The "debasing doctrine of equality"

Last April, Republican Governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia declared April to be "Confederate History Month" in Virginia, neglecting in his proclamation the small detail of slavery. Last December, South Carolina went Virginia one step more blatantly racist. The Sons of Confederate Veterans celebrated the declaration of secession with a ball held in Charleston. I blogged about the shameful sesquicentennial here, and openly wondered whether Texans would have better sense than to celebrate their state's own blatant declaration of racism, which happened exactly 150 years ago today, on February 1, 1861. A day later, Texas published a "declaration of causes". Here's a typical paragraph:

"In all the non-slave-holding States, in violation of that good faith and comity which should exist between entirely distinct nations, the people have formed themselves into a great sectional party, now strong enough in numbers to control the affairs of each of those States, based upon an unnatural feeling of hostility to these Southern States and their beneficent and patriarchal system of African slavery, proclaiming the debasing doctrine of equality of all men, irrespective of race or color - a doctrine at war with nature, in opposition to the experience of mankind, and in violation of the plainest revelations of Divine Law. They demand the abolition of negro slavery throughout the confederacy, the recognition of political equality between the white and negro races, and avow their determination to press on their crusade against us, so long as a negro slave remains in these States."

To their credit, today's Texans judiciously chose to ignore this shameful sesquicentennial, at least officially, at least according to this story in Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Still, Texans could have done even better by commemorating this despicable stain on American history with a day of atonement or at least by a vigil remembering the lives and deaths of those who suffered in slavery or died to end it. We should not celebrate infamous history, but neither should we suppress and forget it.

Winter Crushes an Early Spring

So much for the first daffodils in the Steger garden

From Flowers

After enjoying a sunny and warm weekend with temperatures in the seventies, old man winter came roaring back down the plains, bringing sleet and snow and temperatures in the teens to north Texas. The sub-freezing temperatures are expected to last for three days.

Coincidentally, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers arrived in town yesterday to prepare for next weekend's Super Bowl. Someone should have told the Packers they didn't need to bring the frozen tundra with them. Unfair.

Speaking of Zoning

Once again, the call is going out to pack the city council chambers to register opposition to rezoning the vacant land around the Bush DART Station. Personally, I'm less interested in how many people speak than in what they say. I'm not interested at all in self-appointed groups with inclusive-sounding names claiming to speak for unnamed others. Reportedly, an email from Richardson City Council member Bob Macy forwards a statement from a Richardson resident that captures my own attitude regarding the Bush Station zoning issue:

"We have lived in the Sherrill Park subdivision for almost 19 years and I am a member of the homeowners association. The board members were not elected to represent me on any zoning issues as it is not their charter. There is also a self appointed neighborhood association which also does not represent me and has no legal standing that I am aware of. I did participate in the election of the Richardson city council. They were elected to represent me on zoning issues."

Regardless where you stand on the issue of zoning around the Bush DART Station, it's important to keep the above in mind. After the jump, where the current discussion has missed that point.

Coterie: I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change

From 2011 01 Coterie I Love You

"Coterie" is an organization of Richardson-area friends who get together three times a year for dinner and entertainment. The theme and activity for each occasion varies. The January 2011 Coterie party was dinner at the Dream Cafe and attendance of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" at Theatre 3.

For a slide show of the evening, click here.

Oh, the play? Here's my Twitter review:

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at Theatre 3: Musical comedy in a small venue. Non-stop fun by a great cast. Perennial favorite. B-

Buzzer Beaters

That plural in the headline is correct. Three buzzer beaters in one game, to be exact. In a close game with an exciting finish, the Berkner Rams boys basketball team beat the Jesuit Rangers Friday night 60-58 in overtime to stay unbeaten in District 9-5A play. Here's how The Dallas Morning News reported it.

"Two last-second shots by sophomores kept Richardson Berkner’s boys undefeated in 9-5A with a 60-58 overtime win over Jesuit. Kendal Harris hit a shot at the end of regulation, and Jordan Mickey hit the game-winner for Berkner (22-7, 9-0)."

But that hardly does the game justice. It was a close game throughout with numerous lead switches. Berkner led by three points after one period. Jesuit led by four at the half. Berkner led by four after three periods. Jesuit took a six point lead late in the fourth period. Berkner rallied to tie in the final minute. Jesuit played for the last shot and made a running jumper with 0.79 seconds on the clock to take the lead and with the buzzer beater, probably, the win.

After consulting, the referees put 1.7 seconds back on the clock. Berkner still had one last chance. Regan Lucio made the inbounds pass, a perfect three-quarters of the length of the floor connection to Jordan Mickey who was positioned at the top of the key. Mickey dished the ball to a waiting Kendal Harris who drove to the basket for the tying layup as regulation time expired. The refs consulted again and agreed that the shot was in time. Berkner had its own buzzer beater. Overtime.

The game-winner in overtime was a more traditional buzzer beater. With the score tied again, it was Berkner playing for the last shot. As the seconds wound down, Berkner worked the ball in to Jordan Mickey under the basket who made the basket with only a couple of seconds on the clock. Jesuit, out of timeouts, couldn't call time out to set up their own attempt at last second heroics. Instead, the clock expired as Jesuit passed the ball inbounds.

It was a shame that either team had to lose this game. If you enjoy basketball, there's more exciting high school boys basketball like this just down the street from your home. Games twice a week. Affordable. Good seats. Catch a game. You can thank me later. More importantly, the kids will thank you for your support.

To see photos from an earlier Berkner game this year, look here. It's a great time to be a Ram!