Morality has no Statute of Limitations

by: Juan Melli

Tue Jan 01, 2008 at 11:51:35 PM EST

( - promoted by Juan Melli)

Update: The Assembly Appropriations Committee released the bill to the Assembly by a vote of 10-1-2.

When he's not pushing bad policy in Trenton, Assemblyman Merkt is an historian and amateur astronomy buff. An almost equally famous astronomer, Galileo Galilei, once was condemned and sentenced to house arrest by the Catholic church for theorizing that the Earth revolved around the sun.

Pope John Paul II formed a commission to study that controversy - one of the "dark pages" in the church's past. In 1992 the commission's report said that the mistakes of the judges who tried Galileo needed to be acknowledged:

This subjective error of judgment, so clear to us today, led them to a disciplinary measure from which Galileo had much to suffer. These mistakes must be frankly recognized, as you, Holy Father, have requested" (L'Osservatore Romano, November 1, 1992).

350 years after Galileo's death, Pope John Paul II apologized for their actions. The next year, he apologized for the church's role in the African slave trade, and later to Jews, women and other minorities. "Never again," he said.

What does this have to do with the good Assemblyman? One might think that Merkt - a convert to Catholicism - would understand the value of acknowledging the past and apologizing for New Jersey's mistakes.

"Who living today is guilty of slave holding and thus capable of apologizing for the offense?" asked Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris. "And who living today is a former slave and thus capable of accepting the apology? So how is a real apology even remotely possible, much less meaningful, given the long absence of both oppressor and victim?"

Merkt may not think the pope's historic apologies were meaningful either, but the rest of the world welcomed them as an important step towards reconciliation.

Slavery was a deeply painful scar on the conscience of American history and this apology would be an important symbol in healing division. Everyone who understands that there is no statue of limitations on morality should support Assemblyman Payne's bill.

As for Merkt - does he think the Vatican should take back its apology? Or is this an intellectually inconsistent attempt at race-mongering?

Discuss :: (11 Comments)

A Child's Stigma

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What's Bill Payne's Damage?

by: Jay Lassiter

Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 12:13:40 PM EDT

It's getting uglier all the time up in the 29th in the race to replace Sharpe James. Teresa Ruiz is the Democratic candidate but Assemblyman Bill Payne's independent bid for the seat is proving to be a talentless and unnecessary distraction.

The latest?

According to Wally at PoliticsNJ, it's the venerable race card. Apparently Payne's in a tizzy that DSC chief Joe Cryan is calling for Sharpe James and Wayne Bryant to step down. (Full disclosure: we couldn't agree more.)

Now Payne is whining that Cryan's move was unfair and insulting to blacks. Which has my mind reeling especially since 1) Payne recently abandoned the Dem caucus to follow his own ego and 2) the heiresses apparent for James' and Bryant's seats are a Latina and an African American.

Politics being politics, anything is game. Trust me, I get that.

The real reason I find Payne's race-baiting temper tantrum so trifiling is because it's such an about face from his behavior at a Statehouse bill signing a few weeks ago. Corzine had called a press conference to sign the budget with Senate and Assembly leaders in tow and Payne was on hand as well behaving like a loyal yes man, clamoring for photos alongside his erstwhile colleagues, nodding approvingly like a lovable Dutch uncle.

Fast forward a month, and Payne is obviously feeling marginalized and acting out accordingly. Which is a real drag to watch. (Note to Payne: the Race Card is soooo 90's)

Consider this a 29th legislative district open thread. What's Ruiz' deal? Who is the GOP candidate? Please weigh in, curious (south Jersey) minds want to know!!!

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William Payne Forges Independent "Up with Racism and Corruption" Ticket

by: Hudson Observer

Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 11:22:12 AM EDT

Assemblyman William Payne is missing his sugar-daddy Sharpe James so much that he has created his own independent "Up with Racism, Up with Corruption" ticket. So far, he's the only asshat to sign onto it.

Payne, whose name is like tarnished gold in Essex County, is miffed that he was dumped from the Democratic slate when they decided that they would try some democracy. But he will not go softly into that good night - no, he's going to go screaming and crying like a little girl whose lollipop was stolen.

Join me after the flip.

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News Round-up for Wednesday, April 26

by: Sharon GR

Wed Apr 26, 2006 at 11:26:30 AM EDT

News Round-up for Wednesday, April 26th

UMDNJ is eliminating about 20 management jobs in a move to restructure its administration. A new CFO is also on the horizon for the scandal-ridden school.
The State Supreme Court will hear arugements next week about funding for the Abbot school districts. The proposed state budget keeps funding flat for the "special needs" districts, but the districts themselves state that this would mean strong cuts for them. Newark filed its own separate appeal as well.
During a budget hearing, Assemblyman William Payne yesterday questioned the lack of diversity in the state's DOT in executive positions . Payne advised the state transportation commissioner, Kris Kolluri, that employees in different departments have complained to him.
A report being released today by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation about states' access to health care shows that residents of Our Fair State are above the national averages of uninsured adults being unable to receive certain health care services.
Absentee ballots have changed the initial results in the recent Atlantic City school board race. Challenges and recount requests are, of course, being filed.
Human remains found in a Bucks Co. PA landfill are believed to be those of John Fiocco Jr., the TCNJ student who went missing a month ago. State police are holding a press conference this morning and are expected to confirm reports.
Today is Governor Corzine's 100th day in office, and the honeymoon is over. The Quinnipiac poll numbers show that the governor's approval rating is down to 35%, but 87% acknowledge that the governor inhereted the budget mess.