Immoral Sixteen’s Lack of Action Can Be Taken at Face Value

After years of bigotry and ignorance the United States Senate finally decided it was necessary to apologize to the millions of descendants of slaves for ignoring the evil institution of slavery and the horrible tools used to destroy generations. The lack of action the sixteen senators who refused to sign on as co-sponsors of Senate Resolution 39 can only be taken at face value and any half-witted explanation justifying their refusal clearly exposes their underlying character. These sixteen senators will be referred to as the Immoral 16 and might as well say they were for the Nazi concentration camps.

There seems to be a sick irony the Immoral 16 would ignore protocol and common decency under the back drop of an exhumation of Emmit Till’s body and the conviction of Edgar Ray Killen, ringleader and Ku Klux Klan member and convicted murderer of Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Cheney.

No doubt these same senators led the charge to have Dick Durbin censured when he referred to Guantonamo as Nazi-like. The furor over Durbin’s comments was so intense he was forced to issue a tearful apology on the senate floor. Maybe the Immoral 16 did not understand SR39 just as Durbin did not understand how his comments inflamed and offended so many Americans. Just as Durbin saw the error of his ways maybe too the Immoral 16 will follow suit after a brief history lesson. Ignoring America’s Holocaust will not erase the pain and bitterness so many African Americans still harbor today.

Maybe they did not understand the word lynching so here is a brief explanation. Contrary to popular belief a lynching is not just a hanging but a slaying committed by a mob often for racial reasons. Most cases classified as racial lynchings in the records of Tuskegee Institute and the Southern Poverty Law Center, more than one person participated in the crime and few were solved. From 1882 to 1968 in 43 states there are approximately 4700 unsolved lynchings. Moreover, every state represented by the Immoral 16 except New Hampshire has the dubious distinction of harboring murderers with no intentions of pursuing justice for the still grieving families.

• In Mississippi represented by Trent Lott (R) and Thad Cochran (R), 581 unsolved lynchings.
• In Texas represented by Kay Hutchinson (R) and John Cornyn (R), 493 unsolved lynchings.
• In Alabama represented by Richard Shelby (R), 347 unsolved lynchings.
• In Tennessee represented by Lamar Alexander (R), 251 unsolved lynchings.
• In Wyoming represented by Michael Enzi(R) and Craig Thomas (R), 36 unsolved lynchings.
• In South Dakota represented by John Thune(R), 27 unsolved lynchings.
• In Oregon represented by Gordon Smith (R), 21 unsolved lynchings.
• In Idaho represented by Michael Crapo (R), 20 unsolved lynchings.
• In Iowa represented by Chuck Grassley (R), 19 unsolved lynchings.
• In Utah represented by Robert Bennett (R) and Orrin Hatch (R), 8 unsolved lynchings.
• In New Hampshire represented by John Sununu (R) and Judd Gregg (R), 0 unsolved lynchings.

What does it say about their character when sixteen, white mal,e republicans refuse to do the morally correct act of condemning the evil institution of slavery? What does it say to African Americans when these sixteen mice can not simply issue an apology something their House of Representatives counterparts condemned decades ago? Why is it so hard for America to apologize to descendants of slaves for rape, torture and forced servitude? When does moral decency rise above political pandering?

Two words can go a long way in healing wounds and this nation from its Nazi-like past against people of color who built this country on its blood, sweat and tears yet this Immoral 16 chose political expediency over morality. Hopefully good moral voters will remember the Immoral 16 at the polls. America has apologized to every race except the one who has been most loyal, African Americans and sadly that great people has not demanded it. The lack of inaction on the part of the Immoral 16 suggests they would vote against oxygen if it were for black people.

Please contact the above so-called senators and voice your disgusts.

Your responses to: daddyluv1@juno.com