Commentary on Governor Pence and Bathrooms
The Indianapolis Star’s headline in the May 14th edition read “Pence: State Should Make Guidelines”. When you dare to look behind the Governor’s curtain, you will find him seeking to recreate an Antebellum Southern State where discrimination becomes a Hoosier value.
The history of our country is replete with examples of how the slogan of State’s Rights was used to justify lawful prejudice. Before the Civil War, Southern States sought to exist beyond federal regulations to justify slavery.
While slavery ended in 1865, these same States instituted a new form of discrimination based on segregation and Jim Crow laws. Like Governor Pence, their governors argued that the federal government should stay beyond their State borders.
After segregation ended in 1954, State’s around this country sought to prohibit interracial marriage, something that the Supreme Court brought to an end in 1967. State governors next turned their ire on banning gays from marrying. Again, it took the federal government in the form of the Supreme Court to end discrimination justified as State guidelines.
What Governor Pence is now trying to do is treat transgender students in the same ugly fashion that he and his predecessors previously aimed at African Americans and homosexuals. If these elected officials are so concerned about safety in our bathrooms, why were they silent when Catholic priests, a Penn State football coach and the former Republican Speaker of the House were assaulting young boys for decades?
Care to respond, Governor?
Hello, Bob! I knew you were a lawyer but had no idea about your website for movie reviews and other opinions until the recent issue of the Marian Magnet (now called the Marian University Magazine). Great to read, and agree with, so many of your commentaries. I don’t remember that the class of ’69 was especially Democratic in nature, but the conservative and repressive evolution of the Republican party has definitely moved me to Independent status and eclectic voting. I like the thoughtfulness of your writing as well as the pithy use of the English vocabulary. Great to connect after all the years! Dot Mettel Weber
PS We now live in the high mountains in Colorado so I read with interest your description of last summer’s week at a dude ranch. We neither ride horses nor climb mountains. Too much Midwest in us. Perhaps fly fishing would’ve been better for you? Catch and release makes it fun for the fish as well!!