(thanks to Cathy Pearson for this one)
This is in no way a political decision. I simply do not feel it is appropriate to honor a person whose epitaph of government service was to have voted against or blocked every civil rights issue that came before the US Congress. His doctrine of negativity, hate, and prejudice cost North Carolina and our Nation much that we may never regain.
Once in a great while, a public servant displays a functional set of cojones. The problem with doing this, of course, is that there's always a small-minded pinhead ready, willing, and able to slap down said public servant for displaying the courage of their convictions. So it is with L.F. Eason, who we should be showering with hosannas for having the 'nads to resist the statewide rush in North Carolina to lionize the late, great, race-baiting troglodyte Sen. Jesse Helms.
Eason declined to fly the US or North Carolina flags at half-staff in honor of Helms as ordered by Gov. Mike Easley. Yes, he was being insubordinate, and yes, he was disobeying orders...and I suppose there should be a price expected to be paid for that. But to be given to the choice of complying or resigning from a 29-year career at the North Carolina Dept. of Agriculture? Is it just me, or does that seem like overkill? Perhaps someone was out to prove that theirs is bigger??
The reality is that no one in state government in North Carolina seems willing to own up to the reality of Helms' legacy. In their rush to lionize Helms as some sort of hero, state officials like Gov. Easley have managed to completely gloss over the sad, sick reality of Helms and his racist, misogynistic career. In a state that has worked hard over the years to create and foster equal opportunity for ALL residents, Jesse Helms was an anachronism- an unabashed, unreconstructed racist who was more than willing to divide and conquer in order to further his political career.
Flying North Carolina's flags at half-staff as an homage to Helms is an affront to the state's minority population and anyone who values diversity and is willing to look beyond skin color. Jesse Helms was the past- a racist, misogynistic past in which White males ruled the political landscape by whatever means necessary. That appealing to fear and ignorance was his stock in trade only serves to underline what a truly miserable and objectionable human being he was.
If I lived in North Carolina, I'd be stifling the temptation to piss on Helms' grave. Given the disdain and hatred he treated minorities with, it would be the least he deserves. May Jesse Helms roast slowly in Hell. And if I ever find myself in North Carolina again, I hope that I'll have the opportunity to buy Mr. Eason a beer or six.
