tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095608455098879787.post2958839585576484572..comments2013-02-01T17:23:51.542-08:00Comments on Marcelinia's Blog: Theodore G. BilboMarceliniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12690913378954868747noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095608455098879787.post-44462857772538536002013-02-01T17:23:51.542-08:002013-02-01T17:23:51.542-08:00Thank you. I've always learned (being raised b...Thank you. I've always learned (being raised by liberal parents) that Mr. Bilbo was the worst kind of racist. And it didn't help that on my one and only trip to the deep south (in 1984) I met a man who was himself the epitome of all of the worst stereotypes about white southerners and was immensely proud of the fact that he owned Theodore G. Bilbo's penstand.<br /><br />However, after reading this post I did some more research and see that he was in favor of things like eliminating the poll tax (which helped blacks and poor whites alike) and spending more on education. Like George Wallace, he may have used the racial divisions to cover over his real intent which was to spend more on services that would help poor people-- though having read some things by Mr. Bilbo, there is no doubt that his racism was very real.<br /><br />I've at times wanted to understand 'the system' in the Old South-- so that things which seem incomprehensible to me today, can be understood in context. For example, I can't imagine what it would have been like to be in Linwood Shull's shoes-- but he was also a hardworking police chief for many years and by all accounts a good family man. So what would it be that would provoke him and so many others to inexplicable acts of violence and brutality?Eli Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00792743206074537073noreply@blogger.com