You think our country’s making progress, and then something like this happens. According to the Associated Press, a white Louisiana justice of the peace refused to give an interracial couple a marriage license because he was concerned for any children they might have.
Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says that in his experience, most interracial marriages do not last long. “I’m not a racist. I just don’t believe in mixing the races that way,” he said. ”I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else.”
Yeah, you treat them like everyone else except you won’t let them marry people of other races? This is just astounding. Not only are his actions blatantly racist, but they’re also ridiculous. What authority does this man have to predict the length of marriages? Aren’t there plenty of homogeneous marriages that end in divorce also?
“There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage,” Bardwell said. “I think those children suffer and I won’t help put them through it.” Wow, what an insult to all mixed-race individuals. Tell that to Barack Obama, Tiger Woods and Will Smith.
According to his logic, if he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he would have to do the same for all. “I try to treat everyone equally,” he said. He then tripped over a big bucket of irony.
Comments
Lee
October 16th, 2009 - 9:58:06 AM
Oh-oh, now they know how gay couples feel like every day.... except when it's for gay couple, we don't get that kind of public outrage! People go "you don't deserve to get married!" this and "we are worried about your children" that. So SICK, it makes me laugh.
Meg
October 16th, 2009 - 11:03:41 AM
Lee, I agree with you. It is kind of funny how this draws public outrage, but a gay couple being denied a licence barely makes it to the local news! My opinion on this whole thing is that the guy has the right to refuse to sign their marriage licence. I have a mixed child, so I have absolutely no problem w interracial marriages, and although I 100% disagree with his views, he has the right to have those views. This is the way I view it. In some states a pharmasist can deny filling a womens prescription for birth control based on THEIR moral beliefs. The woman is welcome to take the prescription elsewhere, but the pharmasist doesnt HAVE to fill it. From what I understand, this man didn't say that they arent allowed to get married, but that they would need to find someone else to sign the paper. Its the same thing as being denied birth control based on the pharm's beliefs. If that's an accepted practice, then this should be too.
Kelly Turner
October 18th, 2009 - 1:56:53 PM
isn't "not believing in mixing races" pretty much the definition of racism? you cant really claim not to be something and then explain your side by offering the definition of it. I didnt realize marriage licenses were so subjective- that anyone can just say no