I'm going to play devils advocate here, because this is my take on it. Sorry if you don't agree. I read the story from
this link. This is my take on it.
He is a justice of the peace, they are not paid to preform ceremonies and it should be up to their discretion whether or not they want to marry someone. I do understand his point of view. I am not racist, I am not a bigot, call me whatever names you want. I was born and raised in the North, (ie Ohio, southern Indiana, northeastern Illinois) but I have family in the South, and I have very strong southern roots. He is older alright, and not so long ago, being interracial and getting married WAS a crime, you could even be killed for it.
"For the sake of the children" classic line, told by a southern man. If you lived in the South during the Civil Rights Movement then you would understand. Children of interracial couples were made fun of, they were teased, they didn't belong with the whites, because they were black, they didn't belong with the blacks because they were white. People saying hes a bigot need to realize culture differences and the way someone was raised, seriously. I understand his point of view, and that's because I had a grandma, who when she was alive, was of the Old South mentality, which says no to interracial marriage.
If you're not from the South and you're not educated enough take a history lesson and learn before you judge. I see no problem in them getting married. But because he is of a generation that is steeped in hatred and judgment, I do believe he has a right to say it and not be condemned. Even though it is clear violation of constitutional rights I believe he should have a choice in this matter. Kids now, do not judge based on color, and I don't judge based on color either. I have family in the South that don't either. I know some people still do judge and he isn't being racist. He is saying it based on where he has come from, and what his generation used to believe. If you believe he is being racist, why don't you stop for a minute and ask yourself why you think that way? Is it because you look at things one way and that's it. There is a fine line between right and wrong, and I believe he was right in saying it. He suggested someone else marry them, and he should have a right to choose who he wants to marry. I know Obama is from a mixed marriage, and yes I will use the term "mixed" and I am sorry if I offended you in saying that.
If your from a family that is mixed, what is your reaction of the judges choice? Do you think he should be judged based on what he said or do you think he was right in saying it?
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Comments (73)
But because he is of a generation that is steeped in hatred and judgement, I do believe he has a right to say it and not be condemned.
If we continue to live by that logic, no one will ever change and society will implode. It's not a more advanced society that should have to change for him, it's him that should grow the fuck up or get out.
Ever heard the phrase "one raindrop raises the sea?" He is that raindrop, raising the sea of racism.
I'm not arguing with the rest of your post, that one line just screamed stupidity.
This post seems to scream that people shouldn't try to change if they are in the wrong. And that's a problem. People in this country are resistant to change, even when that change is the right things to do. What if I grew up in an anti-Semitic area, then all of sudden started speaking about how I hate Jews? Would you defend me saying that? I really don't think you should. Saying you understand why he said it shouldn't be the same as saying it's okay. Most people understand he grew up in a region and period of time where that view was widespread. Does that make it okay? No, it doesn't.
He may be from that generation, but he is a judge in this one, and his rulings should reflect the laws as such. It is one thing for him to feel a certain way, but he should not govern based on his personal biases that don't fit into today's societal standards.
I am from the south, and I see nothing wrong with interracial marriage--or gay marriage (while we're at it). I suffer from no cultural stigmata that makes me agree with people who have out-dated and *wrong* beliefs.
Saying that it is "for the sake of the children" doesn't make any logical sense. If that were the case, then poor people shouldn't marry. Or asians and caucasians, or hispanics and blacks--and I bet that judge wouldn't have had a problem with that.
I can sum up my response to this post with one big sigh.
The issue whether he's a racist is a red herring. He had a job to do, and he chose not to exercise his authority in the accepted way due to his personal beliefs. It doesn't matter whether he's a racist or not; it only matters that he violated their rights as a public official. IMNSHO, that's the only thing to get up in arms about, but it's sufficient. If you're not willing to do the job, don't run for office.
As a justice of the peace, should he not be required to uphold the constitution? I cannot comprehend the allowance of discriminatory behaviour in someone sworn to uphold the law. How then do you trust that every other decision has not been tarnished by the same prejudice? Being of mixed race, I cannot help wonder who I should then be marrying if an interracial marriage is a big no no.
I agree with all the above posts. You're making a very weak argument here. How will anything ever change if we continue to accept irrational and unfair behavior as we have in the past? And, FYI, I grew up in the South and it's NOT widely accepted or even understood to be racist/prejudice anymore, regardless of what era you grew up in.
I believe if you are so strong in your beliefs that you cannot make impartial decisions in the workplace, you need a different career. I mean, essentially a Neo-Nazi judge would be able to acquit any white murderer who killed a Jew, a black person, etc. - would that be right? Could a Jehovah's Witness doctor refuse to perform blood transfusions?
I fully understand tolerating elderly people who are set in their ways. I live in Ohio, and basically everyone has an ancient great-grandma who walks around saying "Negro" (or in Southern Ohio, it's usually "nigger". Oi.) But they're in their nineties, retired, and most of them aren't in a terribly sound mental state anymore. You understand what I mean? I can live with "they are from a generation where all of this is acceptable", as long as their behavior does not directly interfere with someone else's life.
This person cannot deny the couple a marriage if he is paid by the government. However, if that is not the case, then yeah, he has the freedom to say no.
THANK YOU.
because this is exactly what I said int he comment to the pervious post on it.
Its not like he's not letting them get marry! He even suggested other people to marry them, just morally he's not capable of doing so because he doesn't want to make a mistake if the child does get bullied in the future.
He has his own personal opinon and we have to respect and accept that everyone on earth is different even if i dont agree with justice of peace. He understands the issue and he agrees to resign.
I doubt the child would be bullied. Say they have a child, 5 years from now. Have you looked in a preschool lately? More and more children are being born from interracial relationships. Black/White, White/Hispanic, Black/Asian..every thing you can think of. That child will be the norm pretty soon.
The problem is he IS racist and HE IS paid to perform the marriages by the GOVERNMENT (a justice of the peace is a judge who chooses to perform marriages as well). As such he CAN NOT deny ANYONE the right to marry based on the race of either party.
As far as saying he's from a different generation, thats just a cop out. As others have pointed out, its not modern societies job to bend and understand his beliefs. To argue that we must try to understand his position and accept that just opens a whole other can of worms.
BTW I am from an "interracial marriage", as is my dad and his parents (White + Native American). We all turned out just fine.
First, your post is small minded. Is is racist yes he is. Are you racist for agreeing with him yes. My mom is hispanic and my dad is white. that doesn't mean that i don't belong w/ white people because im half hispanic and so on. Way back when yes that could of happened. But sweet pea open your eyes we are NOT living in the old days.
My grandfather was raised in Mexico when racist was common too, but he's changed his views to accept all races now and is fine with interracial marriage. I see this as no excuse. If you were trying to pardon maybe your own family's behavior (in the case that they were dead, but acted racist in the past), I would understand.
To play devil's advocate, you should have a strong support or a damn good idea about what you're bringing to the table. I'm not trying to insult you, just saying that it really isn't a strong argument in my eyes. When times change, you try to adapt or you take what the people who have give you. I don't judge him since it's not my place to judge, but he's going to get what people give him because of his decision.
"Even though it is clear violation of constitutional rights I believe he should have a choice in this matter."
Hang on, what? Government workers should be allowed to violate the constitution?
I fully agree that he has the right to express his opinion --but he doesn't have the right to carry that over into his job as a justice of the peace.
I don't care how or where he was raised. It is still wrong of him, there is no reason to deny a couple to get married just because they are not the same race. I don't agree with your argument. People can think for themselves & learn what is right & what is wrong but weak-minded people like him just follow what people 200 years ago thought & they don't realize that it was wrong & just continue bringing racism into the future & it doesn't need to be here & it doesn't need to be in our futures because it's wrong. We are all people, two people creating a child of two or more races is a beautiful thing, as are all other children being born. It is a good thing, it shows how open-minded people have become & that biracial people can still lead good, happy lives & be successful. I am biracial, I'm mixed with black & white. My husband is white. YES, I'm from the south. I did get picked on & insulted for what I am. I also get complimented because of my features & I do believe I am beautiful. Whenever someone has a problem with my race, I just think they are ignorant & narrow-minded. I think they need to accept it & get over it. I have had to deal with lots of racist black & white people, I am from Virginia but now I live in Japan on a US military base. There are people here that are more open-minded & there are more interracial couples & I like it. I think there will always be racist people. But I don't agree with it at all & those people aren't going to be a part of my life. I'm from the south & I have learned my history & I am judging this man. I think he's an ass & should find some other job because dealing with people, especially marrying people when all kinds of people want to marry other races, isn't the best career field for him, in my opinion. If it goes against the constitution, I don't know why you are saying it's okay for him to do this. You are contradicting yourself.
When the Nazis came out of power and through Germany's period of reconstruction after the war, they took away the Nazi flags because it represented something of their past that was horrific. How would the world feel today if a former Nazi put up a flag because "that's the culture he was raised in"?
However old the judge is, his personal beliefs should not interfere with the law. Interracial marriages have been getting more and more common, and he should uphold the law.
It's actually shown that children who are biracial are seen as different by other children. If a child is half asian and half white, white children will see the child as being more asian, and asian children will see the child as being more white. I've known a lot of biracial kids who are either depressed or who are really "artsy," which tends to happen more with kids who had a rough childhood.
From what I've experienced, I understand where the man is coming from.
If he works for the government, he can't express his opinion if it means he's violating the Constitution. He could have allowed them to marry and then said his bigoted opinion, but the fact that his bigotry is impeding on his ability to do his job is not OK. There is no devil's advocate position for this case because this man did something that violated the very Constitution he's supposed to uphold. Also:
-The "He's from the South" excuse: racists exist everywhere. The history of the South has nothing to do with it. The North had slaves and discriminatory laws. This has nothing to do with the region.
-The "He's from a different generation" excuse: So, what if this were a more violent offense? Say an interracial couple who was assaulted. Would that excuse pan out? No, so why should his words and non-violent racist actions be excused if they can be just as hurtful?
and you are a Christian.
this argument is weak. do not condescend and suggest we take a history lesson. perhaps you ought to take another look at civics or poli sci. as a government official, one's personal prejudices can't influence the performance of one's job. i don't care if he's racist. if he wants to forbid his kids from interracial marriage, that's not my problem. but he is a public official there to perform a service as a liaison of his state government - and he failed.
if we are to think the way you do, society will never change and progress.
"Even though it is clear violation of constitutional rights I believe he should have a choice in this matter."
It's unconstitutional. He's a judge, and his actions were unconstitutional. Perhaps he shouldn't be "condemned" personally, but that doesn't mean his license shouldn't be revoked. People cam believe whatever they want, but his primary responsibility is to uphold the law, and he didn't. This isn't about racism; it's about the law.
I think people need to see that you aren't necessarily condoning his view or behavior. I don't condone it, but I understand it. I don't understand why everyone thinks your argument is weak when its based on sound logic and understanding. Again, I don't think anyone really agrees with or condones his view....at the same time I will defend his right to have that view. And again, he's not preventing anyone from actually marrying, he isn't taking away anyone's rights here.
Again, I don't agree with the guy. But its a slippery slope to tell this man exactly how to think. In fact, its somewhat ironic that the people that are defending the couple's "rights" (which again, weren't taken away) wants to take away this man's rights in the process. It makes no sense.
@gatorgirl54@xanga - Still, it was not his place to decide for the couple. Rather, if he is really concern about the welfare of interracial children, he should work hard to improve the environment they have to grow up in and not prevent their existence.
@wizexel22@xanga - The point is that he failed at his job because he allowed his personal beliefs to interfere. It's like me going to cop for help and he tells me to find another cop to get help because he doesn't believe in helping asian...can he believe in not wanting to help asian? Sure. does he has to help? Yes, or else he shouldn't be a cop. Same principle with the justice of peace.
this post is pretty lame. I agree with the majority of the comments.