Kennedy: Profile Of Courage

[Suff]

On Abu Ghraib: One sergeant's courage a model for US leaders

It took courage for Darby to stand up for justice. He must have known that it would make him a pariah with his colleagues, but he followed his conscience. Later, some of his neighbors back home in Maryland made it clear that they disapproved of Darby's actions. After hearing that he had been praised in Washington, one local veteran told the press, "They can call him what they want. I call him a rat." For his courage, Darby has received death threats, and the Army has had to provide him with special protection
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0516/p09s02-coop.html


Former Texas lawmaker among JFK award winners

5/16/2005 3:57 PM
By: Associated Press
http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=137352
BOSTON -- A former Texas lieutenant governor has been recognized today in Boston with a John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award.

Former state Sen. Bill Ratliff of Mount Pleasant was honored for being the only Republican lawmaker who publicly objected to the GOP's 2003 redistricting plan.
Critics called the plan divisive and overly partisan.

Ratliff said he didn't think that he was taking a risk when he opposed the plan because his Democratic constituents were behind him -- and he didn't aspire to higher office

[lsbets]

Darby deserved it. I'm laughing about Ratliff - because most of you guys on the left would hate him. You want a Baptist conservative? Try Ratliff. Yeah, he's a real hero to you guys. Want to know why Texas doesn't have slots at the tracks? Ratliff is the reason. Even though if he were to drive only a little while east to Shreveport he would see mostly Texas plates in the parking lots. But, the kid from the prison stood up when he saw wrong being done and deserves recognition.

[Secretariat]

Darby deserved it. I'm laughing about Ratliff - because most of you guys on the left would hate him. You want a Baptist conservative? Try Ratliff. Yeah, he's a real hero to you guys. Want to know why Texas doesn't have slots at the tracks? Ratliff is the reason. Even though if he were to drive only a little while east to Shreveport he would see mostly Texas plates in the parking lots. But, the kid from the prison stood up when he saw wrong being done and deserves recognition.

I think the award ws given for this:

"Former state Sen. Bill Ratliff of Mount Pleasant was honored for being the only Republican lawmaker who publicly objected to the GOP's 2003 redistricting plan."

Nothing to do with his other decisions, but due to his courage in standing against his own party on a partisan issue. I encourage you to read Profiles in Courage. I read it as a young man, and the stories were remarkable. They inspired me, and in fact I wish the book was required reading in schools today.

[Tom]

I think "rat" sums it up pretty well. I resent my tax dollars protecting this traitor's ass.

[lsbets]

I think the award ws given for this:

"Former state Sen. Bill Ratliff of Mount Pleasant was honored for being the only Republican lawmaker who publicly objected to the GOP's 2003 redistricting plan."

Nothing to do with his other decisions, but due to his courage in standing against his own party on a partisan issue. I encourage you to read Profiles in Courage. I read it as a young man, and the stories were remarkable. They inspired me, and in fact I wish the book was required reading in schools today.


So it was a partisan political award? Because Texas law says the legislature must redistrict, and that hadn't happened, the ocurts did it two years previously, so the legislature decided to follow the law and do the redistricting as the ELECTED representatives of the people. He got an award for not following the letter or intent of the law? Wow.

[Tom]

You got a strange idea of what courage is.

I always thought was kind of ironic the JFK wrote a book about courage when he himself was severley lacking in it - he was too much of a coward to follow through on the Bay of Pigs and let many die as a result. Now there is a president whose books are must read. Pass.

[Secretariat]

So it was a partisan political award? Because Texas law says the legislature must redistrict, and that hadn't happened, the ocurts did it two years previously, so the legislature decided to follow the law and do the redistricting as the ELECTED representatives of the people. He got an award for not following the letter or intent of the law? Wow.

Have you studied this redistricting Isbests? It involves redistricting areas along partisan lines, so blatantly, that some streets go hundreds of miles into other fo9rmer districts. Surely, you don't endorse such blatant gerrymandering. I realize you are a very partisan Texan, but please look at the actual redistricting, (before and after) and then tell me that it is in the best interests of the "electorate". That's almost laughable. It's in their parties best interest and you know it. That's why Raff got the award...it takes courage to stand up to blatant partisanship and risk rebuttal from one's own party to do what is "right" for the electorate. Tom may call him a traitor. That's what the British crown said about the colonies breaking away from England. If doing the right and conscionable thing is traitorous, and risks rebuttal from your own party, well, then we need more traitors.

[Secretariat]

You got a strange idea of what courage is.

I always thought was kind of ironic the JFK wrote a book about courage when he himself was severley lacking in it - he was too much of a coward to follow through on the Bay of Pigs and let many die as a result. Now there is a president whose books are must read. Pass.

btw.. Profiles in Courage is not about Kennedy's adventures as much as former statesmen who made courageous choices. It is not about partisanship, and republicans and democrats alike are cited as courageous. Take a look before you reject it just because you don't like his party or politics. You're missing out on a good read.

[lsbets]

Yes Sec, reditricting is partisan - it is everywhere in case you didn't know that. One of the reasons incumbents get reelected over and over again is they tend to get safe districts where as long as they win the primary they win reelection. I think there were some mistakes made with the redistricing here, taking Martin Frost out was a prime example. Although I don't agree with him on many issues, he was from the part of the Democratic Party that I think actually has credibility. Contrast him with Nancy Pelosi. I think you could make a good argument that one of the reasons the political rhetoric in DC has gotten so much more ideological and partisan over the last 25 years is the safe seats where incumbents are no longer beholden to the voters, but just need to keep the base happy and win the priimary.

But none of that changes the fact that the law requires the legislature to redistrict and the previous legislature had failed to do so, so the issue had to be taken up. And the democrats ran away because the voting patterns in Texas were not favorable for them when a plan that would pass muster in the courts was drawn up. Yes, any redistricting plan has to be one that will stand up in court - they are routinely challenged and often ordered redone. I am not a fan of his, if that weren't obvious to all. But, it has nothing to do with the redistricting, its because of the ridiculous stance he took on slots in Texas (which a majority of our sorry ass legislators took), and he was the major roadblock two years ago to getting them here. I can drive an hour north to Oklahoma, or two hours east to Shreveport and see casino parking lots filled with Texas license plates, but the legislature would rather talk about increasing taxes than trying to keep some of that money in state and using that tax revenue to expand education funding. Its ridiculous. That's why I'm no fan of his.

[JustRalph]

In case somebody in this thread doesn't know.........the guy who pushed thru this re-districting was Tom Delay..........and that is why they are after him...or at least one of the reasons. I wish Ohio had some Pols like Tom Delay........