is that it repeats almost rote what we heard from white racists a half-century ago when landmark Supreme Court and legislative decisions made desegregation and black voting rights the law of the land.
It would be the end of civilized life as we know it, screamed throngs of white people in the streets in response to 1950s and 1960s laws mandating desegregated schools and equal access to the voting booth. It violates natural law, cried outraged religious leaders and parishioners. We will never allow it, proclaimed politicians like Alabama Governor George Wallace, who infamously stood in the doorway of a school to block the entry of black students while federal troops came in to enforce orders to desegregate.
So there was nothing at all new or original about Rick Santorum's bellowing "This decision will not stand" to fellow Pleistocene Republicans after last week's Supreme Court ruling made gay marriage legal throughout the United States. http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/04/republicans-against-same-sex-marriage
We have seen bigots in desperate denial before. No one likes getting defeated. And bigots who base their self-esteem largely on wielding privilege over others hate being defeated all the more.
But as in battles before, we will make sure they get used to it.
Happy Independence Day.
Comments