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This one comes under the heading of "give the Devil his due": My local paper reports that former North Carolina US Senator Jesse Helms has died at 86, in a Raleigh hospice where he had lived in declining health the last few years following his decision not to seek a sixth term and a series of minor strokes causing vascular dementia. Had he retained his senses, he would no doubt find it fitting to die on Independence Day, July 4th, for his patriotism was so fervent it led him to be a thorn in the side to no less than his late fellow Republican Ronald Reagan, who described him in just those words.
He was a bigot and racist and homophobe in the eyes of many, including Your Humble Correspondent on numerous occasions. He stood in the way of progress so many times his Senate colleagues bestowed on him the nickname "Senator No." The New York Times reports on his life and career here. But in his last term, he began to show signs of mellowing, among them advocating greater federal funding for AIDS relief in Africa; indeed, his vote may have been one of many that placed the resources in the hands of my Songbird and her fellow CDC workers in Nairobi to do what they now do.
So I cannot bring myself to condemn him unequivocally as he goes to his final reward, whatever that may be. But I will note that his passing may be indicative of his reactionary generation dying off, leaving younger, hopefully more reasonable minds in charge of policy. And politically speaking, his side is weaker for the loss...and ours is stronger. May it not take as long to undo the damage he did as it did for him to leave Congress.
He was a bigot and racist and homophobe in the eyes of many, including Your Humble Correspondent on numerous occasions. He stood in the way of progress so many times his Senate colleagues bestowed on him the nickname "Senator No." The New York Times reports on his life and career here. But in his last term, he began to show signs of mellowing, among them advocating greater federal funding for AIDS relief in Africa; indeed, his vote may have been one of many that placed the resources in the hands of my Songbird and her fellow CDC workers in Nairobi to do what they now do.
So I cannot bring myself to condemn him unequivocally as he goes to his final reward, whatever that may be. But I will note that his passing may be indicative of his reactionary generation dying off, leaving younger, hopefully more reasonable minds in charge of policy. And politically speaking, his side is weaker for the loss...and ours is stronger. May it not take as long to undo the damage he did as it did for him to leave Congress.
