Next thing you know, gays will want marriage, too

Here’s another story for you to file under “How do these things happen in this day and age?”. A Louisiana couple was refused a marriage license … because they’re interracial.

And what’s even better than that? The justice of the peace claims he isn’t racist – he’s just worried about the children (specifically, any kids the couple may have later on).

Stop rereading that, you got it right the first time.

Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.

Neither Bardwell nor the couple immediately returned phone calls from The Associated Press. But Bardwell told the Daily Star of Hammond that he was not a racist.

"I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house," Bardwell said. "My main concern is for the children."

Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.

"I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves," Bardwell said. "In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer."

If he does an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.

"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.

I might need a tracheotomy. My throat might just shut down as I choke on the irony.

I dunno where the hell this moron comes from – 1920s Louisiana, apparently – but modern society is as open to biracial kids as it is to the children of Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and any other ethnicities. Is racism dead? Of course not – not entirely. Humans are stupid in general, after all. But it sure as hell is going the way of the dodo, and it’s people like Bardwell who keep the tension and oppression sentiment alive.

Thankfully, the ACLU is on the case and is contacting the Louisiana Supreme Court, asking them to see if they can’t dropkick this dimwit out his office window. Seriously, this is as ridiculous as it gets these days.

(via The Agitator)
Technorati tags: racism · Louisiana · marriage · interracial · bigotry