AUSTIN -- A North Texas legislator during House testimony on voter identification legislation said Asian-descent voters should adopt names that are "easier for Americans to deal with.".... The comments caused the Texas Democratic Party on Wednesday to demand an apology from state Rep. Betty Brown, R-Terrell. But a spokesman for Brown said her comments were only an attempt to overcome problems with identifying Asian names for voting purposes.... Brown suggested that Asian-Americans should find a way to make their names more accessible.... "Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese -- I understand it's a rather difficult language -- do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?" Brown said.... "Can't you see that this is something that would make it a lot easier for you and the people who are poll workers if you could adopt a name just for identification purposes that's easier for Americans to deal with?"
You know, one of the things I miss about living in Texas is the politics. That, and the fact that the Texas GOP is populated by some of the most phenomenally brain-dead Christian zealots ever to be granted legislative authority and the ability to walk upright. Betty Brown is one of the finest examples of Republicanus flatlinus. Her idea, while stunning in it's simplicity, is just about as brain-dead and insulting as it gets. Then again, when you live in a world that looks like Brown's, why shouldn't things be set up for your convenience? Why shouldn't all those yellow, red, black, and brown folks all be required to get names that ignorant bigots like Brown can actually pronounce?
YER IN AMERIIKA, DAMN IT!! START ACTING LIKE IT!!!
Look,I understand how difficult it can be for self-superior uneducated racists to deal with a changing world. So many unpronounceable names, so many foreign customs, so many weird-ass religions to get used to. I mean, it can really set one's head to explode...especially when these folks aren't named "Jones" or "Smith" or even "Brown". If you're going to come to America, why not just assimilate, learn how to appreciate cheeseburgers and Dairy Queen...and for God's sake, change your name to something Joe Sixpack can actually pronounce, willya?? Jeebus, is that so much to ask??
Brown spokesman Jordan Berry said Brown was not making a racially motivated comment but was trying to resolve an identification problem.
Berry said Democrats are trying to blow Brown's comments out of proportion because polls show most voters support requiring identification for voting. Berry said the Democrats are using racial rhetoric to inflame partisan feelings against the bill.
"They want this to just be about race," Berry said.
Uh, no, I really don't think that this has ANYTHING to do with Democrats wanting to make this just about race. I think it more to do with Republicans not giving their own rampant ignorance, racism, and complete lack of cultural sensitivity free reign. It's about getting Rep. Brown to stop letting her inner redneck run free. It's about Rep. Brown and the rest of the Texas GOP recognizing that making it White does not make it right. Here's something that probably comes as a surprise to Republicans: the world is not set up for your convenience. Your cultural framework is no more or less relevant than that of anyone else, and it is not incumbent upon those with "funny sounding" name to change them simply because you're too stupid and lazy to make the effort to learn how to pronounce them.
Yes, it's true; 'tis better to be thought a fool and a racist than to be Betty Brown and remove any lingering doubt....
