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TechnographMr. Atheist goes to Springfield
By Jonathan Jacobson
Posted: 4/10/08 Section: Opinion Columns
It's hard to say exactly what Davis was thinking when she lost her cool last week, but the fact that she has not yet offered any sort of apology is telling. Even if she believes there should be prayer in schools and that the state should offer its assistance to churches in need, she should still recognize that Sherman did, in fact, have a right to testify.
One of the most embarrassing parts of Rep. Davis' diatribe, though, is also probably the funniest. She repeatedly referenced Abraham Lincoln and our fine state's license plate motto to drive her point home.
Even though she has been in the Illinois Assembly for two decades, this might be the most noise Rep. Davis has ever caused.
But it's certainly the most news Rob Sherman will ever make, assuming his Green Party candidacy for an Illinois House seat this November doesn't work out.
Sherman - who is campaigning in a mobile home he calls the "Sherman-ator" - is probably relishing the publicity, even if most of it is negative and directed not at him but at Rep. Davis.
The truth is that he's not exactly Mister Clean, either. His Web site - a bizarre amalgamation of commentary, news, a plug for his travel agency and general babbling - has a few defamatory remarks that have thus far evaded any coverage.
"Now that Negroes like Representative Monique Davis have political power, it seems that they have no problem at all with discrimination, just as long as it isn't them who are being discriminated against," he wrote last Friday.
I seriously can't remember the last time I saw the word "negroes" in print, but even if I could, I would still be taken aback by the generalizations and overt racism of that comment. If it had been posted before instead of after Rep. Davis' rant, I might have thought she held a personal grudge when she told him to leave.
Between the two of them, there should be a barrage of apologies. And if either one had a good PR man, there would be more than a few mea culpas to go around.
Jonathan is a senior in English and rhetoric. He would like a ride in the "Sherman-ator."
One of the most embarrassing parts of Rep. Davis' diatribe, though, is also probably the funniest. She repeatedly referenced Abraham Lincoln and our fine state's license plate motto to drive her point home.
Even though she has been in the Illinois Assembly for two decades, this might be the most noise Rep. Davis has ever caused.
But it's certainly the most news Rob Sherman will ever make, assuming his Green Party candidacy for an Illinois House seat this November doesn't work out.
Sherman - who is campaigning in a mobile home he calls the "Sherman-ator" - is probably relishing the publicity, even if most of it is negative and directed not at him but at Rep. Davis.
The truth is that he's not exactly Mister Clean, either. His Web site - a bizarre amalgamation of commentary, news, a plug for his travel agency and general babbling - has a few defamatory remarks that have thus far evaded any coverage.
"Now that Negroes like Representative Monique Davis have political power, it seems that they have no problem at all with discrimination, just as long as it isn't them who are being discriminated against," he wrote last Friday.
I seriously can't remember the last time I saw the word "negroes" in print, but even if I could, I would still be taken aback by the generalizations and overt racism of that comment. If it had been posted before instead of after Rep. Davis' rant, I might have thought she held a personal grudge when she told him to leave.
Between the two of them, there should be a barrage of apologies. And if either one had a good PR man, there would be more than a few mea culpas to go around.
Jonathan is a senior in English and rhetoric. He would like a ride in the "Sherman-ator."
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Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Shawn Schafer
posted 4/10/08 @ 4:12 AM CST
Thank you for this. Rep. Davis' behavior is inexcusable, and the more publicity it gets the better.
Bob Healy
posted 4/10/08 @ 12:01 PM CST
Jonathan,
I agree that at first blush seeing someone use the term 'negroes' is disquieting. However if you post the complete paragraph including that phrase (put it in context) it seems to make some sense. (Continued…)
Jimbo
posted 4/10/08 @ 5:43 PM CST
I think he used the term 'negroes' in reference to 1960s parlance because he also mentioned Rosa Parks (in response to Davis telling him to "get out of that seat"). (Continued…)
Don
posted 4/11/08 @ 12:22 AM CST
I'd like to point out two things regarding this article:
"But she had no right, as a member of a public body during a public meeting, to berate Sherman's personal beliefs - even if or because he has none. (Continued…)
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