Posted on 10/16/2009 6:23:56 AM PDT by Ebenezer
A 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 black people and white people, 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
Is this 2009?
Pelican State ping
He has a point about bi-racial children having it harder in society- but it’s getting better. Also he is ASSUMING that a lack of a marriage license means no kids...uh, how many have kids first and never bother wanting to get married?
His denial of a license based on his OPINION is illegal- and stupid. If he’s worried about the difficulties bi-racial children face let him work to help the ones who are here. Kids have no say in who their parents are, and I doubt that this incident will cut the birthrate.
What? I amazed this is still happening in the United States in 2009. Hey LA give them the dam license. It sounds like the 1940s all over again “hey your irish you can’t marry that italian”.
What a moron! Good friends of mine, an interracial couple, have been married over 20 years.
Okay, I’m not saying I hold his opinion. I have VIPs in circle of influence who happen to be bi-racial and have always called me Nana, and I love them, these grandchildren, dearly.
My question/comment would be that does he not have the right to personal opinion/conviction - just like ‘pro-life’ doctors who refuse to do abortions - to refer them to another JOP to marry them?
I wonder if he’s only against black/white marriages. What about white/asian? Etc?
I told her this joke....
“A kid goes to his dad, he says “Dad. Can I have $5 for a Guinea pig?” Dad says “Here is $20, take out a nice Irish girl.”
Suddenly she was half Irish. ;)
But I like your anecdote. Sort of a “all politics is local”, or as I point out - usually the most vitriol is not reserved for those who a group disagrees with diametrically; but for those who disagree by the smallest extent.
‘then we have to fight our TRUE enemies!’
‘the Romans?’
‘No, the Peoples Front of Judea!’
‘I thought WE were the Peoples Front of Judea!’
‘No! Were the Judean Peoples Front!’
‘Splitters!’
“Splitters!”
Now, THAT’s racist! Someone should send this to Jesse, Al, and Skip as an example of what real racism looks like.
Can you explain this to me? Why did he become a Republican???
http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov/cgibin?rqstyp=comh1&rqsdta=26510100
....”I didn’t tell this couple they couldn’t get married. I just told them I wouldn’t do it.”
....now we’re getting down to it....after all the sturm und drang from the ACLU and others, here is the real issue:
Does this JP have the RIGHT to refuse to marry them?
...here’s who can marry people in Louisana
“Any ordained or licensed clergymen who have registered with the clerk of the district court of the parish or with the health department if in New Orleans, and justices of the peace.”
much depends on the language of the law...big difference between whether a JP “may marry” two people of “shall marry” two people.
“Someone should send this to Jesse, Al, and Skip”
Don’t do it! You don’t know what the result would be!
I expect these two people will be married shortly.
good for the judge for not letting PC’ism trump his belief
I have no doubt this was setup the same as what happened in TX a few years ago
” The Sodom 6 “
He seems to be a long-time democrat who recently changed to republican.
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