Just because someone dies, they don't achieve sainthood. It's obvious this man just got old. He did not evolve. The beliefs and opinions fostered and formed in his youth he carried into old age and was dogmatic to the extreme in his perverseness. That is not wisdom, it is ignorance. I always think of the story of "Scrooge" when these posturing "good ol' boys" leave the planet. If Marley came to call, dragging his chains and sorrows, they didn't answer and never received their happy Christmas morning. No, to those good ol boys, wisdom was an undigested dinner. The sadness is they died not realizing they never lived.

Also never forget that the vast majority of overt racists have been and still are Democrats.

The media's tributes to Jesse Helms were "endless and laudatory"? According to Brent Bozell's column of Wednesday, July 9, the news media were almost universally disparaging, derogatory, and frequently downright nasty in their coverage of Helms' death.
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And as for that infamous campaign commercial, it sounds to me as if Helms was simply expressing his opposition to quota-based affirmative action; that is, he believed people should be hired based on merit and qualifications, rather than skin color. How is that a display of "overt racism," or designed to appeal to "bigots"?
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I guess it all depends on your perspective.

Sen. Helms's death serves as an occasion for everyone to air his or her strong feelings about him, whether in tribute or criticism. Granted, it is only one of several issues raised, but I submit that the issue of so-called Affirmative Action is not a good yardstick to use for assessing the presence or absence of racism in a person. Honest, caring people can disagree on the merits of a policy requiring something other than merit-based access to schools, jobs, and promotions. ¶ I wonder whose death--it would have to be the death of someone widely held in high esteem--would merely serve as an occasion to remind us that no matter how good a man (or woman) is, his/her life is still filled with faults. Looking back at another controversial southern white politician, let's consider Pres. Johnson. I never was a fan of his, and I well recall in the history of his political career that he 'climbed the ladder' by playing on the racist attitudes of his constituents. But I also remember that he not only signed the landmark 1965 Civil Rights Act into law, but that he twisted arms to get it passed. He was quoted as saying "...now (that I'm President) I don't owe anybody." His meaning was that he was now free to be President of the whole people. So, what was he at his core? Racist or not? I confess I don't know. ¶ Reading Mr. Martin's column is disturbing, as it probably should be. I don't doubt he has his facts together about Senator Helms. Wishes won't change history, or the way a man lived his life. But reputable people have assessed Helms and come up with a more charitable result. Who's got it right? ¶ Having devoted a column to Sen. Helms, I wouldn't be surprised if he will also devote columns to other public figures, whose deaths will probably occur during his career. I wonder what he will have to say about Sen. Byrd, the former Klansman--was his 'conversion' real? I don't wish a premature death on anyone, but there is at least one blatant racist out there, who isn't white: how will Mr. Martin write about the elder Jesse Jackson? Why wait for his death? He's an active public figure. Mr. Martin could help us gauge his understanding of what is and isn't racist by running Mr. Jackson through the same mill he used on Sen. Helms.

More of these kind of people need to die everyday! And it goes to show you that the Congress and the Senate will have them kind of people in a seat! Racism is here and here to stay! But most White Racist only mess with those who they think they can get away with it with! I would love for a White Racist to get in my face! That will be the last face he sees! They always stay within thier small racist town's! If you are about your cause bring it to the attention to the people you want it to affect! Us Black's, come to our hoods and see what happens to your ass!

OK. Who can spot the racist rant among those who have posted? Does anyone need a clue?