Arkansas Blog

I regretfully declined an invitation to the event, and it's probably a good thing. Instead, I stayed at home and watched the proceedings on TV, where I could smoke, drink beer and weep openly. I don't like to weep in public.

I also laughed openly, sometimes through tears. When it was over, I was glad I hadn't missed it.

As to the wider impact of the event, I see that the BBC has covered the anniversary, as have the NYT and NPR, among, no doubt, many others. Sure, there were no ceremonies like this outside Little Rock, but the world is aware of what happened then and and what's happening today in here. May lessons be learned and remembered.

What was up with Deborah Mathis (that's her name right)? Wow, I mean did everything but emcee that thing? Like fingernails on a chalkboard annoying the whole time, would have liked to have seen a better rep. of Arkansas out there doing that. I know she's a black woman who graduated from Central and did well, but still, I think perhaps the principal of the school, Oprah, the lady who works at the gas station I get coffee at in the morning, would have been better...

Oh, wouldn't it have been nice, if once, just once, a thread along these lines could contain only supportive feedback. I love what "widj" wrote, and am grateful to read it.

Ernest, Melba, Jefferson, Minnijean, Thelma, Terrence, Carlotta, Elizabeth and Gloria. Just an observation and no latent racism I assure you. But the question arises about integration and assimilation and whether in some ways we were closer in 1957. This was before the tremendous negative influence of illegal drugs and before the intimidating hip hop, rapp, and costumes obviously intended to frighten people. Names are now French or Arabian sounding in the Black community. LaTisha, Shabazz etc. Much too much bling and macho BS. It is the white community that is intimidated now. Can't we all just get along?

Stodola loves to hear his own voice, see his photo on TV and in newspapers. Once he gets the mic, don't try to stop him! He is an embarrassment to our city, but so is Katherine Mitchell. Now these two will be viewed nationwide. Maybe Katherine could get her own PR guy like Stodola has. The two boys together look like stoic Elvis impersonators. At least Stodola has someone writing for him now so he can string a few words together to at least sound halfway intelligent, although long-winded.

There was a smallish (20-25?) contingent of the sophmore? class of 1957 sitting right in front of the stage.

It was interesting that they stood and clapped for some of the nine, but not all. They noticably didn't stand and clap after Ms. Eckford spoke about true apologies.

I would also like to hold hands and sing Kumbaya, SilverBells, but in some respects its best not to rest and pat ourselves on the backs just yet.

Oh, and note to Stodala -- You were not the keynote speaker! It wasn't your day -- this day belonged to the 9. It was a good speech, but considering that the crowd was worried about the potential of rain, good political sense would have been to cut your remarks short so that the real speakers -- the Little Rock 9 -- would be sure to get to speak.

Oh to hear a president speak without mangling the English language...it was beautiful. I hope every asshole in state government who was responsible for snatching down the 'Clinton' signs as soon as he left office has to serve as a tour guide for monkeyboy's presidential zoo...while wearing headphones playing his speeches over and over. Then perhaps they'll realize the difference between actually having a shameful president and just being an asshole partisan.

It was a wonderful celebration and Arkansas should be proud of properly remembering this historical event.

Up here in nawth country before the 5:30 News, NPR is doing a fine report on the ceremonies with a nice sound bite from Guv Beebe's talk.

Also archive of play of "2, 4, 6, 8, we don't want to integrate" crowd chants from 57.

Was the Little Rock Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission there at all? Didn't hear or see them mentioned...

"The two boys together look like stoic Elvis impersonators."

Sexy, "Jailhouse Rock," lady-killing Elvis, I presume...

"...it's best not to rest and pat ourselves on the backs just yet. "

I said NOTHING about resting on laurels, patting ourselves on the back, or singing Kum Ba Ya, a song I detest. I just would like to see a forum that is SUPPORTIVE for the event and the meaning of the event that doesn't contain snarky comments, but I see that is impossible here.

Indeed, patting ourselves on the back is the wrong approach, but that sort of indulgence is implied when people sit back and critique anything and everything they want to, rather than focus on the meaning of the event. Smugness, you might also call it.

I'm tired of the constant carping, bitching and whining in this country, period. And it's mostly coming from white people, and I am white, and I am sick to death of it.

I've found there's a lot of truth at the bottom of much of public 'bitching'...forum or otherwise (entertainment too...thanks DBI!). So I pick/choose what interests me, rather than lecturing others about changing.

A healthy democracy requires public activism/critiquing much more than it needs cheerleading.

Well I buy as many stations a Direct TV will sell me and I have not seen or heard on mention of this weeks events on any station, national or local (MO). Of course they make me, an AR resident, buy only local Springfield, MO stations.. So I want to thank the AR Times Blog for covering this.. It's rare when I wish I were in Little Rock but this weeks events sure would have been nice to see in person.

I was checking the House.gov web site a few moments ago for a look see at who voted for war in Iran today.. Almost everyone did folks (397 yays to 16 nays).. WAR with 75 million more people who were the biggest public crowd of supporters in the middle east for America after we were attacked in '01... Iranians who are probably very scared after so many years of being surrounded by us on two sides occupying both major neighbors Afghanistan and Iraq. War is just getting closer by the hour.. Anyway, I noticed only Boozeman voted at all.. all others did not vote I am sure due to the fact they were in LR. Sad sad commentary on Boozeman... he can't celebrate one of the most significant events of the last century in AR but he can vote for an absolutely needless war with Iran.. Not to excuse what I am sure would be a vote for war by most of the AR Dem critters who were absent but at least they were in the right place.

The only thing we learned from this part of history is that the military can force you to do anything they want. If this had been going on at time of the civil war where do you think you'd be now.

Zelda it takes and ass hole to know one... You know 'em pretty good don't ye.
Pride is Sinful and the bible says that pride will go before a great fall... Pride will get you nowhere.

chas, there would have been a civil war. The military didn't start that one, and they didn't start this one.

I disagree chasv...everyone recognizes an asshole.

Judge not less ye blah blah.

Oops...'lest' my spelling be judged.

zelda your spelling is not gonna be judge by me cause I am the worst at it.. I have sharpened up on some spelling since I started blogging on here... and that's good
They said on channel seven news tonight that everyone all over arkansas and the nation is focused on Litter Rock but that is not true. no one cares what is going on in Litter Rock...
All I see on tv seven news is a bunch of people with too much pride.

Chas - you're late for your Klan meeting - run along - you don't want to miss that cross lighting

Wonderful commemoration, or celebration, or whatever we call it. High points for me included the brief speeches of the Nine (especially Jefferson Thomas--who knew he could be funny!) and the thank-you speech on behalf of Central students by the student body president Cyrus something, who I understand is Iranian-American? Is that right? Or half Iranian? Ithought principal Nancy Rousseau should have done the welcome at the beginning. Don't know why she was excluded, but good for Virgil Miller for his warm praise for the hard work of her and the faculty.

Deborah Mathis was a bit taken with herself at times, but no matter. It was a moving ceremony with relatively little rancor and lots of good feeling. I'm relieved it went well and sort of glad it's over for another 10 years. (Sorry, I'm must being honest.)

Thanks to the TIMES for this good coverage.

The reason your TV screen confused you today chasv, is because you're seeing people who should be proud. Get out of that double-wide a little more often and make some black friends and maybe you'll be less confused when the 60th anniversary of the Little Rock 9 comes around. Ask God tonight if it's OK for you to feel proud of the hard struggle and head-knocking lessons learned in Little Rock 50 years ago today. For all you know God may wear his Black Power T-shirt on his days off.

>>zelda your spelling is not gonna be judge by me cause I am the worst at it.. I have sharpened up on some spelling since I started blogging on here.<<

chasv, on late night AETN (that's Ark. Educational Television Network) there are educational classes. I think you would enjoy the wonderful things you could learn on there. I've seen little on there about Jesus, or the bible but there are so many subjects you could learn from. You could set your tv recorder for later viewing. There's an occasional class on grammar. If you find it helpful to improve your spelling wait till you learn to put together those words you are learning to spell.

....We've got video of each of the speeches--check back on our YouTube site later in the afternoon....

Could you tell me how to find "our YouTube site?"

Thanks

eLwood go jump in a lake.
PBS is not all that much to watch. Go purchase a bible and read it then you will much much wiser concerning spirtual things.

I 'love'...the hypocrisy/contradictions in "chasv" comments...much like the bible, don't you think?

You'll have to excuse Casv's misinterpretation of the Bible - It's probably hard to read by the light of a burning cross

Jesus did nothing in secret. He did everything publicly. You can call it anything you desire. But it is not hyprocrisy.

It's hard to soar with Eagles when you walk with turkeys.

"It's hard to soar with Eagles when you walk with turkeys."
by: chasv

OUCH!!!!
chasv, Damn, That Cut to the Biblical Bone!!!

chasv

>>Jesus did nothing in secret. He did everything publicly. You can call it anything you desire. But it is not hyprocrisy<<

Are you trying to tell me that Jesus masturbated in public? That is just wierd dude.Or else you must mean he never masturbated. C'mon Chasv are you trying to tell me that Jesus never ever, not once, did the ole solo mojo. Out in ihe desert for forty days and nights? C'mon chasv. I mean , you can only fast and pray for so long.

how bout after a little vino with the boys? Chasv.ypou can make him out to be your savior but c'mon don't make him out to be some nerd twit asexual dork.

Chasz ,
Americans overwhelmingly approve of legislation to prevent hate violence. In fact, more than two thirds (or 68%) support expanding hate crimes laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity and giving local law enforcement the tools and resources they need to investigate and prosecute these tragic acts of bigotry.

I am confident that you will champion the will of voters in your community and the majority of Americans, and bring our federal hate crime laws into the 21st Century, by ensuring that all of our citizens are protected against senseless hate violence.

While a random act of violence against any individual is always a tragic event, we know that violent crimes based on prejudice are meant to terrorize an entire community.

As Americans, we must defend our neighbors from becoming victims of bias-motivated violence.

This just in: the Senate will vote on the Matthew Shepard Act TOMORROW.

We've worked for years to get this bill through both houses of Congress, and we're finally incredibly close.

Now that Senate action is imminent, anti-GLBT groups are activating their misinformed grassroots base once again.

Remember, they've convinced thousands that this bill will muzzle preachers and send pastors to jail for reading certain parts of the Bible. If we don't call right now, critical votes COULD BE LOST to these scare tactics.

CALL BOTH YOUR SENATORS RIGHT NOW:

Neither Sen. Cornyn nor Sen. Hutchison has declared their support for the Matthew Shepard Act. You're calling to urge them both to vote YES.

For Sen. Pryor, call (202) 224-2934.
Then, for Sen. Linclion , call (202) 224-5922.
For each office, tell the staffer who answers:

As a constituent, and a supporter of the Human Rights Campaign, I hope the Senator will vote YES on the Matthew Shepard Act (S. 1105).
I hope the Senator understands that this bill does NOT threaten free speech or weaken the Constitution.
This bill would only apply to violent attacks based on the victim's gender, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity.
It would also provide funding to help law enforcement agencies investigate and prosecute violent hate crimes.
This legislation has been endorsed by over 280 civic, religious, and law enforcement organizations.
I hope the Senator will do the right thing and vote YES on S. 1105 when it comes to a vote.
We cannot allow our Senators to be intimidated, misled, or swayed by an extremist minority. Thank you for making your calls, and thank you for being a voice of reason today.

IABL1969 YOU ARE ASKING GOD TO DO SOMETHING TO YOU. Let me know if you are still able when he gets through with you.
No body can make you believe but you'd better believe if you want to go to heaven.
bejeeus it appears you flip flop. What gives with you?

Rather than pick apart the comments from the "LR 9" or Debra Mathis, I would like to note the absence of at least a Welcome Speech from Nancy Rousseau. She has poured her heart and soul into LRCH. She is "all business", students will behave, students will learn, teachers will be held accountable for learning, Regarding students in the AP classes: Students must demonstrate a willingness to work hard, have learned the necessary basic skills to participate, have parent approval and agree to participate in supervising their student. LRSD needs more Principals like Nancy Rousseau. I know she was on the committee and yet, probably declined to speak. Such a shame.

RLR I did call them to tell them not to vote yes for them to vote no on S.1105 bill.
It is like they don't want anyone to even speak out against homo's.