As a product of the South, I am always in awe of some of my fellow Southerners. This morning on MSNBC, I couldn’t help but get that same, overwhelming feeling in the pit of my stomach again. Such pride of these so called, “intelligent” folks that are given free reign, in these parts of the country.
Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Now here is a man who either doesn’t own a TV, computer or newspaper subscription, or he is just typical, backwoods dumb ass, racist.
The story was something like this, according to MSNBC. Thirty-year-old Beth Humphrey and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, Louisiana, went to Mr. Bardwell to get a marriage license. When they got there, Justice of the Peace Bardwell informed the couple that he would not issue them a marriage license. When they asked for an explanation, he told them, “it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long”.
Yes, you read that right America, he denied these people a marriage license because they were black and white. His reasoning was, because of his research and observations of black and white couples, he didn’t think it would be good for the children to come. He felt it was a failed undertaking, before it started. That was his “OPINION”!
OK, just so I am truly understanding here…This guy felt that his “opinion” had anything to do with the “LAW”! What a total and complete clown. When are the ignorant people in this world going to sit down and be quiet. If you sound stupid, you should not talk.
Justice of the Peace, Keith Bardwell is an ignorant man. Not only did he break the law, he did it out loud and without any remorse or concern. Was it his right to express his thoughts and deny this people a marriage license? Not! Truly, Bardwell is on the verge of a nervous breakdown or he has contracted dementia or some outrageous excuse, for being so overwhelmingly stupid.
I am seriously embarrassed by this man. As a proud Southerner, who each and every time I open my mouth, it is obvious where I came from, I am sad that once again, we look like idiots. Bardwell’s judgmental attitude shows how much work is still to be done for Civil Rights. He has regressed, instead of progressing.
Along with the fact that I am Southern, I am also the proud grandmother to 4 grandchildren of interracial relationships. They are all beautiful and smart and I couldn’t be more proud.
Justice Bardwell can “say” whatever he chooses to say. Experience tells me he is totally racist. He is totally breaking the law and he should absolutely be removed from office. Someone should also tell him that God didn’t die and he is not needed as a replacement.
According to MSNBC, the ACLU was preparing a letter for the Louisiana Supreme Court, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and see if they can remove him from office, Schwartzman said.
In Louisiana, to obtain a marriage license, according to MSNBC and the clerk of court’s office, an application for a marriage license must be made three days before the ceremony, to fulfill the 72-hour waiting period. The applicants are asked if they have previously been married. If so, they must show how the marriage ended, such as divorce. The Supreme Court ruled in 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry.
We would hope that the Justice Dept. and the Governor will have something to say about this situation. How many others in this tiny Parish have been abused by Justice of the Peace, Bardwell? How many laws has he enacted that were feelings or opinions? Does he always operate on what he thinks vs what the law says?
Keith Bardwell is a boil on the butt of society. He is not alone. There are still many ignorant people walking around out there. They are determined they are better than anyone else. They are convinced that they should be in charge of morality and the lives of the people they have deemed less than them. It is a sad day in America when this type of behavior can go unchecked and allowed to continue.
We are all human beings. We are all God’s children. We are all good, bad, right, wrong, and we are all trying to make it. Are we ever going to realize that it is not our judgment call to monitor stuff like this or try to control others such as Bardwell has tried to do? Justice of the Peace, Keith Bardwell is an embarrassment to Louisiana. He should step down and be quiet for a while to avoid the continuation of “stupid”.
