June 12 Open Thread: It's Loving Day

It's Day 163 of the Year 2019 CE (Gregorian), meaning that it's June 12, 2019 (Gregorian), or 13.0.6.10.4 by the long count


BE053794

Not like that, silly, "Loving" as in Loving v Virginia, the 1967 US Supreme Court case that put an end to miscegenation laws in this country. Well, not really, the curt case declared them to be unconstitutional, and hence unenforceable. When such things happen, in some parts of the country the laws are kept on the books, to enforce against the uninformed and those too poor to seek a federal appeal, to express disapproval, to use to con the gullible and uninformed, and for people like innkeepers and cops to use to harass other people because racism. For example, while Loving was decided in 1967, Alabama still enforced its anti-miscegenation law locally against those unable to afford an appeal to the federal courts until 1970, and kept it on the books until 2000. (Let's all sing a chorus of Sweet Home Bamalama, or however that goes, oh yeah.) For the record, Delaware, DC, the Virginias, Missouri, The Carolinas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tejas and the rest of the South all had such laws still on the books in 1967.

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It should be Unintended Irony Day,. Hear me out on this. Loving v Virginia was decided on the 191st anniversary of The Virginia Declaration of Rights, a "seminal" document written by some of the "founding" fathers colonists and oft touted as a precursor and inspiration to both the US Declaration of Independence and the US Bill of Rights. In a sense, it must be held to clearly presage the Bill of Rights, because each enumerated a handful or rights that could not be denied to white male colonists who owned a modicum of property, and nothing more to no one else.

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Thus, The Virginia Declaration of Rights was no bar to Virginia passing and subsequently enforcing an anti-miscegenation law because, racism, to be blunt, but also oligarchy. (The Virginia Declaration of Rights gave special treatment to persons who happened to be white, but they also happened to be male, and well to do. Virginia like the rest of the colonial US was a very classy place, classy as in having a pronounced caste system in which non-indentured poor white males ranked barely above non-wealthy women who in turn ranked just above the indentures, free blacks, Indians, and slaves.) It was also no bar to Virginia trying to outlaw same sex marriage both by statute and by amending the Virginia Constitution (Marshall-Newman Amendment). Clearly, the much vaunted Virginia Declaration of Rights continues to be, in and of itself, of extremely limited applicability much as it was when it was drafted by wealthy white male slave owners. So, in the words or spirit of an ancient newspaper editorial, "Yes Virginia, there is a Virginia, and, no, you probably don't have equality there because you are a mere female", but that is another rant for another time. /rant

For now. let us celebrate Loving v Virginia

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And now at last they understand that this is the law throughout the land

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Image is Jack Johnson Introducing his Fourth Wife

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Its an open thread so have at it. The floor is yours
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Seems the selective legal enforcement has foreclosure written all over it.

Cheers.

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enhydra lutris's picture

@QMS
mind that BLM is just a divisive Rooshian propaganda stunt and where does that leave us? Maybe a ton of bills have come due, like losing the CIA and FBI and then downsizing and radically reforming all of our quasi-legit police forces.

Have a good one.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Raggedy Ann's picture

@QMS
I totally agree. Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Lookout's picture

...or at least more common. There are two mixed race couples on my road for example.

Attitudes change faster than laws I guess.

How can we go wrong celebrating Loving?

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvJj7SN9EWI]

Thanks for the OT and music!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

enhydra lutris's picture

@Lookout
Yes, change is coming, and some has already happened, so let's definitely celebrate, but also remember all the work on attitudes that needs to be done.

have a good one.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Raggedy Ann's picture

@enhydra lutris
Great minds - Lookout and me, lol! Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

we can't have love you know, after all it is dangerous, people might get ideas.

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@randtntx people, with dangerous ideas.

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WaterLily's picture

@randtntx

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IX4gWkFqvU]

And these guys paid pretty good tribute:

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_oOc3Zj0KU]

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enhydra lutris's picture

@randtntx
society has always tried to channel and restrict it. Thanks for the tune.

have a good one.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

enhydra lutris's picture

homosexuality is not a crime, just in time for Loving Day by overturning a colonial law. According to the Christian Science Monitor, a panel of 3 high court judges unanimously affirmed that:

“A democratic nation is one that embraces tolerance, diversity, and open-mindedness,” said Judge Michael Leburu, reading from the court’s ruling Tuesday morning. “We have determined that it is not the business of the law to regulate private consensual sexual encounters” between adults.

link = https://www.csmonitor.com/Daily/2019/20190611?cmpid=ema:ddp:20190611&id=...

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Raggedy Ann's picture

The Loving story is one of my favorites. For a variety of reasons. One reason below.

In 1970, I dated a black fellow and my parents freaked out. I never knew they would have a problem with it which is why I brought him home. It wasn't a pleasant day in our lives. I was glad to know, however, and spent the rest of my life educating my parents on their prejudices.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvJj7SN9EWI]

Have a beautiful hump day, everyone! Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

enhydra lutris's picture

@Raggedy Ann
Grat song - it must be in the wind, Lookout posted it too.

Have a great one.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

magiamma's picture

et al...

Well, my life just got busy. Boy howdy. S’okay. Not in a bad way. Just lots more to do.

People are running a recall election on two of the councilors that we helped elect. Recall rules are way lax. No reasons, nada, just finish the paperwork and voila you to can spend your cities monies with wild abandon. Meh! Off to the races.

Have a good one, all

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enhydra lutris's picture

@magiamma

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Anja Geitz's picture

Always admire the courage it takes for people like the Lovings to stand up for themselves, and say, "Nope, this is a whole lotta wrong".

I hope many of those same people who supported those shamefully punitive laws are looking back with cringeworthy remorse. For they should feel remorseful.

Thanks for this mornings OT. Gonna be another hot day here in SoCal. Reached over 100 yesterday. Gotta go water the garden. Have a great day!

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

enhydra lutris's picture

@Anja Geitz
here Monday and down your way too. have a good one.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Johnson's announcement.

She's stunning, tho.

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enhydra lutris's picture

@HenryAWallace
simply fearful that rioting or such will break out, Johnson, iirc, had far more foes than fans, because he was uppity, and his taste in women was most upsetting.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --