THIS IS the Old Dominion: where the specters of past prejudices continue to haunt the politics of the present. Two weeks ago, in a spirit of patriotism and reverence, Delegate Robert McDonnell (R-Virginia Beach) moved to recite a pledge of allegiance to both the American flag and the Commonwealth's flag. This would occur after each day's call to order. The chamber unanimously agreed. The following day, a Richmond Times-Dispatch article unearthed the origins of the pledge, discovering racial undercurrents that offended some. Instead of wasting time dancing around highly charged issues, the General Assembly needs to concentrate its precious time on the legislation that actually might better the citizens of Virginia.
The General Assembly goes through the budget process every two years, working on amendments during a long session (90 days long in even years) and then approving the budget the following short session (60 days long in odd years). Virginia depends on part-time legislators to go through hundreds of bills in a very short period of time.
Delegate McDonnell obviously had no intention of creating racial divisions among the members of the chamber with his symbol of patriotism, but the Times-Dispatch article published the following day put the Virginian pledge in a new light. The pledge reads:
"I salute the flag of Virginia, with reverence and patriotic devotion to the 'Mother of States and Statesmen' which it represents - the 'Old Dominion' where liberty and independence were born."
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The words themselves are free of prejudice, yet because the author was also an active member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and the fact that the legislature first adopted the lines just months before the state government-sponsored resistance to school integration, the words become inappropriate to many. In protest, the black caucus will rise as their peers say the pledge, yet they will remain silent throughout the pledge. As a result, delegates have met to write a new pledge.
Del. Winsome Sears (R-Norfolk), the only Republican black woman in the Assembly, agrees that the caucus is making a lot out of a little. The Free Lance-Starr quoted her as saying, "I'd like us to get off this and get on to substantive issues. We have budget problems and we're here fighting over words" ("Lee, Jackson Receive Quiet Nod," Free Lance-Starr, Jan. 19). She does not recite the pledge, in deference to those in her majority black district who might find it offensive.
Instead, the delegates should be meeting to decide things such as how to belay the imminent budget cuts to state higher education. Interstates need improvements, like the proposed private-public partnership that would double the capacity of Interstate 81. Schools demand new construction as populations rise in key areas of the state. The economy must be developed to help stem the current recession that continues to whittle away at state revenues. This year, our 100 delegates have more problems to tackle than could be solved by an equal assembly of philosopher kings.
Time spent discussing symbolic pledges, or even anachronistic holidays, such as Lee-Jackson day last Friday, are burdens on our overworked statesmen. Editorials in state newspapers have criticized the four-day weekend created by Lee-Jackson day, celebrating the birthdays of Virginians Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, and the federal celebration the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The governor has bigger fish to fry than placating groups who disagree on the symbolism of a separate holiday for the confederate officers.
The culture in Virginia places a great deal of emphasis on history. This is difficult when there are some parts of history that evoke such strong and varied emotional responses from assorted identity groups. The governor and legislature exist for the betterment of the Commonwealth as a whole. As such, they should table racial squabbles until a period when they enjoy the luxury of time for such debates. Sensitivity of government to those whom it represents is important. By no means should the state ignore the needs and identities of its citizens. However, our government must prioritize.
Virginia needs more funding for schools before it needs a more sensitive pledge to the state flag. Virginia needs better roads and stronger community colleges before it demands a debate on the place of confederate generals' birthdays on the state calendar. Virginia has many problems. Not all of them will be addressed by our representatives, but let's see to it that the ones that are, are the ones that really need to be addressed.
(Preston Lloyd's column appears Tuesdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at plloyd@cavalierdaily.com.)
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