Re: Birmingham cheating: Artilce #4 - Blaming the Victims

[Anne Nonniemouse <ShopMathEdu@AOL.COM>]

In a message dated 6/20/00 7:46:43 PM Central Daylight Time,
judih@OUSD.K12.CA.US writes:

<< Reminds me of the Civil Rights Movement--things didn't start to
 change till the sons and daughters of northerners went down and
 put their bodies on the line---maybe that will start to happen now
 too. >>

We appreciate all the help we can get from any friendly corner that it comes
from.  I know that the above statement was meant with all of the best
intentions, but those of us in the South would not characterize the progress
of the Civil Rights movement this way.  It is true that more people in the
north and around the world LEARJED about the Civil Rights movement which was
already in progress when northerners began to participate in it.  However,
please be assured that CHANGE began to happen when the first seed of
resistance, whether in regard to a bus seat, a lunch counter, registering to
vote, drinking out of a water fountain, organizing a union, purchasing a
piece of fruit, entering a dance hall or every other aspect of life, was
planted and initiated with dignity and pride by the residents of the South,
both African-American and white, in opposition to segregation and Jim Crow.

What we are seeing in Birmingham today is a continuation of the civil rights
movement of the 1920s-30s-50s-60s and so on.  Whenever we are complacent, we
lose our rights and we will not gain them back unless there is resistance.
And, we'll lose them again if we forget this lesson.

Please stay in touch with us and send any comments, suggestions, criticisms,
new ideas.  We may not agree on everything, but I feel confident that the
folks who read the Fair Test list are marching down the road to freedom and
equality.  We wish to join y'all in this effort.  We hope you will support
what we are trying to do, to make the pushed out students whole and equal,
and to guarantee their right to a quality education.

Warmest greetings to one and all,

Steve Orel

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