I ran, despite the low temperatures (5-6 degrees, a veritable heat wave compared to other AMs this week!), 6.9 miles. I did it on purpose, but it also worked out with the strong winds that popped up overnight and another easy day/run while my injury is slowly, but surely healing. And, coming only from a runner, I'm actually looking forward to next year. Yep, 70 years old puts me in a new age-group for racing. But 69 pits me against those youngsters who are 65......
Nolan Finley had an interesting editorial in this AM's newspaper. It went beyond, I think, the apparent subject, Jeff Sessions as attorney-general and his stance in opposing states' approval of recreational marijuana. Finley questioned the attorney-general "...telling the states they can't exercise the constitutional authority assigned to them [under the principle of federalism] to adapt and enforce a system of laws regulating the activity of their citizens within their borders." Yes, I agree with Finley, except......
I am curious. Finley doesn't like that "...the states can't exercise the constitutional authority assigned to them to adapt and enforce a system of laws regulating the activity of their citizens within their borders." Hmmm......The Civil War notwithstanding, might that "system of laws regulating activity of their citizens within their borders" include protecting and perpetuating slavery? What about blocking civil rights?
Although I am opposed to the legalization of recreational marijuana (even if by state actions), I agree with Finley regarding Sessions and his stance on the issue. Actually, I agree with Sessions on the legalization, but not his attempts to prohibit state actions. I believe in federalism and its principles, esp those which limit the power of the national government. Yet, the specter of the past, that is slavery, civil rights, etc., looms.
Of course I rationalize, if only to appease my self-acknowledged contradictions. It is mindful of the ruling in Brown v Board of Education. Legally and constitutionally, the Supremes' ruling was/is suspect. Yet, it was so clearly and inherently proper--and other/alternative paths to racial justice were just as clearly improbable or even impossible--that it was worth fracturing the Constitution. Or was it? Similarly, consider Lincoln's route to the Emancipation Proclamation and abolition. The questionable (perhaps I'm being generous here?) executive actions came only after all other avenues to freedom, short of winning the Civil War which wasn't at all a given, had been blocked. Both Brown and the EP fly in the face of my appreciation for federalism and my distaste for national government power, but......
That raises a difficult and dangerous question. Is a worthy and desired outcome, one that might be inherently and clearly decent, justification for torturing the Constitution? A "yes" answer puts one on a slippery slope indeed.
In reading a book on Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation last week, I came across a vignette that has stuck with me. Washington, DC, during the Civil War and even up to the Second World War, was essentially a southern city, much like Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA. Attitudes in DC toward slavery and blacks (free as well as slave) were those of the seceded South. (Two things to note. Exceptions were found in the abolitionists of both parties. And there were many people i the North who were equally racist.)
In the midst of this racism, the extremely negative light in which blacks were held in the nation's capital, it was disconcerting to read of DC denizens who flocked to a minstrel show, "...twenty-two white men in blackface strumming banjos and washboards, free men pretending to be slaves." I can't get that out of my head. "...pretending to be slaves."
Regarding Gus's comment to my last post. It's hard to argue the importance, good or bad, with the Kennedy family. The Roosevelts, esp if we consider different branches of the family--Oyster Bay/TR and Hyde Park/FDR. What about the Adams family, excluding Gomez (Addams), of course? There were John and John Quincy, both Presidents. Charles Francis Adams served the government in a long, distinguished career. Then there were Henry Adams and his brother Brooks, historians/authors. Let's not forget Abigail, too!!!!!! Maybe she should have been the first woman President! I think the different times lead us to the Kennedy family, though, for better or for worse.
And, thanks again, Joe! It is appreciated.
Forgive any typos and other errors. I don't have the time or inclination to proofread.
In reading a book on Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation last week, I came across a vignette that has stuck with me. Washington, DC, during the Civil War and even up to the Second World War, was essentially a southern city, much like Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA. Attitudes in DC toward slavery and blacks (free as well as slave) were those of the seceded South. (Two things to note. Exceptions were found in the abolitionists of both parties. And there were many people i the North who were equally racist.)
In the midst of this racism, the extremely negative light in which blacks were held in the nation's capital, it was disconcerting to read of DC denizens who flocked to a minstrel show, "...twenty-two white men in blackface strumming banjos and washboards, free men pretending to be slaves." I can't get that out of my head. "...pretending to be slaves."
Regarding Gus's comment to my last post. It's hard to argue the importance, good or bad, with the Kennedy family. The Roosevelts, esp if we consider different branches of the family--Oyster Bay/TR and Hyde Park/FDR. What about the Adams family, excluding Gomez (Addams), of course? There were John and John Quincy, both Presidents. Charles Francis Adams served the government in a long, distinguished career. Then there were Henry Adams and his brother Brooks, historians/authors. Let's not forget Abigail, too!!!!!! Maybe she should have been the first woman President! I think the different times lead us to the Kennedy family, though, for better or for worse.
And, thanks again, Joe! It is appreciated.
Forgive any typos and other errors. I don't have the time or inclination to proofread.
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