"I'm not a racist, I just don't believe in mixing the races..."

[la_chupa]

I had to read this story several times to figure out that no, I'm not missing something. I thought it was one of those "this date in history" stories from 100 years ago but apparently not:

************************************************************

Interracial couple denied marriage license in La.
By MARY FOSTER
Associated Press Writer
Posted: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009
NEW ORLEANS A white Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have.

Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.

"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."

Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said.

Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.

"There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."

If he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.

"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.

Bardwell estimates that he has refused to marry about four couples during his career, all in the past 2 1/2 years.


Information from: The Daily Star, http://www.hammondstar.com

*****************************************************

Yea...cause say for example there is no way the child of a mixed race couple could...oh I dunno end up POTUS or anything.

[The_Commonist]

1. You're not supposed to reprint entire articles...

Only four paragraphs or so.
You're breaking the rules here, and potentially denying "The Hammond Star" revenue.

Other than that... whatever.
Another day, another racist cracker.
I hope Ms. Humphrey and Mr. McKay are very happy together...

[la_chupa]

4. oops am I in trouble?

[CJCRANE]

12. You can edit it to reduce it to four paragraphs nt

[backscatter712]

38. Yep. Just reproduce the highlights.

That helps prevent copyright problems.

[annabanana]

2. "They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom."

Jeez. . How White of you.

I'm not a racist... I just think that negroes are dirty, less than human creatures, . . . but I don't make them poop on the floor.

[NatBurner]

7. right? and "piles and piles of Black friends"

= lester and shirley piles, that nice couple he let use his phone (and bathroom) after their buick century threw a rod in front of his house in 1988

what a clueless dickhead

[SemiCharmedQuark]

9. Well, he didn't chase them away with a torch and rake. Therefore, he must be the most inclusive

person since Jesus.

[JackintheGreen]

3. I don't see how the two must necessarily relate

In other words, I believe that such a statement could conceivably be true in some context. Not necessarily this one; I think this judge likely is a racist. But can't we imagine a fellow who really does have no ill-will or hatred towards blacks, asians, etc. but honestly feel that mixed race couples just shouldn't be? And I mean any race. He also probably believes that mules are an abomination, as are ligers and that zebra/horse mix. We might disagree, but is it by definition racist?

To set up a ridiculous parallel: I don't hate cats, but I really don't want them in my house.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

5. You don't see how refusing to marry two people with different skin color makes someone a racist?

Also, tigers and lions are different species. Humans, black or white, are the same species.

[JackintheGreen]

14. That's not what I said AT ALL

In fact, I said the guy is probably a racist. Go ahead and look back at my original response.

That being said (again, that this JP is likely a racist), I am simply saying that *I* can imagine a world where refusing to marry an interracial couple has nothing to do with their being interracial. Is this that world. No. But is it conceivable. To me it is, but then I read a lot of speculative fiction.

That's all I said.

[Iggo]

32. Yes. I can conceive of the racist world you're describing.

(Huh?)

[annabanana]

6. This man is a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.. part of his job is to

marry people who WANT TO GET MARRIED. Where the hell does he get off refusing them?

[la_chupa]

8. this would be more like saying that no one can have cats

I suppose that the argument could be made that it isn't necessarily racist to be against mixed race marriages. I suppose bit of a stretch though, but it isn't his right to say who can marry whom. He isn't the king who gets to arrange marriages for his serfs here.

[ecstatic]

13. Just like the pharmacist who won't dispense Plan B or birth control

It's not his place to make that decision for other people.

[JackintheGreen]

16. Again

as I said my a response above, that's not what I said, not what I suggested. You all are inferring from my speculative response (that such a world is possible) that I am sticking up for this guy in this instance. I am not.

Loosen the bonds a little bit, huh?

[IsItJustMe]

20. From the judges statement about black folk using his bathroom, I would say he does have serious

issues with race. With that being set aside however, I think you make a valid point.

A person who believes that races should not mix, in and of itself, does not make that person a racist. Probably a good indicator that they have inclinations in that direction though.

Take me for example. I am not a proponent of stem cell research because of my beliefs in leaving mother nature alone and letting her do her job. It has nothing to do with pro-life issues. And yet, I am sure there are people who would be more than happy to call me a Republican or pro-lifer on that one issue alone.

It seems we have a tendancy to take small amounts of information about a person and create general wide sweeping labels for that person.

Real life is just not like that, and in reality there are shades of gray to everything.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

22. OK. What non racist reason could there be for denying mixed race couples the right to get married?

[IsItJustMe]

28. My point was of a logical nature and not bases upon the merits of such attitudes.

.

[get the red out]

30. Especially considering his excuse

He said he felt their children would have difficulties? Yea, I know being President of the United States is rough, but I think President Obama is holding up pretty good for a bi-racial guy :sarcasm: .

Where has this idiot been?????

[Orsino]

41. His anti-miscegenation belief is racist, in and of itself.

That he discriminated on his belief makes him really racist. That he's not backing down, even now, makes him really, really racist. That he hides behind a "some of my best friends" dodge makes him a hypocrite.

[rucky]

10. I'm not a racist. I have lots of black friends, but...

*insert racist comment here*

[SemiCharmedQuark]

11. It's like he opened up the racists' playbook

"I have lots of black friends" *check*
"I have had black people in my home" *check*
I let them use my bathroom *bonus!*

[NatBurner]

15. lol i have lots of Black friends myself

hell, my entire family is Black- and i make them all pee outside, fuck that

here's to u, kieth bardwell. you're a true progressive

[SemiCharmedQuark]

18. You're smart. I heard you can get "black" from toilet seats.

[NatBurner]

26. that's how *i* got it

^^no lie

[Happyhippychick]

17. "They use my bathroom".

What an asshole this guy is.

[EmilyAnne]

33. That line jumped out at me in a huge way. Disgusting. He just doesn't get it, never will, needs

to "retire" immediately.

[Dawgs]

19. My wife's grandfather once said, "I'm not a racist, but there are too many ni**ers on tv".

People like this need to just die off already.

[NatBurner]

21. look, i'm not a sexist

i just don't believe that my wife should wear shoes while she's at home carrying my babies

and she should shut up more, and bring me sandwiches

[SemiCharmedQuark]

23. Well...that *sounds* sexist, but you have a woman around you so I suppose that means it's not.

[AspenRose]

39. He's kidding

[NatBurner]

42. ...or am i?!?

dunh dunt DUUUNNNNHH!

[AspenRose]

43. Don't make me come down there

:spank:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

29. You don't let your wife wear shoes?!?

Gees man, get with the program and get her some of these:

[Ganja Ninja]

24. Did somebody open a time portal to the 1950's? n/t

[LeftishBrit]

25. Unfuckingbelievable

As I said in another thread, is he scared that the kids might end up as Democratic Presidents, oh the horror?

Anyway, I thought this sort of crap was against the law these days.

[Generic Other]

27. Most of black America is already INTERRACIAL you dimwitted cracker!

And related to the best families in America due to centuries of a forced race mixing policy. Hell, I bet this guy has some black relatives. And smarter than him if they are lucky!

[gorfle]

31. Stupid

Where and how does this guy get the authority to decide who can and cannot be married based on his moral judgment of the people getting married? Can he actually do this? I'm astounded.

What if two nerds decide to get married? Is he going to refuse because they will have nerd children that might not fit in?

Oh, and newsflash, judge: 50% of marriages don't last very long!

[Nikia]

34. The man is obviously racist

It does not mean that he hates black people, but he does not believe in equality. To make matters worse, his beliefs are not just opinions that he keeps to himself or shares with like minded friends. His beliefs are strong enough that he fails to deny a public service that he is employed to do.

[TalkingDog]

35. Like this guy:

from: http://malignpower.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/stereotypical-artists/

[Romulox]

36. Disgusting. k/r nt

[wiggs]

37. Illegal and impeachable. nt

[Lucy Goosey]

40. I think it's hilarious that he's all "won't somebody think of the children?!"

Earth to McRacist: It is possible for unmarried couples to have children. Even if you could prevent them from ever getting legally married, do you really think you're necessarily preventing them from having children?

Also, seriously, how tone-deaf do you have to be to think that saying that you let Black people use your bathroom is proof that you aren't racist?