# Palin Resigns as Gov? WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 3, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843 "2009-07-03T19:53:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 31
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/601 "2009-07-12T21:23:50Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > How much sophistication does it take to think “I like a strong authority in charge to make sure people do like they’re supposed to do”? What? The position you’re talking about is the opposite of that - that in this case one feels it’s an inappropriate use of force by an authority. > [@](#): > > I don’t think there are enough of the former to matter–once they realized that their sincere position is being severely undermined by all the people claiming to be genuinely concerned about how recklessly legislation is being enacted but who actually opposed the principle of civil rights (and that’s most of those who espoused those views, IMO,) they had the option of denouncing them and rethinking what their “conservative” position truly represented or accepting that they were less enlightened than they were giving themselves credit for. Either way, there’s not much to respect. This is ridiculous. First, what evidence do you have that they didn’t denounce it? Is someone supposed to call a news conference and say “hey, I’m not racist, but I don’t feel like this is an appropriate solution to the problem… oh and by the way, anyone who says the same thing is probably secretly racist - but not me!” Secondly, you’re saying that they should’ve changed their tune when they realized they had racist assholes on their side. Why? If they think it’s an inappropriate use of government power, why should they change their philosophical positions because someone else, with different intentions, just accidentally happens to be on the same side (and “same side” only if you reduce it to a simplistic two sided issue) as them? To make an analogy: Some neo-nazis want to march near city hall. The city tries to block them, but the ACLU takes up their cause to support their free speech. Wait! Now the ACLU is on the same side as the neo-nazis! Maybe they should totally change their ideas about civil rights! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/602 "2009-07-12T21:27:06Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > My thoughts? It’s a specious argument that presumes the only way to address racsim was to create a society of assholes. It presumes nothing of the sort. The point being made, which you either miss again and again and again or simply refuse to acknowedlge because it demolishes your claim, is not that society had to become less civil to provide rights to blacks, but that the **treament of blacks proves society was not more civil in the past.** A civil and polite society isn’t openly racist. A society where people are polite only to white people is not polite. > [@](#): > > Most conservatives throughout the country readily saw and agreed with civil and women’s rights. What they opposed was some of the methods suggested or legislated in order to achieive them. Do you actually expect anyone to believe such transparent nonsense? ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/603 "2009-07-12T21:38:47Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I was one of the lefties marching and fighting for civil rights about 50 years ago. The reason was simple. People should not be discriminated against on the basis of their color . It hurt the whole country to hold back a race. It lessens us as a people. It is wrong. People are people and they should not have their rights diminished by the country, whether they are blacks, women or gays. > It was a serious fight. People died trying to get fair treatment . If you were in a march ,you would be amazed how nasty they could be. It was not just something to do or a lark. I resent your snotty attitude about something you know nothing about. Word. Thank you. I too marched, and was fire hosed, tear gased, billy clubbed, and arrested for my trouble. Repeatedly. In between sex, drugs and rock and roll, of course. You should have seen my hair! **Starving Artist** , had the broadening of civil rights been left up to my conservative peers we might still have separate but equal water fountains. “Objecting to the methods” was bullshit code for “no change”. Hmmmm… Conservatives still “object to the methods” of correcting, whatever the societal problem. Why am I not surprised? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/604 "2009-07-12T21:45:24Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > that there isn’t any possible legitimate opposition to the civil rights act based on political philosophy about the role of government, or about what the best way of dealing with racism was. Perhaps you could tell us what you believe to be the best way to deal with racism. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/605 "2009-07-12T22:02:39Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Perhaps you could tell us what you believe to be the best way to deal with racism. To otracize it, to mock it, to boycott and refuse to deal with anyone who openly practices it. To attempt to win the hearts and minds of those who are open to change, and to belittle and reduce the influence of those who continue to practice it. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/606 "2009-07-12T22:16:49Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > What? The position you’re talking about is the opposite of that - that in this case one feels it’s an inappropriate use of force by an authority. > > This is ridiculous. What’s ridiculous (and obviously so to an intelligent 9-year old, which I was) is the PTB reinforcing blatant discrimination against a race of people while arguing for freedom–of the oppressors, to continue oppressing–at least for a little while untl we’ve studied carefully the best way to proceed, if that’s what we do finally conclude. Don’t hold your breath waiting for us to leap into action on our own tho’. > [@](#): > > First, what evidence do you have that they didn’t denounce it? You want me to prove a negative? No, I want YOU to provide evidence that hard-core conservatives clearly opposed racism, actively worked for some tangible and immediate redress to blatant racial discrimination, preferably in some way that would cause them, personally, to surrender some advantages that the discrimination had gotten for them and that they had long profited by. Until you show me that, they’re stone racists in my book. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/607 "2009-07-12T22:21:34Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > To otracize it, to mock it, to boycott and refuse to deal with anyone who openly practices it. To attempt to win the hearts and minds of those who are open to change, and to belittle and reduce the influence of those who continue to practice it. I don’t want to gently persuade the Grand Klaxon living next door that I might not let my son marry his daughter when they grow up if he continues lynching and burning crosses. I want his ass in jail today, and for as long as a jury will put him there. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/608 "2009-07-12T22:23:38Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > The same is going on today with regard to gay rights. A person can be in favor of gay rights but if he or she doesn’t fully and unthinkingly embrace every suggestion made to acheive them, they get called names and reviled as bigots. Maybe if you actually tried embracing a single significant expansion of rights to any minority, then this argument might ring a little true. Since you conservatives _fought_ every suggestion tooth and nail, it sounds a bit hollow. Or perhaps you can explain how y’all had “embraced” equal rights in the past. Start with the sad case of anti-miscegenation laws, like the one struck down in 1967 in [Loving v. Virginia.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loving_v._Virginia) Perhaps some conservative with an eye to justice could have perhaps introduced a bill to strike those laws instead of some liberal rabble having to sue for equality. Why did it take until 19 **84** for all of the states to get around to ratifying the Nineteenth Amendment? The last six? [_from Wikipedia_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution) [ul] [li]Alabama (September 8, 1953, after being rejected on September 22, 1919)[/li][li]Florida (May 13, 1969)[/li][li]South Carolina (July 1, 1969, after being rejected on January 28, 1920; not certified until August 22, 1973)[/li][li]Georgia (February 20, 1970, after being rejected on July 24, 1919)[/li][li]Louisiana (June 11, 1970, after being rejected on July 1, 1920)[/li][li]North Carolina (May 6, 1971)[/li][li]Mississippi (March 22, 1984, after being rejected on March 29, 1920)[/li][/ul] Or what about the repeal of Sodomy laws prior to 2003? I mean, at least Conservatives claim to support individual freedom. Why then was it a decade after Illinois first repeal those laws in 1962 before the next state did it. And why, six years after _Lawrence v. Texas_, three states still haven’t repealed those unconstitutional laws? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/609 "2009-07-12T22:35:09Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > What’s ridiculous (and obviously so to an intelligent 9-year old, which I was) is the PTB reinforcing blatant discrimination against a race of people while arguing for freedom–of the oppressors, to continue oppressing–at least for a little while untl we’ve studied carefully the best way to proceed, if that’s what we do finally conclude. Don’t hold your breath waiting for us to leap into action on our own tho’. Again you’re doing the same thing I said you were in my first reply to you. Assuming that anyone who opposes government’s role in legislating social change is actually a secret racist and doesn’t hold that position at all, but rather gives lip service to the idea in order to cover up their racism. I AM NOT DEFENDING THIS PRACTICE. I am merely defending the position that one can at one time not be racist and also not think it’s the federal government’s place to enact this law. I know it’s possible because I myself hold this position. And yet you want to group me with a bunch of racist assholes who shared little to nothing with me philosophically. > [@](#): > > You want me to prove a negative? No, I want YOU to provide evidence that hard-core conservatives clearly opposed racism, actively worked for some tangible and immediate redress to blatant racial discrimination, preferably in some way that would cause them, personally, to surrender some advantages that the discrimination had gotten for them and that they had long profited by. Until you show me that, they’re stone racists in my book. I’m not defending “hard-core conservatives” (the term itself is ambiguous - are libertarians “hard-core conservatives” to you?). I’m defending the position that not all opposition to the law is rooted in racism. I’ve already conceded that most of it probably is. But I refuse to allow you to lump in non-racists with a different philosophy on the role of government with racist assholes who want to use the government to assist in their oppression. > [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I don’t want to gently persuade the Grand Klaxon living next door that I might not let my son marry his daughter when they grow up if he continues lynching and burning crosses. I want his ass in jail today, and for as long as a jury will put him there. This is a ridiculous strawman. If he’s lynched, then he should go to jail for it. That’s an issue of rule of law. Am I advocating anything that even remotely contradicts your viewpoint here? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/610 "2009-07-12T23:12:31Z")
Sure you are. The same people who were advocating "Let’s think this stuff over for a few more decades"are the same ones who explained how difficult it was to change a culture, including the Klan, overnight. Do you know he’s lynched black people? Sure he’s said that he’s in favor of it, and we have witnesses, but how do you know they’re reliable witnesses? Why don’t we give him a warning this time? I know, we’ll put him through the inconveniece and expense of a murder trial, but we’ll put 12 rednecks on his jury, and that may scare him into lynching black people less frequently than he does now. We’re making slow but steady progress here. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/611 "2009-07-12T23:19:44Z")
The remark “We’re just not _ready_” was common in the Fifties, too. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/612 "2009-07-12T23:26:53Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Sure you are. Sure I am what? Maybe you could have some specificity rather than give an ambiguous reply to a post that made multiple points. > [@](#): > > The same people who were advocating "Let’s think this stuff over for a few more decades"are the same ones who explained how difficult it was to change a culture, including the Klan, overnight. Do you know he’s lynched black people? Sure he’s said that he’s in favor of it, and we have witnesses, but how do you know they’re reliable witnesses? Why don’t we give him a warning this time? I know, we’ll put him through the inconveniece and expense of a murder trial, but we’ll put 12 rednecks on his jury, and that may scare him into lynching black people less frequently than he does now. We’re making slow but steady progress here. What the straw man? What does this have anything to do with anything I said? If someone broke the law, but weren’t convinced due to a racist jury, that’s a miscarriage of justice - and it’s irrelevant to the issue at hand. The civil rights act didn’t suddenly make juries unable to be racist. You insult me with your nonsense. You keep trying to misrepresent my position as to be sympathetic or defend racists. This is not only wrong, but it’s an attack on my character. And it’s completely unsupported. At every step of the way I’ve said things like “this probably applies to most people espousing such views, but…” ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/613 "2009-07-12T23:37:48Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Do you actually expect anyone to believe such transparent nonsense? Just ask Emmett Till. I’m sure he felt all the love that true conservatives were sending his way. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/614 "2009-07-12T23:45:52Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > If someone broke the law, but weren’t convinced due to a racist jury, that’s a miscarriage of justice - and it’s irrelevant to the issue at hand. The civil rights act didn’t suddenly make juries unable to be racist. Civil rights laws made many of the worst offenses federal ones, which could be prosecuted by people who actually gave a shit about defending rights. > [@](#): > > You insult me with your nonsense. You keep trying to misrepresent my position as to be sympathetic or defend racists. This is not only wrong, but it’s an attack on my character. And it’s completely unsupported. At every step of the way I’ve said things like “this probably applies to most people espousing such views, but…” How old are you? I’m old enough to remember the arguments at the time, and both the avowed racists and the states righters used exactly your arguments. George Wallace and Ross Barnett were racists, and made no bones about it, but I suspect Barry Goldwater wasn’t. But they all had to think about if their nice theoretical arguments about reduction of federal government power was worth the continued oppression of millions of people. Use of (state and local) government force was no problem for these people, as Bull Connor and his firehoses demonstrated. Local sheriffs bashing in the heads of “outside agitators” - cool. National Guard troops forcing the state government to admit a college student - no way. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/615 "2009-07-12T23:52:51Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > My thoughts? It’s a specious argument that presumes the only way to address racsim was to create a society of assholes. It does no such thing. It does demonstrate fairly clearly and easily that your far to general statement about the 50s is doo doo. > [@](#): > > One of the reasons it’s specious is that the counter-culture revolution which has resulted in the permissiveness that has been so harmful to today’s society in terms of crime, drugs, STDs and abortions, not to mention belligerent personal behavior, had virtually nothing to do with the issue of race. Completely irrelevant. Polite discussion and good manners and a general facade of propriety, while suggesting the oppressed minorities just be patient until the ruling class is in the mood to grant them equal rights is clearly belligerent behavior. Do you have anything at all to support your premise here? Anything to show causality between the counter culture revolution and the things you’ve mentioned? > [@](#): > > The notion that creating a crass, vulgar and relatively low-class society was necessary in order to correct racism is a revisionist one that has been propogated after the fact by people who dishonestly want to credit their ideology for advances made by blacks themselves. The real reason is that lefties of that time wanted to do away with existing standards so they could dress like scuzzbugs, do drugs, fuck in the mud at rock festivals, and still find jobs and not get shit about their long hair, clothes and drugs from the rest of society. Until you have anything to back this up it’s meaningless and empty. Nobody is promoting any such notion. The problem is your utter failure to support your premise. Bad character permeates all classes and political leanings. Personally I think we need honest conservatives and liberals to find the proper balance and move society forward. The problem is the dishonesty and general corruption and self serving BS that permeates both groups. BS political rhetoric from either side doesn’t serve us well. If you can look at our history honestly and claim the liberal lefty agenda has ruined this country you have some serious blinders on. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/616 "2009-07-13T01:20:03Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Civil rights laws made many of the worst offenses federal ones, which could be prosecuted by people who actually gave a shit about defending rights. The example he gave had nothing to do with that. Lynching (murder is implied with the word, right?) someone is clearly a crime, without the civil rights act. The problem is that racist juries sometimes wouldn’t convict, right? How did the civil rights act rectify that situation? > [@](#): > > How old are you? I’m old enough to remember the arguments at the time, and both the avowed racists and the states righters used exactly your arguments. George Wallace and Ross Barnett were racists, and made no bones about it, but I suspect Barry Goldwater wasn’t. But they all had to think about if their nice theoretical arguments about reduction of federal government power was worth the continued oppression of millions of people. Use of (state and local) government force was no problem for these people, as Bull Connor and his firehoses demonstrated. Local sheriffs bashing in the heads of “outside agitators” - cool. National Guard troops forcing the state government to admit a college student - no way. I’m 27, so I have no personal experience with the issue. I’ve already said 3 or 4 times that I’m sure a lot of people who were racist, but refused to openly admit it, hid behind attacks on the legal issues. They were liars because they hid their real motivation, and probably hypocrites because they probably didn’t object equally to abuses of federal power that served their interest. I’m merely contending that there’s an intellectual honest position in which one can oppose the legislation without being a racist. FWIW, for some perspective, I oppose well over 90% of the laws the federal legislature passes. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/617 "2009-07-13T01:24:23Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Sure I am what? Maybe you could have some specificity rather than give an ambiguous reply to a post that made multiple points. If you can’t be bothered to read the question you ended your previous post with, and which “Sure you are” responds to directly, then I can’t be bothered explaining the world to you. You’ll have to be someone else’s pain-in-the-ass tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/618 "2009-07-13T01:38:44Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > The example he gave had nothing to do with that. Lynching (murder is implied with the word, right?) someone is clearly a crime, without the civil rights act. The problem is that racist juries sometimes wouldn’t convict, right? How did the civil rights act rectify that situation? Easy. How did the racist jurors get seated? Thanks to prosecutors who only prosecuted the crime when the criminal was so stupid that he got caught. How many black people do you think were on those juries? Federal prosecution, while tough, had some chance. Not to mention that these clowns weren’t even prosecuted on murder charges, not a federal crime, but on depriving the person murdered of his civil rights. > [@](#): > > I’m 27, so I have no personal experience with the issue. > > I’ve already said 3 or 4 times that I’m sure a lot of people who were racist, but refused to openly admit it, hid behind attacks on the legal issues. They were liars because they hid their real motivation, and probably hypocrites because they probably didn’t object equally to abuses of federal power that served their interest. > > I’m merely contending that there’s an intellectual honest position in which one can oppose the legislation without being a racist. FWIW, for some perspective, I oppose well over 90% of the laws the federal legislature passes. Today, thanks to people like **gonzomax** , you have the luxury of holding your position without it contributing to people getting beaten and killed. At the time this position directly supported and empowered the racists. BTW Skokie has no relevance to this discussion. The issue was not their freedom to say racist things, which I support, but rather their ability to exclude those they didn’t like from expressing their views (beating up marchers) or freely attending schools they were qualified to attend. I don’t blame you for not getting it, since it is hard to imagine today what things were like 50 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/619 "2009-07-13T01:42:17Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I was one of the lefties marching and fighting for civil rights about 50 years ago. The reason was simple. People should not be discriminated against on the basis of their color . It hurt the whole country to hold back a race. It lessens us as a people. It is wrong. People are people and they should not have their rights diminished by the country, whether they are blacks, women or gays. > It was a serious fight. People died trying to get fair treatment . If you were in a march ,you would be amazed how nasty they could be. It was not just something to do or a lark. I resent your snotty attitude about something you know nothing about. Let me shake your virtual hand, sir. I was too young to march, and probably would have been too chicken if I hadn’t been. (Andrew Goodman lived not far from me.) You’re a hero in my book, one of many. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843/620 "2009-07-13T02:02:13Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I’m merely contending that there’s an intellectual honest position in which one can oppose the legislation without being a racist. One of the most prominent proponents of such a position was Barry Goldwater, the Republican candidate for president in 1964. He opposed the 1964 Civil Rights Act, but later admitted that he was wrong. He didn’t abandon his oppostion to ‘big government’, but he did conclude that the advancement of civil rights warranted intervention at the federal level. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-resigns-as-gov-wtf/501843.md?page=32)