GOP activist Rusty DePass called a press conference to apologize for some racist remarks he made. Hmm, where did he go to hold this press conference?
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Ahh. He went to visit Dr. Lonnie Randolph, President of the South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP. The look on Dr. Lonnie Randolph’s face is priceless. He would much rather be somewhere helping people, and rightly so.
OK, so why is Rusty DePass speaking over at the South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP? Hmm, I’m suddenly recalling a group of Republicans at a press conference. What was that?
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Oh, yeah, it was Rep. Moss switching parties to join the Republicans. Is Rusty DePass switching parties? I don’t think so. The people around Rep. Moss seem happy to have him with them. Not so for the people around Rusty DePass.
I can’t figure out what’s going on. It’s time to consult the man who understands — the Rev. Joe Darby. Thankfully, he has written an op-ed in The State, “The silence on the right.” In that op-ed, he described how many people from the right-wing perspective ordinarily lecture (or insult or ridicule or spew hate at) leaders in the African American community.
As I wrote here, I would love for Rev. Darby and everyone who gets hate mail to publish it. The trouble is that it’s often anonymous. But still, it would be worthwhile for people to know what kind of horrific junk mail people such as Rev. Darby get.
Anyway, Rev. Darby made an excellent appeal,
“The election of President Obama allows us a unique opportunity to deal openly and frankly with issues of division that have long kept America from becoming what it should be. I encourage my conservative friends to take the leap of political and ideological faith, embrace that opportunity, disavow those who dwell on the fringes of society and lurk in the shadows of bigotry and hate, and lead their followers to the table of mutual respect, dialogue and understanding.”
OK, so that’s what’s happening. Rusty DePass is switching over from the table of bigotry and hate to the table of mutual respect, dialogue and understanding. Excellent.
Now, who of our conservative friends will follow Rusty DePass? Who will join Rusty DePass at the table of mutual respect, dialogue and understanding?
Rusty DePass was welcomed at the State Conference of the NAACP. But now we can see the main reason Dr. Randolph looks unimpressed. He’s asking Rusty DePass, Why didn’t you come here before you had to? Why didn’t you bring followers? Are you going to come back on your own? Are you going to bring followers then?
Rev. Darby and Dr. Randolph are saying, The table of mutual respect, dialogue and understanding is set. We can be ready with food for nourishing the body, mind and spirit whenever you want. You can come because you’re forced to or because you want to. You can come alone or with followers. But please come, for our sake and for yours.
Sooner, rather than later. And the more the merrier.
