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Created: December 18, 2002
Latest Update: December 18, 2002
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu
Michael Griffin's Comments on Trent Lott
Site Copyright: Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata and Individual Authors, December 2002.
"Fair use" encouraged.
On Tuesday, December 17, 2002, Michael Griffin wrote: Subject: Thoughts and MusingsOn Wednesday, December 18, jeanne responded:Greetings my Dear Jeanne
All the best of the season to you and your loved ones. May the blessings of Allah descend upon you like soft white snowflakes, the karma of the Buddha, the beatitudes of the Christ, the Dream of Dr. king and the longings of a peoples whose lives are touched by this countries obsession with ,,,well you know...
I have written you and one never quite knows where it goes...I believe Judy Collins once asked where the time goes...And I for one do not know...
We have discussed the ideas of Illocutionary discussions, and I have shared my trials and tribulations with those whom I call friend in that arena. But I do not loose heart for it is a means to an end, one that lies ever elusive in the mists of conscience. the idea I whish to discuss surfaced when the notion of separation and bigotry reared it's head again recently with the leader of the republican parties remarks concerning Strom Thurman and his bid for presidency on the seaperationists ticket. I believe Lott should remain in his position as it goes to the heart of the issue of race relations in this country. Reviewing Lott's record he has voted against any affirmative action or human rights measures associated with folks of color throughout his entire career.
The setup above was to point out how impossible it would be to have an illocutionary discussion with this man. His deep seated values and morals are the very fiber which drives him and his quest, he even alludes to how good it would have been to have Thurman win in 48 as we could have by passed all that has transpired since. Meaning of course civil rights voting rights and all the legislation that has been passed to alleviate the racial bias, which Lotts stands for, and the struggles of King, Malcolm X, and a host of others.
I believe he, Lott, should be allowed to stay as majority leader of the republican party as he exemplifies all that is the truth of the party they all in one sense or another speak all we want to hear, then do as they please to serve the masters who have bought them. So I recommend he stays but with one caveat he is to wear the pointy white hat of the clan while performing his official duties and whenever they are in session. This will remind all in view that we are a nation of bigots and racists and most only play lip service to the truth. Perhaps those in power will come to realize as some of us have that the ruse is over, and the gauntlett is thrown down.
Michael Griffin
Well said, Michael. Most serious writers are turning to past voting records to place Lott's comment in context. Within that setting, the words Lott spoke do not appear to have been unrepresentative of his philosophy. Certainly one way we judge the truth of a statement is by checking its consistency with other evidence. In this case Lott appears to be consistently anti- affirmative action, anti- lots of things the left perspective believes in.I believe it was Robert Scheer who suggested that Lott should stay in office because he was such a wonderful embarassment to the Republicans. So you're not alone in that conclusion. But you are speaking to the choir here. Right down to wanting Lott to wear the Ku Klux Klan dunce hat. Funny, ironic, but hardly illocutionary.
How have we permitted our representatives, our leaders, to go on so long without demanding more of illocutionary discourse? Is it really OK that Lott be one of our leaders and yet never enter into illocutionary discourse with Others whom we have harmed through the very privilege he assumes as natural and given? I don't have the answer. But it's one we need to search out.
jeanne