The reason that point occurred so readily to me was "fool me once." Back in the sixties, naive soul that I was, I assumed that when people talked up states rights they were expressing their support for the idea of states rights. I didn't understand then about code words. I only learned about them much later and, when I did, I felt really stupid. I don't like feeling stupid so I remember it vividly and I still harbor some residual resentment against those who fooled me, partly because they made a fool out of me and partly because I just can't abide hypocrisy. In those days I was against bussing, too, not because I preferred segregation but because I thought it was preferable that kids attend schools in their neighborhoods and walk to school like I did so we should work at integrating neighborhoods. Like I said, fool me once...
I'm not suggesting, as you clearly recognize, that everyone who supports the amendment is a bigot. Or even that most of them are. My gut is very clear, though, that the congressmen leading the charge either are bigots themselves or are appealing, as politicians are inclined to do, to the bigotry in their constituencies and I am disgusted by it. |
