I agree, I just wasn't as willing as you were to post it :p

Not sure why people feel compelled to throw shit out there after a dead guy. There's the inappropriate thought or joke, but... he's dead. And it's all really old news.

I agree.

I have a pro-black back to africa mumbo jumbo friend who quoted (on facebook) Byrd's 1940's era letter regarding the KKK which was insulting to black people. And it's like woo hoo, so you read a book once -- but stfu if you're not aware of his entire legacy.

Ironically, it's the same thing for conservatives who gawk at a racist Democrat and pat themselves on the back because Lincoln was a republican... wow, you too read a book once.

I pretty much just hate people.

Even me? :(

Actually the people who pat themselves on the back about Lincoln should read another book or two. Or come to the Presidential Museum. They'd learn his intentions were not as noble as his actions.

I doubt a politician who actually believes everything I do will ever be elected, until then I'll take the good things and criticize the bad. (And try to push the scales towards the good, slowly.)

I would ask you to join the club but that would defeat the purpose.

****

What's this thread about other than Senator Byrd resting in peace? Truly socially conscious people don't bat an eye over every expression of prejudice. There's no shock that an old guard Senator from W. VA has Klan and other mistakes mixed with the awesome stuff on his extensive resume'. It's more shocking when that isn't the case. Wooptydoo. Rest in peace.

I think it's hard to look at the guy and ignore all the mistakes, but it's also hard to look at him and ignore his accomplishments and things he took a stand for that were positive (or, more truthfully, fall in line with what my own political ideals are). Because he was in office so long, he has a much more complex legacy than most other politicians.

I just saw that he died and thought it was appropriate for the news and politics forum, considering his tenure in Congress. :)

LOL. This makes the second time in the past 24 hours that I've been reminded of this comic strip:

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ku...wyivo1_500.gif

I would hope that we could agree that nobody's perfect (at least, not in the last 2,000 years, IMHO). Lincoln used the same wrong word as Byrd and probably most other presidents - who cares which party they represented?

Frankly, there are a LOT of words used in this forum which offend me and others. There are viewpoints that offend me. But in the long run, this is a good forum, with some good ideas. IMHO, the phrase RIP is simply a way to end a thought about somebody's death.

Sen. Byrd was a product of his times and upbringing; he tried (and may have) succeeded in changing his attitudes with the times. He did a lot of good for the people he represented. That is all.

My older son (the one who just graduated from Clemson) was a recipient of a Byrd scholarship. Anyone else?

Can you imagine what ideals we hold that may seem totally wrong to everyone else when we're 90?

No matter what you think of him politically, the man's life story is amazing, and his marriage is inspirational. He could also play a mean fiddle.

Does Charlie Daniels play a mean fiddle?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aZLw_KBdqc

You know you would have been all over me if I had posted about the same thing....hehehe :D


G'night folks!