We can all imagine that the Freepers (well, the god-fearing conservative Freeper types), 50 years ago would have been against the civil rights movement. Yet, now that the civil rights movement won, it's got to the stage where Freepers wouldn't dare attack the icons of that era.
No doubt, there are still racist freepers, but they'll only attack modern civil rights activists (saying that they've strayed from the original goals - MLK would be turning in his grave, etc.)
Conservatives were AGAINST civil rights?? Democrats were the wedge against civil rights for many years. Republicans freed the slaves, Remember?
"Democrats were the wedge against civil rights for many years."
The racist Left supports Affirmative Action.
I actually give more credit than that to thoughtful conservatives.
When issues like the civil rights and voter rights legislation are settled through the legislative process, conservatives see legitimacy as adhering in the law. When legislative fiat is used and a decree is foisted upon us, then it lacks that mark of legitimacy.
And if there were a percentage of that ages conservatives (separate from stealth bigots) that adhered to states rights and lost, but lost in a legitimate process, conservatives would have looked across the aisle and in retrospect look back in fellowship with their adversaries if both are fairly portrayed.
Again, such can happen as it did in the Gettysburg reunion, when all respect was shown between those that held great grudges against each other, Longstreet included. It comes about through legitimacy and respect for the shared process, not from fear of treading on another's name.
Would many like to meet Dr. King, Rosa Parks and others? Sure and meet them with deference to their contribution. Does that general respect make a student of history any less aware of King's academic foibles, certainly not. Many people that deserve respect are less than perfect and are often down right human.
It is in their humanity that greatness can be found. It is in ignoring the truth that lack of respect for the true accomplishment can come about.
"We can all imagine that the Freepers (well, the god-fearing conservative Freeper types), 50 years ago would have been against the civil rights movement. Yet, now that the civil rights movement won, it's got to the stage where Freepers wouldn't dare attack the icons of that era."
Thats's a bit of a stretch - Southern Dems were the ones most vocal in their opposition to the Civil Rights movement.