General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I'm so disappointed, sad and a little angry to see so many people not only defend Northam [View all]kstewart33
(6,551 posts)I write this as a long-time fan of your posts. Always intelligent, thoughtful and kind.
I am white. I grew up in Alabama during the 1960s and remember the racism well. When I was a college student in Montgomery, I met George Wallace who invited me into his office when he was Alabama's Governor. We had an interesting talk about politics. I was a member of Sing-Out Alabama which was a group of about 20 teenagers, white and black, who sang about race in performances in north Alabama. I learned good deal about race performing in that group.
When I saw the Northam's yearbook photos, I was stunned. But as I've grown much older, I've thought a good deal about redemption. My immediate question concerned the kind of life that he has lived since the yearbook was published. Has he redeemed himself? Has he changed? I wish that some respectable journalist in the media would examine his actions, his public service, his record to provide some insight that contributes to answering that question. However, I doubt that will happen.
This morning, I read that Northam has told some colleagues that he is not depicted in that photo. That obviously is quite a stretch and a sign of desperation and terribly poor judgment. Absent any information about his life since the yearbook, and his action this morning, I believe he should resign. But I remain a believer in the power of redemption.