In 1973, when I was Santa Fe bureau chief and political reporter for United Press International, a particularly sensitive topic was on the agenda of the New Mexico Legislature.
It was a vote on whether the Legislature would approve the national Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution. Although New Mexico was one of 30 states that eventually ratified the amendment, the required number of 38 states needed to make it take effect was never met. In fact, five of the states which had at one time voted to approve it later tried to rescind their approval of the amendment.
Opposition to the amendment came largely from conservatives. Leading the charge was political activist and attorney Phyllis Schlafly whose supporters claimed the ERA was a threat to the traditional role of women as homemakers. Schlafly made many arguments against the ERA, including that it would dismantle financial support for women as legal dependents of their husbands and would lead to gender-neutral bathrooms, same-sex marriage and women in military combat. Liberal supporters claimed there was a conspiracy by old white men to keep women barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen and out of the executive suites of the nation.
On the day on which a vote for approval of the amendment was scheduled, a severe snow storm had moved into northern New Mexico. Tension was already high in the state capitol that day, with rumors being spread that women had been seen using men’s bathrooms in the capitol building and that violent demonstrations would break out if the amendment was either approved or defeated. As the debate moved into the evening in the packed Senate chamber, snow-packed roads into and out of Santa Fe became treacherous.
As proponents and opponents to the amendment came to the podium during the debate to express their views, I could feel the tension in the room rising. The Democratic Lieutenant Governor at the time, Roberto Mondragon, was chairing the Senate session when unexpectedly, he was tapped on the shoulder by an aide and halted the debate.
He said there was an important announcement that needed to be made. Many of those in the Senate chamber, including me, wondered if it was going to be an announcement of some kind of political maneuvering that would put the process in turmoil.
But when a State Police Major (and I can’t recall his name) stepped up to the speaker’s platform, we are all a bit alarmed about what might be happening.
“Ladies and gentlemen, or gentlemen and ladies,” he began as he addressed the packed chamber. His words captured the essence of the debate and left some in the room worrying about whether something inappropriately political might come next.
“You are all aware that there is a serious snow storm outside right now,” he began, while dressed in his somewhat intimidating black uniform. “I wanted to advise you that the roads out of Santa Fe, this evening… (a long pause)… are all paved.”
The room burst into laughter and we all felt an immediate release of tension with his perfectly timed bit of humor.
He went on to describe the road conditions, urged everyone to use caution when going home and left the podium to a round of applause.
The state’s approval of the amendment was eventually approved that evening without incident.
I mention this because of what happened at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral services last week.
One of those who gave a eulogy was Andrew Young, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during Carter’s administration, Civil Rights leader, former mayor of Atlanta and Congressman from Georgia. His praise for Carter’s many accomplishments was woven with a tapestry of references to the South and the the relationships the former president had with minorities — particularly Blacks.
At one point during Young’s eulogy praising Carter and his accomplishments, he paused for what seemed like a very long time, then confessed that he hoped the the next thing he said would not be “anything disrespectful.”
For many of us listening, I think we feared he may be making an uncomfortable mark directed at incoming President Donald Trump, who was in sitting front and center at the funeral. Similar to that moment in Santa Fe many years ago, you could feel the tension in the room rising.
But instead, Young said:
“Uh, (long pause)… I still find it hard the believe that a future president of the United States could come from Plains, Georgia.”
The audience at the National Cathedral burst into laughter. It was perfect timing for a tension relieving comment like that. In my mind it was a example of what makes some individuals great statesmen (or stateswomen).
I’ve attached a link to Young’s comments at the Carter funeral. I hope you find it as uplifting and refreshing as I did. (His comment comes fairly early in the video clip.)
aero-cordero.com 