Now, perhaps we can find some sort of racial peace in Louisiana now that the Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell has decided to resign.
Bardwell is the JOP who refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple last month.According to various media outlets, Bardwell resigned in person at the Louisiana secretary of state’s office.Bardwell a justice of the peace for Tangipahoa Parish refused the marriage license for Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay of Hammond.
Bardwell had said that he refused to marry the couple since he was concerned about the children of interracial parents because he felt that interracial marriages do not last.He also has been quoted to say that he has married black couples in his own home.
The event sparked a significant controversy in Louisiana and throughout the nation over whether Bardwell should resign or be reprimanded.The Louisiana Democratic Party, Senator Mary Landrieu, Congressman Charlie Melancon and Republican Governor Bobby Jindal had spoken out against Bardwell’s actions.In fact, the conservative Governor Jindal had urged that Bardwell resign from office.The Louisiana Republican Party did not issue any statement although they daily comment on matters related to local and national political affairs and have in the past requested Louisiana democrats to disassociate themselves from behaviors they have considered to be distasteful or unlawful.
US Senator David Vitter’s spokesperson issued a statement to a publication associated with the Washington Post in response to a question by that publication.The e-mail statement said, “First, Sen. Vitter thinks that all judges should follow the law as written and not make it up as they go along. Second, it would be amazing for anyone to do a story based on this fringe, left-wing political hack’s blog — he’s been handcuffed and detained in the past over his guerrilla tactics.”
Senator Vitter refused to clarify what he meant by the email statement.
The decision by Bardwell is the right thing. Louisiana must do whatever it can to end all forms of racial discrimination whether it be by whites against blacks or blacks against whites.
In this case, even if Justice of the Peace honestly believed in his heart that he was doing the right thing in not marrying the couple, his actions clearly violated the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Loving v. Virginia which held unanimously that a state cannot infringe upon a person’s right to engage in an interracial marriage.
Hopefully, this will be the end of this embarrassing moment in Louisiana history which has been under intense scrutiny ever since Katrina shed light on our state’s elected officials.
More than anything else, Bardwell’s action sent the wrong message to Louisiana
citizens and to the rest of the world that one of its state officials would openly violate the civil rights deeply embedded in US law.
Whatever the reason for Bardwell’s decision to resign, this time, he made the right choice.
I applaud Governor Jindal, Senator Landrieu, the Louisiana Democratic Party and Congressman Charlie Melancon for standing strong for principals recognized by all states in America and most modern industrial nations.
Now it is time for Louisiana to heal its wounds and to show that it is a home for racial tolerance and it is desirous to live along with the great states in this country and throughout the world.
...............................<twirling>. Written by KjunLady
on 11/5/2009
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It just all began to sound familiar. Who knew that KJ had so much in common with Navin R. Johnson? Written by
on 11/5/2009
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Oh, "Sled Head" that's the name of her dog!!!! (Lame ass posting I know, but hell WB, did you have to bring her dog into the Mix? That is just plain ole mean... Next thing I know You'll be talking about throwing her momma from a damn old train) Written by
on 11/5/2009
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Hey, WB, are you watching me or sumtings?????? and Silly Hound is a dumb name fer a dog.... Written by
on 11/5/2009
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Jacob, saw your contributions there at: h t t p: / / my. ktiv. com / service / displayKickPlace. kickAction? u = 4180594&as = 37891 & b = Pretty nifty work there, I am sure it will go a long ways towards world peace.... Written by
on 11/5/2009
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Let's recap. You have a soon-to-be former website. And you once found your special purpose. I'll bet your name is even in the phonebook. Does your dog's name start with S and end with "head." If so, that explains everything. You must have been born a poor black boy. Did Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcgee play blues on your porch? Written by
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I'm sorry you lost your purpose KajunLady. Don't despair, governor's races are not necessarily indicators of future voter behavior. Written by kpf
on 11/5/2009
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Jacob, my web site is CrawfishDish dot com. (I’ve never mentioned this before)—But, my domain will expire soon… so check it out (I had a “purpose” once too). Good luck with your venture, Jacob. And my hat’s off to Stephen Sabludowsky for providing us with this forum… It takes a lot of devotion, especially for a daily edition. Written by KjunLady
on 11/5/2009
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KJ has commented on 4 different bayoubuzz articles for five days in a row, in two languages (english and tired, lame computer abbreviations). She has a radio that can pick up nationally syndicated radio. The topics are always dreamy mutterings on Carville, Obama, failed liberal entitlements, and cliched name-calling. She opened a half-gallon of cheap vodka less than two weeks ago and is doing fine so far. Written by
on 11/4/2009
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KjunLady, just FYI, I have been published in print in four different countries and on web sites in five different countries in English and in original Spanish and I have been a guest on nationally syndicated radio in this country. The topics were usually Hugo Chavez and the Left in Latin America, the FARC narco-guerrillas, Castroite repression of Cuban bloggers, etc. I only opened Blogging Louisiana less than two weeks ago and I'm doing fine so far. Written by Jacob Sulzbach, Lafayette, La.
on 11/4/2009
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Getting better at what? Distinguishing reality from fantasy? Written by
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That was sort of funny KJ, I guess you are getting better? Written by
on 11/4/2009
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"I was preparing a blog article to address something you posted earlier on this topic, but I now consider that unnecessary".......LOL!! (Well, lucky Sabludowsky)Jacob, are you still soliciting readers to your web site?.. What's the calling-card - You?...... (Put some cheese out-- Mortimer will follow.) Written by KjunLady
on 11/4/2009
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"Bardwell might have been a CO, but he violated the constitution." Where and how? Written by CN
on 11/4/2009
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I don't blame Bardwell for resigning, he probably just simply got tired of dealing with idiots and self serving attention whores.... The 'nations' "news" media in general included.. Written by
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LOL , I thought you were worth the risk and I hope with Bardwell resignation the A.C.L.U. will have bigger fish to fry than something being said in Louisiana. Written by Cry over this
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Careful, this is an article about government. You may get a call from the ACLU. Church/state separation must be maintained. Written by
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You are welcome and may you have a blessed day. Written by Cry over this
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Oh, thank you, I've never heard that from you before. Written by
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Vitter silence and hiding from the media on this speaks for itself. Written by Cry over this
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I am glad to see that he resigned and even though I think Governor Jindal and Mary need to go, I give Governor Jindal and Mary credit for being real leaders and speaking out against this sort of behavior. Written by Cry over this
on 11/4/2009
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Bardwell might have been a CO, but he violated the constitution. He might not be a racist, but he should not be a public official. He can have his views all he wants as a private citizen. As far as Steve, it is pretty obvious that based upon his column yesterday about Dr. Blakely and other writings, he criticizes blacks who seem to act racially irresponsible towards whites as he does whites towards blacks. To me, Bardwell might have had all the good intentions, but his behavior was unlawful and as Governor Jindal said, he should have resigned a long time ago. Written by Johnny
on 11/4/2009
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Bardwell should have been condemned for his prejudice and ignorance - but that should go both ways. As a very young man with a wife and child, it was a struggle to make financial ends meet. A man who did business with our minimum wage paying boss offered to hire a guy in our (beauty supply) warehouse for a buck more than minimum wage - the guy turned it down (didn't like the hours) but I was more than willing to take it. The man (black also) said he only hired black people (!?). Would any who condemn Bardwell critising this man as well? Few I suspect. In addition to racist whites like Bardwell, the race hustlers who ignore prejudice by individual black people but smear all whites due to prejudice by individual whites are just as much to blame for maintaining racial tensions. Great article BTW Mr. Sabuldowsky, one day people will see each others as individuals and not a member of some "group" different from themselves. Seeing others as members of a group has led to the greatest of evils ever committed by humanity, IMHO. It is wrong in many ways, including being "innacurate" except as a generalization. Written by kpf
on 11/4/2009
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I appreciate the measured tone and careful wording of this article Steve. I was preparing a blog article to address something you posted earlier on this topic, but I now consider that unnecessary. And I published a blog article of my own last night entitled "Goodbye Justice Bardwell" at Blogging Louisiana, in which I address this issue myself. Written by Jacob Sulzbach, Lafayette, La.
on 11/4/2009
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Steve, as you are reputed to be a journalist and a lawyer, and especially since you are in such a critical mood yourself, I think you should do some remedial study into the "principle" v "principal" distinction of the English language. This is hardly the first time I have seen misuse of these words in your columns--and indeed, over just this past week. But I certainly don't think you should be stoned for it, NOR should you have your life's work taken away from you for it. Written by NotSoFastEddie
on 11/4/2009
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While I can't condone what he did, in fairness to the JOP, he was reported to have sent such persons to another JOP (so that their Civil Rights were not denied as alleged, and he is also reported not to be a racist at all, but rather a CO where mixed race marriages are concerned, based on a long history of anecdotal evidence. In essence, he exercised a conscientious objection, much the same as that of a doctor who refuses to perform abortions. Also, from a legal standpoint, how is this different from a Catholic priest who refuses to marry a divorced person, or even anyone who has not undergone pre-marital counseling (PreCana in Catholic parlance)? Granted, as a JOP, he is nondenominational, but like Justice Sotomayor, he cannot leave his life experiences at the door, and these experiences necessarily inform his judicial (or, in this case, JOP) temperament. In the final analysis, though, his beliefs are not consistent with current societal expectations, and he is better off in another profession--but that is no reason to stone him. Written by NotSoFastEddie
on 11/3/2009
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Didn't have much choice, did he? Who would go to him after what he refused to do? Written by deanslist2
on 11/3/2009
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