The World Around You

I am deeply saddened by the almost 1 million of my fellow Alabamians that voted against Amendment 1 today. I honestly don’t know where we go from here. Going into this vote, I was prepared to move forward in good faith on some of the provisions contained within this plan. But with such a resounding rejection of the most fair plan for honest reform this state has ever seen, I’m not sure that real reform will ever be attained.

This is a sad day for Alabama and the future looks even bleaker.

UPDATE:

AP reports,

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A Ten Commandments display put together by Gov. Bob Riley opened Tuesday in an exhibit room at the Capitol amid praise from some church leaders who support displays of the commandments in government buildings.

Riley had the display built after supporters of a Ten Commandments monument that was removed from the state judicial building presented him with a plaque bearing the commandments last week.

“Just as the Ten Commandments are exhibited in similar displays in the U.S. Supreme Court and in our nation’s Capitol building, I feel it is important to display them in our Capitol, as well,” Riley said in a statement.

Riley’s display at the Capitol included the Ten Commandments among other historical documents.

Chief Justice Roy Moore, who was suspended for refusing to comply with a federal court order to remove his commandments monument from the judicial building, said Monday night in Birmingham that a display like Riley’s was unacceptable.

“To put things around the Ten Commandments and secularize it is to deny the greatness of God,” he told a crowd of about 1,500 people at a fund-raising dinner for his legal defense.

The Montgomery Advertiser reports that the display includes, “several other adjoining display panels — one for the Magna Carta, the Code of Justinian, the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights and the Constitutional Amendments to Guarantee Full Citizenship.”

This sounds like exactly the kind of display that has been found to be lawful. Maybe this will help quiet the din and make those who haven’t been paying attention realize that the Ten Commandments are welcomed in public spaces, when done in an appropriate manner.

Much better headline than the story that follows from AP,

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — The Chamber of Commerce has held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for an unusual structure — a toilet.

Harriet McFeely came dangerously close to losing her business — Country Meadows banquet facility — because it lacked two restrooms, as required by Hastings restaurant and zoning codes.

McFeely said she didn’t think to check with the city about its zoning and restaurant rules. After years of battles, she raised enough money to add a new restroom to her catering business.

The Hastings Chamber of Commerce decided to celebrate the accomplishment by holding a ribbon-cutting in front of the restroom Monday.

“We’re having fun. I think what’s unique and nice about it… is that we can make light of what’s happened in the past,” Chamber president Tom Hastings said. “She was able to work out an agreement with the city… which shows that things work out as long as you work together.”

Just another of those interesting things that happen in small towns and make good fodder for headline writers.

The Montgomery Advertiser makes it’s final plea this morning,

It may be decades — maybe even another century — before the political stars will again align in such a way that Alabama voters will have a chance to break a century-old political mold. That mold has kept middle-class Alabamians and the state’s working poor subjugated to the interests of large landowners and timber companies that do not come close to bearing a fair share of the state’s tax burden.

It may be generations before another conservative, anti-tax governor comes along who realizes that, despite his predisposition against taxes, Alabama will remain mired at the bottom of the nation’s economy and income levels unless it is willing to invest in education and other public services.

Even if one comes along, it is unlikely he or she will have the moral and political courage that Bob Riley has shown. It was in his own best political interests to tell people that the problems can be solved by cutting waste; that sacrifice is not required; to tell them what they want hear.

Instead, he told them the truth.

I want to echo the final sentiment of this piece as well. There are no new arguments to be made today. The people of Alabama need to look into their own hearts and make the decision they know is right. We can continue to hope, at least for one more day.