As I read Ben Heaton’s article, I almost fell out of my chair. I don’t even know where to begin. At first I thought it was a joke. I’m ashamed that such an article was written at my school in this day and age, as it was one of the most overtly racist pieces of journalism I’ve ever seen. Let’s examine just a few of the many holes in Heaton’s “arguement”: Plessy v. Ferguson was effectivly overruled by Brown v. Board of Education, which basically states that “seperate” is inherently unequal, and in violation of the 14th Amendment. Judge Bazile, who Heaton quotes, was writing over 50 years ago, and his decision in convicting an interracial couple under Virginia’s interracial marriage ban was overturned when the Supreme Court ruled such a ban unconstitutional. Heaton states that “traditionally speaking, marriage is between people of the same race”. Supposing this is true – which is hardly garunteed – is hardly a defense. Let’s look at some other “traditions” that have fallen by the wayside in recent years: slavery, lynching, burning people for witchcraft, . Hell, I suppose according to Heaton it’s ok for me to club a girl over the head and drag her back to my house. As for Heaton’s comment about “legitimizing” interracial marriage and allowing such couples to “teach in our schools and infest our churches”, it’s just too absurd to even bother refuting. It seems pretty obvious that he is living in a different century. I suppose it would be inappropriate to suggest that Heaton could see reality a little better if he would take the bedsheet off of his head, but I don’t think it would be far off.
Bryan PenningtonClass of 2005424-0411
