On Helms and sainthood
President Bush on Jesse Helms:
"Jesse Helms was a kind, decent, and humble man and a passionate defender of what he called 'the Miracle of America.So it is fitting that this great patriot left us on the Fourth of July. He was once asked if he had any ambitions beyond the United States Senate. He replied: 'The only thing I am running for is the Kingdom of Heaven.' Today, Jesse Helms has finished the race, and we pray he finds comfort in the arms of the loving God he strove to serve throughout his life."
Sen. Elizabeth Dole on Helms: “In succeeding Jesse to represent North Carolina in the United States Senate, I knew I could never replace him, but I continue to strive each day to provide the dedicated constituent service he provided the people of our state for 30 years. As my father would say, Jesse was indeed a ‘watchdog’ for North Carolina and for the nation."
It is customary to find the good in people upon their deaths ... and, at least I see it, there was some good in Jesse Helms.
But when do we go too far? When do the platitudes become downright dishonest? Helms, a Southern gentleman to some, could be mean and despicable in his racial views.
And he was unrepentant over the years, stubbornly clinging to the 19th century even into the 21st.
And here we are all but anointing him a saint?
At the same time we praise Helms for his candor (one of his admirable qualities) are we shooting as straight about his true legacy?
Comments (3)
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I must agree with you Mr. Johnson on your perception of what others have said about Mr . Helms. Jesse Helms however was no friend to black people in his political career. It seemed he soften his stance a bit as he got closer to glory...most do, as well as George Wallace(Former Alabama Governor), Mr. Thurman , former Senator of South Carolina. I am not afraid to say that I will not miss him and millions in this country that share his ideology. God is our ultimate judge and I don't have a Heaven/Hell to put him in but I am sure where ever Mr. Helms soul resides there will be people of color present and they will not be shining his shoes and cooking him fried chicken.
Posted on July 9, 2008 6:04 PM
I agree with you, Mr. Johnson. Dying doesn't suddenly mean we make Helms a patriot, for he was not in life, for sure. I am ashamed he represented our state for over 30 years...
Posted on July 9, 2008 7:46 PM
Few of us are perfect. We all have our shortcomings. I look at it this way, is it best for a person to do 10,000 good things and 10 bad things or do 10 good things and no bad things. He was a man of great energy. He voted against the Voting Rights Act because he believed all states should operate under identical rules. In America, we should not treat the citizens of some states differently
than those in other states. Compare Helms record with the record of Senator Edwards and Senator Dole. I can honestly say that helms did more to improve life in NC than Liz Dole. Helms toned down a lot in the last two terms he served. He is flawed but so are the rest of us.
Posted on July 10, 2008 12:31 PM