With gay marriage decided, what will be the next big left-led social change?

You pick the year. Does it matter?

Did something change between 2010, when Byrd died, and today? Is he no longer seen in the same light?

Is Al Gore now embarrassed by his racist father? Is Cokie Roberts ashamed of her racist father? Is Bill Clinton humiliated by his association with Fulbright? Are Dem Senators horrified to have their office in a building named for a racist Democratic Senator?

 

Byrd was a scumbag. The difference is he came to realize it and realize his racism was an "albatross" from which he couldn't escape.

What about Byrd?

 

Yes Baron. He had previously "apologized" for the "mistake" of joining the Klan.

Show me where he apologized for being a racist. Starman tells us he had to explicitly do so to remain in the Democratic Party -- all the way back in the '70's.

So, when did he do it?

He's just sorry he had the "millstone" of the Klan hung around his neck -- even though his "klavern" wasn't about that racial stuff anyway. They were respected doctors and lawyers who were concerned with communism.

 

Pound of flesh is never enough.

How does one "atone" for them after renunciation?

 

I thought it was "albatross" ...

 

No. His joining the Klan was an albatross. He never says his racism was an albatross.

 

Got a link for that? Other than Baron's or Starman's posting history?

 

LOL. I believe he used "millstone" to warn others against joining the Klan -- better to keep your racism private -- but maybe it was albatross.

 

Isn't owning your past misdeeds a big part of atonement? You know, like a 12-step program?

Regardless, I'm not sure any of us should be shocked that a vast majority of lawmakers -- historically mostly white, Christian men of extreme privilege -- would hold racist views.

 

From creosote's link:

Q: What has been your biggest mistake and your biggest success?

A: Well, it's easy to state what has been my biggest mistake. The greatest mistake I ever made was joining the Ku Klux Klan. And I've said that many times. But one cannot erase what he has done. He can only change his ways and his thoughts. That was an albatross around my neck that I will always wear. You will read it in my obituary that I was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

 

Hey, maybe Starman is wrong, and YankeeFan is right.

Maybe the Democratic party never disowned their racist members, or owned up to their racist past.

In that case, we should probably avoid the subject, having already made false statements.

 

I'm sure he just meant he regretted joining the KKK because of its poor fashion sense.