Moderators lazarus Posted December 13, 2007 Moderators Posted December 13, 2007 I had the privilege this week of attending a swearing in ceremony for the new US Ambassador to the Gambia. It was quite impressive occasion. Negroponte and Condi Rice were there. I have to say we were all "star struck", kind-of. Condi made a speech in which she made mention of the progress the US has made in terms of diversity in the Foreign Service. As we all stood in the Benjamin Franklin reception room she said that when the founding fathers said "we the people" they obviously didn't mean her. After all the constitution only considered her to be three-fifths of a person she added. I was surprised at her candor and her interest in the struggle for inclusion. Quote Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. Einstein
Woody Posted December 13, 2007 Posted December 13, 2007 If you want my opinion .... I think the best qualified "person" in the US ... for president is Condi. What say you? Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Moderators lazarus Posted December 14, 2007 Author Moderators Posted December 14, 2007 Nah, she couldn't take the pressure. Quote Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. Einstein
Woody Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 I guess you are right. She IS a woman and 3/5 s of a person. That is a lot to overcome. Excuse my ignorance ... but what is Negroponte currently doing. I am a little behind. I am sure he is no longer working at the UN ... but what is he doing? Didn't Bush recently name him for some kind of work? Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Dr. Shane Posted December 15, 2007 Posted December 15, 2007 To start off with, the US was just a loose affiliation of 13 colonies. By the time the Constitution was written, they were all states but still very autonomous. The federal government was extremely weak compared to what it is today. The Constitution was almost like a treaty of a sort. All the states would use the same currency, have a common army and navy and practice free trade between each other. The 3/5 issue only impacted slave states. Blacks in free states were not counted using the 3/5 equation. One can argue that since the slaves couldn't vote or pay taxes, they shouldn't have been counted at all for purposes of representation. The founders didn't have the political capital to ban slavery. However they were able to ban the slave trade. So in one respect, the Constitution was a first step in ending slavery in the US. Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity
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