On Trent Lott

a comment by Witherspoon Issues Analyst Gene TeSelle
[12-14-02]

Trent Lott claims that he misspoke in saying that, if the rest of the country had followed the four Southern states that went for Strom Thurmond in 1948, "we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years." It's hard to see what else he might have meant except what he actually said. And it turns out that, back in 1980, he said, after Thurmond spoke, "You know, if we had elected this man thirty years ago, we wouldn't be in the mess we are [in] today."

Cal Thomas professes to be shocked that someone in the party of Lincoln could have said such things. But the party of Lincoln has pursued a "Southern strategy" ever since the Sixties by promoting economic inequality, gutting social programs by claiming that they are trampling on individual rights and religious freedom, locking up more and more people in prisons, and pretending that the Confederate battle flag, which was hoisted over the Southern states during the Fifties and Sixties as a symbol of defiant racism, is a benign remembrance of the Southern heritage.

It was the party of Lincoln, after all, that just last November defeated incumbent Democrats in the governors' races in South Carolina and Georgia by reminding white voters that Jim Hodges and Roy Barnes had reduced (not removed) the official presence of the Confederate flag--an action requested by African Americans, religious groups, and even large segments of the corporate world. If Trent Lott has committed an error, it was simply that he blurted out what lies behind the massive party realignment that has occurred in the South over the last thirty-five years.

Statement of the Reverend Carlton W. Veazey, President and CEO, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

Press release dated December 16, 2002, posted here on 12-17-02.

As an African-American pastor and the president of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, an interfaith, non-partisan coalition dedicated to social justice for people of all races and ethnicities, I urge all who believe in equality -- including racial, religious, gender, and social equality - to stand together in demanding the removal of Senator Trent Lott from the position of majority leader of the United States Senate.

To allow Senator Lott, who advocates separatism and inequality, to have a leadership position in our government would be a mockery of this nation's historic commitment to justice for African Americans, women, and others who have been denied full participation in this nation.

Senator Trent Lott's recent remarks that Americans would have been "better off" with segregationist Strom Thurmond as president have broad implications. This country is still struggling to break the barriers that discrimination has wrought. As majority leader, Senator Lott will be in a prime position to undermine civil rights legislation and deny opportunities to minorities. Similarly, Lott's promise after the midterm election that he will pass legislation to limit abortion rights shows his willingness to restrict women's equality under the law.

In a nation that continuously strives to move forward, Senator Lott would turn back the clock to a time when we were less free and less equal. The vast majority of Americans do not believe that is fair, right, or just.

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, founded in 1973, is the national alliance of religious organizations from 15 denominations and faith traditions, including the Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist Association, and Reform and Conservative Judaism.

GA actions ratified (or not) by  the presbyteries   

A number of the most important actions of the 219^th General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries, confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.

We provided resources to help inform the reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.

Our three areas of primary interest have been:

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PVJ's Facebook page

Mitch Trigger, PVJ's Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!

Voices of Sophia blog

Heather Reichgott, who has created this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:

John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot

John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive

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