Plea on Plates
From the Raleigh News and Observer, April 25, 2009
As an African-American, I am happy there are 29 African-Americans in the General Assembly. Recently the “Choose Life” special plate bill was assigned to the Rules Committee by House Speaker Joe Hackney. Over 130 other special plates have been authorized by the legislature, and dozens of others have been filed.
The “Choose Life” plate is the only one to be relegated to the House Rules Committee. Here it is expected to die for the eighth year in a row. Two legislators have said that controversial or political plates should not be approved.
It is interesting that one special plate is available and another has been proposed that are political and controversial, especially to African-Americans. The Sons of Confederate Veterans’ specialty plate is available. The recently filed Civil War specialty plate with the proposed words “Freedom-Sacrifice-Memory” has been assigned to the House Transportation and Senate Finance Committees, the normal assignments given to plates seeking approbation.
We have come a long way in 50 years with regard to civil rights and freedom of speech. Many people paid the price of their lives so that African-Americans could enjoy freedom and rights. I ask the 29 African-American legislators to join with those who seek to have the bill for the “Choose Life” plate passed.
Rev. Monsignor Thomas P. Hadden, Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, Raleigh
