George,

Why is anyone surprised that the people of Mississippi would think it's OK to glorify a past that is rife with prejudice and misplaced values?

This is the same place where the school officials teach the students that it is OK to break the law if they don't like it by allowing state sanctioned prayer over the state owned school PA system. Further it is OK to vilify, harass, ostracize and demonize those who dare to ask for their constitutional right of freedom from state sanctioned religion.

No doubt there are some few persons in that state who don't believe as the majority do, but I'd be willing to bet they would be ridden out town on a rail if they were known. I am sorry that the voters voted as they did. I met some very pleasant people when I visited in Natchez so I know that there are good people everywhere but I hope they will soon find the courage to speak up when injustices are being done and reverse some of the obvious ills demonstrated in this vote.

Martha Wood (electronic mail, April 30, 2001)