Edgar Killen, the next to last chapter and us
- Posted by Sigmund, Carl and Alfred on June 23rd, 2005 filed in Crime, General, Guest Posts
Edgar Killen was sentenced today to 60 years in prison, for the manslaughter convictions of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. With the sentencing of Killen, a shameful chapter of American history has been addressed. Philadelphia, Mississippi can finally shed a shameful past and move forward.
It would be nice to say the matter is closed. It would be nice to pat ourselves on the back and say we finally did get it right. It would be nice to look in the mirror and see ourselves as pure, absolved from past injustices.
It would be nice to be able to say all those things, but it wouldn’t be true.
America is the place where anything is possible. It is the place where anyone, with enough heart, effort and determination can add a panel to the quilt that is the American dream. Regardless of race, religion, color or creed, everything is possible.
For that reason, every American can take pride in a justice system that did what it was supposed to do. We share with the families of the victims, and the communities where the events took place, a sense of finality, that justice has indeed been served.
The struggle for justice in this case took many years. The struggle for justice cannot obscure the fact that scores and scores of others were murdered along with Cheney, Goodman and Schwerner. We cannot forget that.
This country was built on principles that are timeless. We may not always get it right, but we always do our best to self correct. We look to better ourselves and our communities. That is what makes America what it is.
That said, there are a few matters that we must address- and correct, if we are to call ourselves Americans. These may be matters that are painful or may make us uncomfortable. That has never stopped or scared us before- and that should not stop us now.
This is not about politics. This is about what is right.
In the State that just rightfully convicted Edgar Killen, Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott did not co-sponsor the bill that apologized for failing to enact an anti-lynching law. That is wrong. They need to answer to that. To be clear, there were Democrats who failed to sign onto the bill as well. They too, need to answer to their constituents and the country.
Why is it important to deal with that, now?
Because it took Mississippi decades to do what it should have done. By reason of active negelect, the next to last chapter of the Cheney, Goodman and Schwerner murders was just written today. In 1999, a state achivist told journalists that “the main instigator” of the Philadelphia killings had walked free. According to others familiar with the case, there are at least seven others that were involved with the murders were still alive and had never seen the inside of a courtroom. Imagine- the state of Mississippi, by reason of neglect, allowed 40 years to pass to prosecute crimes that are antithetical to everything being an American stands for- and the story has still not been fully told.
That is very, very, wrong. As a nation, we have no reason to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done.
These Senators from Mississippi should have been at the front of the line to sponsor the apology for failing to pass an anti lynching apology bill, if for the sake of appearance and symbolism. They owe that to their state and to the nation. That they did not is shameful. Their actions in this matter demand clarification.
All Americans deserve justice.
All Americans are grateful for the justice the state of Mississippi meted out today.
All Americans are also waiting for the last chapter to be written. There are no Americans that deserve less than a full measure of the American dream and the American promise.
nat says:
Are you telling me that because a portion of the Senate did not vote in favor of this legislation, it is an empty apology?
And they should vote a certain way for the sake of appearance? Don’t we often jump down their throats for such things?
I’m just full of questions!
Honestly, I’m entirely sick of empty apologies, empty promises, and other such acts committed for the sake of appearance. Perhaps these guys are bigots. Perhaps they chose not to vote to avoid offending any remaining bigots in their state. I have no idea. But you can’t fool most folks by doing something for the sake of appearance. Sooner or later, the mask comes off.
Maybe then the voters will wake up.
Sigmund, Carl and Alfred says:
The apology itself is not empty, Nat. The reluctance of Lott and Cochran to support the bill does need to be explained to the citizens of MS.
As for your last remarks, you’re right. Sooner or later the voters will have the last word.
Nate says:
“This country was built on principles that are timeless. We may not always get it right, but we always do our best to self correct. We look to better ourselves and our communities. That is what makes America what it is.”
This is a good statement.
But why is it that to better ourselves we (America) seams to allways be “re-active” insted of “Pro-active”. America builds a Submarine and something goes wrong and sailors die, so the next time we build one me learn from our mistakes, and the next sub is biger and better.
Yes I think if a person kills someone, nomatter how long if they finnaly find them there should be justice. That goes right back to your statment.
This is my confusion, my gripe, my frustration. This man gets 60 years for a crime that took place what 20, 30 years ago?
And a child molester the sick scum that they are, get a life sentance, but waite!! They get out after 10 for good behaviore. There are no kids in prison duh hello!! of course they are good.
It would be nice to see America be pro-active for once, then this good saying I feel would be more relative,
“We may not always get it right, but we always do our best to self correct. We look to better ourselves and our communities. That is what makes America what it is.”
Again I know this case maybe brings closer to some family, and with that I am happy, but kids are this countries future, if you think they are better when they get out? Just remember the two recent cases in Florida….
Nate
Eric says:
I agree with very little of what you’ve posted on this blog, but thank you for your compelling, well-written entry regarding the conviction of Edgar Ray Killen. I couldn’t agree more, and it reassures me that the most basic issues regarding what makes America great transcend partisan politics. Kudos.