bahamianpride
02-02-07, - 02:05 PM
Legislature considers apology for state’s role in eugenics movement
Posted by: "MetaSaience" saience101@yahoo. com saience101
Thu Feb 1, 2007 12:39 pm (PST)
Legislature considers apology for state’s role in eugenics movement By JEREMY REDMON | Thursday, February 1, 2007, 01:01 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitutio n
The state Legislature is considering apologizing on behalf of Georgia for authorizing the sterilization of 3,300 prisoners, state mental patients and others as part of the pseudo-scientific eugenics movement in the 20th century.
The sterilizations happened between 1937 and 1970, when Georgia and many other states were seeking to improve the human race by eliminating supposed hereditary flaws such as mental illnesses and physical deformities, said Paul Lombardo, a Georgia State University law professor and longtime research and writer about eugenics.
The state also prohibited interracial marriages for 40 years until 1967, when the Supreme Court invalidated the law, said Lombardo, who is prodding the Legislature to apologize.
State lawmakers have introduced a resolution calling on the House of Representatives to declare “its profound regret for Georgia’s participation in the eugenics movement and the injustices done under eugenics laws.”
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the passage of Georgia’s sterilization law.
“The better job we do of recognizing our history, the better job we can possibly do in the future and understand where we need to go,” said state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), who introduced the resolution, which was drafted by Lombardo.
“For me, recognition of this history is a humbling experience. And the more humble we legislators can be about the impact of our work, probably the better off the citizens will be.”
Several other state legislatures have apologized on behalf of their states’ involvement in the eugenics movements, including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon and California, Lombardo said.
Indiana’s legislature is now considering a similar resolution, Lombardo said.
A public apology could raise awareness about Georgia’s troubling history and comfort the victims of the forced sterilizations, some of whom are still alive, Lombardo said.
“There is not only a public education benefit, but there is also a benefit to the individuals who were the victims,” Lombardo said.
The House has referred the resolution to its Health and Human Services Committee, where it might die, said committee Chairman Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) . Cooper called the eugenics movement “unconscionable” and said people should be aware of Georgia’s history with it so it is not repeated. But she said it is unlikely her committee will ever hold a hearing on the resolution.
“I’m not sure I agree with one generation apologizing for another generation when all the parties that were involved are long dead,” Cooper said. “Its history … In the whole world there is lots of history, that seen in today’s eyes, we would certainly hope would never be repeated, but it’s history. You can’t change it.”
House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) said he didn’t know enough details about the resolution to comment on it but he said it deserves a hearing in Cooper’s committee.
“Everything should have a fair hearing,” Porter said, “whether it is voted out of committee or not.”
Posted by: "MetaSaience" saience101@yahoo. com saience101
Thu Feb 1, 2007 12:39 pm (PST)
Legislature considers apology for state’s role in eugenics movement By JEREMY REDMON | Thursday, February 1, 2007, 01:01 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitutio n
The state Legislature is considering apologizing on behalf of Georgia for authorizing the sterilization of 3,300 prisoners, state mental patients and others as part of the pseudo-scientific eugenics movement in the 20th century.
The sterilizations happened between 1937 and 1970, when Georgia and many other states were seeking to improve the human race by eliminating supposed hereditary flaws such as mental illnesses and physical deformities, said Paul Lombardo, a Georgia State University law professor and longtime research and writer about eugenics.
The state also prohibited interracial marriages for 40 years until 1967, when the Supreme Court invalidated the law, said Lombardo, who is prodding the Legislature to apologize.
State lawmakers have introduced a resolution calling on the House of Representatives to declare “its profound regret for Georgia’s participation in the eugenics movement and the injustices done under eugenics laws.”
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the passage of Georgia’s sterilization law.
“The better job we do of recognizing our history, the better job we can possibly do in the future and understand where we need to go,” said state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), who introduced the resolution, which was drafted by Lombardo.
“For me, recognition of this history is a humbling experience. And the more humble we legislators can be about the impact of our work, probably the better off the citizens will be.”
Several other state legislatures have apologized on behalf of their states’ involvement in the eugenics movements, including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon and California, Lombardo said.
Indiana’s legislature is now considering a similar resolution, Lombardo said.
A public apology could raise awareness about Georgia’s troubling history and comfort the victims of the forced sterilizations, some of whom are still alive, Lombardo said.
“There is not only a public education benefit, but there is also a benefit to the individuals who were the victims,” Lombardo said.
The House has referred the resolution to its Health and Human Services Committee, where it might die, said committee Chairman Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) . Cooper called the eugenics movement “unconscionable” and said people should be aware of Georgia’s history with it so it is not repeated. But she said it is unlikely her committee will ever hold a hearing on the resolution.
“I’m not sure I agree with one generation apologizing for another generation when all the parties that were involved are long dead,” Cooper said. “Its history … In the whole world there is lots of history, that seen in today’s eyes, we would certainly hope would never be repeated, but it’s history. You can’t change it.”
House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) said he didn’t know enough details about the resolution to comment on it but he said it deserves a hearing in Cooper’s committee.
“Everything should have a fair hearing,” Porter said, “whether it is voted out of committee or not.”