Volume I No. 44
 12-18-02
 Speaking In Tongues 
 { When Politicians Use "Code-Words" 
    To Appeal To A Particular Constituency } 
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2002

 The round of Trent Lott apologies has - hopefully - reached its 
 awkward conclusion with the senator's appearance on BET a couple 
 of nights ago. And what a performance it was! The conservative 
 Lott is now a supporter of affirmative action. -- Do tell. And he 
 would vote for a Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday, if that 
 vote were today.

 Trent Lott - Strom Thurmond.

 My, my, my.  Someone should tell Senator Lott to give BET's 
 audience more credit than that. Does a leopard change his spots? 
 Is this the same Trent Lott that at every opportunity, has gushed 
 in praise of that aged racist, Strom Thurmond? And now Lott is a 
 defender and supporter of the issues of greatest concern to 
 African-Americans?

 I don't think so.

 Trent Lott - Strom Thurmond.

 Lott doesn't need to morph himself into a new man to appease 
 black people. He is what he is. Perhaps a better tactic for him 
 would have been to simply state during his interview with BET's 
 Ed Gordon that he had made a mistake. That his comments about 
 Strom Thurmond were insensitive. --- And leave it at that. But 
 the pandering and blathering was a bit much. And made Lott 
 appear insincere. And was very much unbelievable, anyway.

 He should have stood firmer. 

 Trent Lott - Strom Thurmond.

 Which all leads to a much larger issue. The apology should have
 sufficed because Lott's words at Strom Thurmond's birthday bash 
 were not intended for the national audience anyway. And certainly 
 not for African-American's racially sensitive ears. He was indeed
 - as he himself has stated - caught up in the moment. Senator Lott's 
 words were intended for the many Mississippians who have never 
 forgotten what Strom Thurmond represented in 1948. 

 And never will.

 These were the constituents that Senator Lott was addressing. 
 Those white Mississippians certainly understood exactly what he 
 meant when he mentioned, "...we wouldn't have had all these 
 problems all these years." It was unlucky for the senator, that in 
 this new day, the rest of the country understood, too. And that 
 is the root of the mess Senator Lott is now ensconced in. As
 a national political figure. He got caught. And caught in a bad 
 way.

 Trent Lott - Strom Thurmond.

 What Lott did is nothing new. -- This speaking in tongue. The code
 words the senator used was his way of saying to the Mississippians 
 who long for the days of the racially segregated South. "I'm your guy."
 Or that. "I understand you." "And I realize what this good-ole boy 
 Strom Thurmond means to you."

 This was the true message hidden in Senator Trent Lott's words. 
 And the more he denies it. The more he looks like the five year old 
 boy, - caught - with his hand in the cookie jar.

 Ooops!

 Gone forever are the days when white politicians could simply 
 mention "states rights"or complain about the "meddling of the 
 federal goverment," or about "Yankee trouble-makers", or even 
 complain about "communists from up North," to rile up the good
 old Christian white folks to defend segregation or racist laws.

 Trent Lott - Strom Thurmond.

 Today those old code words have been replaced by phrases such
 as "San Francisco liberal," "welfare cheats", or "New York City 
 civil-rights laywers," as examples. Even the word "urban" has 
 acquired a very unsavory connotation. And what is so remarkable
 is that the code words mean - to the intended audience - so much 
 more than what they appear to represenst on paper. Or on a computer 
 screen. The haters out there know exactly what is implied.

 Trent Lott's code was more indirect. It wasn't based upon a single 
 word. Or a group of words. But  the meaning was clear nontheless 
 to his intended audience. And - to his chagrin - those "meddlers"
 on the outside listening in. Perhaps the one good thing that can 
 come out of this situation, is that all politicians, whether local or 
 national, or in the North, or in the South. Or wherever they may 
 be. Had better become a bit more responsible in their use of language.

 Trent Lott - Strom Thurmond.

 The public - and the media - have their eyes upon you as never 
 before. The code-words you use to appeal to the bigoted few. May 
 cost you the votes - and the good will - of the enlightened many. 

 Accept the risk. Or take your briefcase, your limousine, and driver. 

 And go home.

 Trent Lott - Strom Thurmond.

 { Yes, you do see the words "Trent Lott - Strom Thurmond."
   Do they possess a hidden meaning when linked together???? }
 

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 © Copyright 2002

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