Tom Brown: ‘Long-held’ oppression not equality

I, like many of your subscribers, try to keep an open mind and really do appreciate your attempts to offer many viewpoints and perspectives.

I, in a spirit of fairness, decided to read Gov. Pat McCrory’s April 17 letter “Selective outrage from PC elite.” I found myself totally hung up on the third sentence and could get no further.

McCrory said, “We have long-held traditions of ensuring equality for all of our citizens and our visitors.” Hmm, long-held?

I’ve lived in North Carolina 52 years. That’s a pretty long time. I remember separate and unequal schools, legal oppression of African-Americans, the struggles of desegregation, affirmative action, forced busing, protests, riots and fights in Fayetteville, where I was raised.

All of the efforts to change were righteous and worthwhile to correct an evil and corrupt culture and system. An attempt to ensure equality. These efforts lasted what, 1968 to 1980? Half-hearted and short-lived.

More recently a majority of our voters chose to deny people in love the right to marry. Were we trying to “ensure equality”?

The tradition I’ve observed by the House Bill 2 promoters is one of cynical manipulation and political opportunism. Now that’s a “long-held tradition”!

This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 5:09 PM with the headline "Tom Brown: ‘Long-held’ oppression not equality."