Terrific documentary on the Alabama Constitution.

[trof]

Please share this with all your AL friends.
It's almost 50 minutes, so be ready to settle back for a bit.
Very funny in places.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7248370047306421836

[Syrinx]

1. sounds interesting

Thanks for the link. I'm on dialup, but will try to capture it one way or another.

Our state constitution is an embarassment. The longest constitution in the world, and replete with racist language. :(

[Crowman1979]

16. and lets not forget those important bingo amendments.

I never knew the right to play bingo in such and such county would be considered a constitutional right.

[Syrinx]

2. here's a newspaper column about it

When first-time voter Lewis Lehe went through the 2004 ballot on Election Day, he could handle most of what he saw: races for president, Congress, state and local judgeships.

But he wasn't ready for eight statewide proposed amendments to the 1901 Alabama Constitution, including those affecting areas suchas Trussville and Crenshaw and Macon counties.

"I'd been to Trussville once, but I'd never heard of Crenshaw County. I actually thought that Macon County was the county in `To Kill a Mockingbird,'" Lehe says in his new video essay about the constitution.

"I made some questionable decisions. That's how I first became acquainted with some constitutional issues," Lehe, a 20-year-old Homewood High School graduate, says in "It's a Thick Book."

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/bblalock.ssf?/base/opinion/1170240216197220.xml&coll=2

[peacebaby3]

3. The link isn't working for me. n/t

[Syrinx]

4. that article I posted above...

Said that it will be available at Google video starting Friday. I guess trof got a sneak preview. ;)

[peacebaby3]

5. Thanks. I'll try again today. n/t

[Syrinx]

6. Well, it's still not there

I don't know what happened to it. If I happen to find it somewhere, I'll post back in this thread.

[peacebaby3]

7. Thanks, Syrinx. n/t

[trof]

8. Sorry, it's gone. Can't find another link.

[Syrinx]

9. what do you think of this theory?

Some company or investor saw it, loved it, and bought it.

:shrug:

[nealmhughes]

10. If you want to know ALL about the 1901 Constitution, get in touch with

my friend Dr. R. Volney Riser at the University of West Alabama in Livingston. I did a lot of microfilm reading for his MA thesis and its daughter, his dissertation at UA from 02-05.

Riser is da man who knows it all, from the alliances, the threat of Ruben Kolb, the Populist who had 2 elections stolen from him by the Bourbons just before the convention and how the Black Belt Bourbons stil have a grip on state politics. One interesting thing that came out of the convention: guaranteed free public education for all between 7 and 17, however, that was overturned in Amendment 111 in the 50s as a segregation matter, much as Miss. outlawed mandated public education then.

Should one increase the term of the governor to 4 years, put in all the US Constitutional amendments like direct election of senators and remove all racist and sexist language, the original 1818 is a fine document, provided that one includes home rule for the cities and counties~

The original doc was based on the historic settlement of Tennessee and Kentucky, and wanted Jeffersonian and proto-Jacksonian democracy in place. Each new one got more and more away from the original...until we have this laughing stock POS at present.

[Syrinx]

11. update

Apparently, the video has been adopted by the folks at Alabama Citizens For Constitutional Reform. Apparently, they will announce viewings around the state soon. And the film will be online after March 10th.

In the meantime, here's a trailer from Google Video.

[southlandshari]

12. Thanks!

thanks for the update, Syrinx, and for the original heads up, Trof!

:hi:

[Syrinx]

13. you're certainly welcome!

Stop by more often!

:hi:

[Frances]

14. Thanks for the info

Please remind us on March 10.

I remember reading a very long article about the adoption of the Alabama Constitution about 15 years ago when I was traveling. Now I can't remember what town I was in or which newspaper I was reading. But I remember the election for the ratification of the constitution was obviously rigged.

[Syrinx]

15. update

Showings have been up for a while, I guess, but I just now thought to check back. You can find the list here: http://constitutionalreform.org/events.shtml (.)

[trof]

17. You can get a free dvd of "It's A Thick Book".

Here:
http://www.constitutionalreform.org/

Of course, a donation would be appreciated.
I got one for our library and suggest you all do the same.

[Frances]

18. Very interesting

I especially enjoyed seeing Dr. Hardy Jackson, who is from my home town. He was in my brother's class at school, and I used to play Tarzan with him when I was young. I was Jane, and my brother had to be either the villain or Cheetah.