In the year 2007, a backward-thinking man in a state that likes to think of itself as forward-thinking managed to piss off blacks and Jews during the annual legislative session. And no, he’s not from the sticks. He’s from Glen Allen, a very wealthy suburb west of Richmond filled with expensive developments and malls and shops and companies and, well, Jews and blacks.
“The present commonwealth has nothing to do with slavery,†said Del. Frank D. Hargrove, R-Glen Allen, whose ancestors were French Huguenots who came to America in search of religious freedom.
How far do these calls for apologies go, wondered Hargrove, a member of the House Rules Committee that could take up McEachin’s resolution as early as Wednesday.
“Are we going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?†Hargrove wondered. “Nobody living today had anything to do with it. It would be far more appropriate in my view to apologize to the Upper Mattaponi and the Pamunkey†Indians for the loss of their lands in eastern Virginia, he said.
A similar request for an apology to Virginia Indians is planned, McEachin said.
Let us not get sidetracked about whether or not Virginia should apologize for having been a slave state. Let us look at the incredible offensiveness of Hargrove’s remarks, and the ones he came out with after he was told people were offended.
Del. David L. Englin, D-Alexandria, who is Jewish, took Del. Frank D. Hargrove Sr., R-Hanover, to task for “inflammatory” comments Hargrove made to the Charlottesville Daily Progress.
Hargrove was quoted as saying that asking the state to apologize for slavery would be akin to asking Jews to apologize for killing Christ.
Hargrove told Englin, D-Alexandria, who’s also his seatmate, that “your skin was a little too thin.”
This would be a good time to point out that pretty much every one of my religious school students will be called a Christ-killer by his or her publis school classmates by the time they reach Bar or Bat Mitzvah age. Central and southern Virginia have a long, long way to go before they equal northern Virginia’s tolerance levels.
I suppose I should be grateful that while Hargrove is definitely offensive, at least he’s not blaming the Jews for the war in Iraq—like a certain northern Virginia politician, Democrat James Moran. Oh. Wait. He’s from the progressive part of the state.
New Jersey is looking better and better all the time.
Between this moron and Virgil Goode we might as well change the state motto from “Virginia is for lovers” to “Virginia is for white protestant men.”
They should both go to Maryland and get crabs…
Hargrove told Englin, D-Alexandria, who’s also his seatmate, that “your skin was a little too thin.â€
Englin should’ve replied, “Your head’s a little too thick.”
Yeah it might be time (depending upon your job situation) to start packing.
Angie – Englin fumbled and whined. I think thant Englin should have told Hargrove that if he weren’t 79 and ready to meet God anyway, they should meet after the day’s session outside the State House. AFAIR, there’s still a fightin’ words statute in Virginia, whereby Englin could have pummelled Hargrove and been excused.
chsw
Meryl,
Don’t go back to NJ. Try FL (stay out of the granny areas and there’s life) or NC, or TX. Cheaper living, more rapidly growing economies, religious schools that need teachers.
chsw, in NY
NJ? I prefer being a citizen to being a subject.
Heck, I won’t even move to MD. My gun collection would make me a multiple felon in MD, I’m pretty sure it would merit the death penalty in NJ.