the debate whatever in the Arkansas House today. Follow the fold ...
"Everyone in this room owes Robert E. Lee a debt."
Okay, it IS a debt but what kind?
Everybody in that room owes Lee a debt of embarrassment, and maybe for the socioeconomic and political structures that keep them in office.
Embarrassment because, despite the State's Rights rhetoric in popular fashion amongst Confederate apologists, the Civil War was about slavery pure and simple. Maybe one day we will all agree on that one.
Then there is the real debt, the power structures in this country that keep rich white men in control. Of course, that would probably be a minority opinion in the Arkansas legislature these days.
"You've got MLK parades all over the nation, but no one celebrates Lee! Well, a lot of people do, a very large crowd."
I guess it all depends on what you consider a large crowd. Also, whether you consider six states a lot of people. Or if you need 70 some odd electoral votes. Ahem, Mitt Romney!
"This bill is out to change our constitution."
As in, your morning constitutional?
Looks like someone needs another copy of a constitution in their pocket.
I have a feeling that whoever said this is a BIG fan of keeping a Constitution in the pocket. Could be their pocket, could be they like it in the pocket of the people they vote for.
"It's called American history."
Well, yes. I guess. But see, there's this thing about what the man represents. I would love to see Robert E Lee Day used as a chance to remember exactly what the Confederacy wsa all about but I don't think this is what was meant here.
"I really wish we could all celebrate a non-separate, but equal holiday."
Dude, you get the day off already. Give it a rest!
What, you thought I was gonna go with a whole treatise on Separate But Equal here? C'mon! I don't need to waste any of our time here.
This picture sort of says it all, doesn't it?
Right down to the washing of white people's laundry.
You wouldn't celebrate Christmas in July!"
Actually, many do. Why the heck not? Why do these men need to be celebrated on the same day? They don't even share a birthday. Of course,we merged two birthdays for President's Day, so there's that ...
Maybe the boys need another white sale? Okay, bad joke but I had to.
"Why are we doing this? We are chasing a non-problem."
?????????????????
Well, I guess if you think the real issue is that there shouldn't be a Robert E Lee Day in the first place, then we agree.
So, when does the bill to eliminate Robert E Lee Day come
up for a vote? Yah, I thought so.
"Separate is not equal."
Everyone has a dream I guess. But really, does this person really not get the irony here?
The truly sad thing here is that they probably didn't.