The Iconoclast and other thin skinned people struggle to understand Virginia’s enlightened political leadership!!!

Do Macacas, Muslims, Blacks and Jews have thin skins or maybe cause for concern?

Do the views of Allen, Goode and Hargrove set a good example for progressive leadership in the new century?

Freedom of speech applies to throwbacks too!


What do George Allen, Virgil Goode and now Frank Hargrove, Sr. have in common?

Probably they have any number of things in common including considerable success over the years as Virginia politicians. These three individuals have in the past been widely recognized as leaders, and yes, role models for all the rest of us to emulate.

Their words have taken on extra weight and significance owing to their perceived superior enlightenment. These are the “law makers” who, along with their colleagues in the most august chambers of the Virginia House of Delegates, the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, make the laws and policies by which all the rest of us live.

We the people apparently have trusted them, or at least, a majority of us have trusted them in the past.

But most recently these three role models have demonstrated a common trait of speaking their mind and expressing a certain “honesty” rarely seen in politicians. This "honesty" that has revealed some disturbing character issues.

With ex- Senator George Allen it was the Macaca comments back in August when his campaign for re-election to the United States Senate took a nose dive. First there were implausible explanations about not knowing what a “Macaca” was. Then there were general apologies. Then there were unseemly and unnecessary gaffs about “eating ham sandwiches” when referring to his Jewish connection.


With current 5th District Representative Virgil Good, it was the unexpected public revelation of his anti-Muslim rants in a letter to xenophobic constituents.

Again Representative Goode's comments were unnecessary but quite revealing of a disturbing lack of tolerance of religious and cultural diversity. Thus far, Congressman Goode is not backing down. There is no apology coming from him.


Now, it is Virginia Delegate Frank Hargrove, Sr. in his advise to black Virginians to “get over it” referring to the slavery thing. He also takes a swipe at Jewish people for “killing Christ.”

Macacas, Muslims, Jews and Blacks just don’t have a good sense of political reality or perhaps even a sense of humor according to these leading Virginia politicians.

What is this... a case of good men gone wild?

Probably not. These leaders say these things because they apparently believe with some justification that at least some of their constitutes expect such comments and positions.

Of course some of our readers might remember that Virginia's political leadership also at one time supported the practice of slavery right here in Virginia.

And much more recently, our political leadership supported the policy of massive resistance.

Thin skins? Maybe. But maybe not.

In closing, the Iconoclast would like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Ex-Senator Allen had a right to speak his mind and we are glad he did. That is why he is “ex” Senator Allen instead of second term Allen.

Also, Representative Goode had a right to express his fears of Muslims. This is a free country and he was just exercising his right of free speech even if it was speech advocating the curtailment rights of others to choose their own religious practices or to participate in the American political process. Apparently Representative Goode enjoys some support for these views and remains quite unapologetic if not oblivious to the hypocrisy of his views.

Delegate Hargrove also has a right to express his views that some of us Virginian’s have thin skins and should “get over” our common history. At least we know where he stands on the matter.

But one is prompted to wonder how the good Delegate can reconcile in his mind how it is OK for some Virginian’s to be “proud of their heritage” but it is not OK for other Virginian’s to have lingering grievances over that same “heritage.”

Just a little something to think about...

The Iconoclast hopes that Virginia politicians will keep exercising their rights to express their "honest" opinions on important issues. Sometimes we learn something important.

Freedom of speech! That is what makes American the great nation it is!