outlaw, what do you think the cause of death was? Manny, his wife may have been strange, but she gave that old dirty b*stard a ton of fun (and a bunch of kids).
first of all...i've prayed for osama and saddam...not trying to play "holier than thou." but their lives have been regrettable. they've caused a ton of suffering for others through mass murder. what awful, cold hearts they must have...what awful lives they must lead. second..i draw a sharp distinction between mass murderers and bigots. neither are admirable...but if you're asking me if i put the wrongs of osama and the wrongs of thurmond on the same level...i do not. please don't think i'm defending strom thurmond. but i find spitting on his grave to be detestable.
Your first response to someone who only listed his history and said he won't be missed was to call them a b*stard. That was your first post in this thread followed by someone's mother in hell. And you want to tell other to people to have class. I think I'll just ignore your advice and wait for someone with creditability to respond.
LOL...Here is a man who is producing offspring at 72. When I am 72, I am hoping that I am still alive. Heb - having lived in SC, do you know what Strom's secret was?? Was it a never-ending supply of viagra??
There are very few things on this BBS more inane than your constant race baiting for cheap thrills accompanied by faux intellectualism. I wish only the most mediocre for you and your family.
The changing of the guard is slowly taking place in Washington. That's one less racist representing our country. Now with Lott and Thurmond out of the picture, we can rest a little easier. As a minority in this country, I think we need leaders that promote civil rights and racial equality, not old farts from the Jim Crow south. Now if we can only get rid of Robert Byrd (Sen, D, West Virginia).
Sam, again your wild accusations are misguided and off base. Regardless of your partisan views towards Strom Thurmond, no one should be taking cheap shots at a man who just passed away at the age of 100. This is classless and you know it. Yes at one time Strom was pro-segregation, as was a majority of America. These were different times and Strom was not unlike a majority of other politicians *of that era*. He simply outlived them all and now takes an undue amount of criticism for these 50 year old beliefs. He is the only one left, so he has become a lightning rod for all complaints. This isn't race baiting, this is a case of defending a human being who just lost his life from petty, partisan, immature attacks.
You're making a very bad point, Nomar. Almost all of the country DID NOT support segregation but a lot of the country was SEGREGATED there is a big difference and hell it was mostly in the south. If most of the country was in favor of segregation why did so many people fight against it? Why was it finally abolished? That's right the majority of people did not approve of it and that is why it finally ended. Get your facts straight bud. I never said he would not be missed if you look I said I WON'T MISS HIM. He'll be missed by many but many won't miss him and I am one of them.
All right TJ, in the interest of fairness: The following individuals, living and departed, were racist SOB's who knowingly devoted a large portion of their lives and used their political power to promote racism, and who deserve scorn for such in life and death: Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms, Orval Faubus, George Wallace, Richard Daley, David Duke, that guy from Georgia who just died, Nathan Bedford Forrest, Lee Atwater, and many many more.
...When Harry Truman insisted that the Democratic Party abandon racism in all forms, Thurmond left the party, ran as independent and eventually became a Republican. In 1957, he filibustered for over 24 hours, one of the longest filibusters in US history, against the passage of the Civil Rights act, which would give equal rights to Americans of all races... did you catch this the first time??? he switched parties because his original party abandoned racism. and dont think for a second that a 100 year old racist changed his ways in the last few years of his life. Strom was a racist through-and-through, face it.
I'm really surprised at the tone of this thread. Thurmond was probably my least favorite politician of all time. Many of the things he stood for ran completely contrary to everything I believe. But, he was a a fellow human being who lived a long time in service to a country he loved. He stood up for the things he believed. My grandfather, in many ways, was very much like Thurmond. He was a bigot and a staunch right-wing Christian. But, I loved and respected him for who he was as a person, which was much more than simply the sum of his beliefs, even though I disagreed with almost everything he believed. He was a good man. I understand the distaste for Thurmond's beliefs and politics. I share them. But, to denegrate another human being upon his death is dishonorable, particularly for those who loved him and will miss him now that he is gone. If nothing else, have some respect for his family and those who cared for him. RIP
I agree 100% with Jeff on this. Most of our grandfathers, and maybe even fathers could have felt the same way Strom Thurmond did. Its not a good thing, but these were still people who helped make America a great country. I am glad that today we choose not to be like them in our beliefs, but strive to follow their pattern of hard work and standing up for what we believe in.
I can understand respecting the dead. I don't understand all this admiration because he "stood up for what he believed in". What he believed in was just plain wrong. It doesn't matter if it was "popular" at the time and he just went with the flow. I steal because Im poor. Do all poor people steal? Was everyone in the 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's a racist? Even back then, people knew discrimination was wrong. I would understand if deep down in his heart, he believed that segregation and racism was a "good thing" but just happened to be wrong. However, let's be honest. Did people in the 1950's and 60's really believe it was a "good thing" or did they just have too much hate and ignorance to see the truth.
I'm glad you love your grandfather, but I could care less about what he did for this country if he fought to make my grandfather miserable. So he may have been a good man but not to my grandfather and that's who I owe my allegiance to. I haven't responded to Strom's death either way as it doesn't affect my life one bit but posts like this upset me. I'm just supposed to forget your grandfather's hatred of mine, in the name of Christianity no less, because he was good to your family. No thanks.
I dunno Riet, But I think you are I should co-host all the chat sessions now because of our supreme ability to ridicule people
