The Persistence of Racism

George Allen (R-Va) has been spent much time recently explaining why he called his opponent's campaign worker "macaca" (a type of a monkey). Allen claims it was a mistake. That may very well be true, who knew what "macaca" meant before Allen made it famous. Then of course the question is, why use a term, several times, you don't know the meaning of?

Now it appears that remark may not have been the mistake his campaign claims it was. Allen now finds himself in need of explaining an association with an overtly racist conservative group, the Counsel of Conservative Citizens (CCC).

The 1996 photgraph includes Allen, three CCC members, and Charlton Heston (from left to right: then Gov. George Allen, Fred C. Jennings, Gordon Lee Baum, Tom Dover, and Charlton Heston) . The photograph was taken at Conservative Conference co-sponsored by the CCC.

The conference proudly displayed two large confederate flags, which appear to accurately reflect the group's ideology (the Confederacy of course presented arguably the greatest threat to the perpetuation of the United States - its celebration, in my opinion is antithetical to American patriotism).

Most disturbingly, this group's "Statement of Principles" includes the following ideals:


- "We also oppose all efforts to mix the races of mankind, to promote non-white races over the European-American people through so-called "affirmative action" and similar measures, to destroy or denigrate the European-American heritage, including the heritage of the Southern people, and to force the integration of the races."

- "We also oppose all such legislation as so-called 'hate crime.'"

- "We believe that the United States of America is a Christian country, that its people are a Christian people, and that its government and public leaders at all levels must reflect Christian beliefs and values."

- "We believe that the United States derives from and is an integral part of European civilization and the European people and that the American people and government should remain European in their composition and character."

- "We therefore oppose the massive immigration of non-European and non-Western peoples into the United States that threatens to transform our nation into a non-European majority in our lifetime."

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It is a good thing that groups like this exist, otherwise we'd never have known the truth about people like George Allen. Howard Dean has previously stated that "I served with George Allen when he was governor. I don‘t think he belongs in public service, to be honest with you." The mounting evidence tends to support Dean's position here.

Who Has a Right to Free Speech?

May a student be punished by a school for speech he makes that is not on school time and not on school property? Conservatives say yes.

Certainly when a public school punishes a student for their speech, that is a government body imposing limitations on what speech can be freely made.

A high school student in Alaska held up a banner stating "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" during an Olympic Torch relay in 2002. He was suspended from school for this action.

The student sued the school and the 9th Circuit court of appeals held that the school had improperly infringed upon his right to free speech.

Now, Ken Starr (yes, that Ken Starr) has taken up the case, on behalf of the school, for free. Apparently believing so strongly that a school district's interest in punishing undesirable actions outweighs the Constitutional rights of students.

The logical conclusion would also be that the district would have a right to take action against staff and faculty for their off duty actions as well, whether or not the Constitution protects those actions.

Does the Constitution only protect us from being imprisoned for our speech but allow the government to punish us by other means for exercising those rights? I would doubt that the founders had such intent.