In bills pushed by, among others,  Sen. Avel Gordly, D-Portland, an attempt is being made to eliminate pre-Civil War language from the state's historical documents.

 HJR7 and SB189 now head for the House, where they will likely receive acclamation, as well.

One reference disliked by blacks has to do with a basic question put before the pioneers.  Should Oregon be a slave state or one with "free negros."  That term, though it has long appeared prominently in the name of a major black institution,  the United Negro College Fund, is considered offensive when used in other applications, in particular when the user is white..  This duality attains epic proportions in rap lyrics

Most Oregonians did not support slavery, although most Oregon Democrats did.  The Democratic party in Congress was the principle reason why slavery lasted as long as it did..  (See reference below.)

Historical Reference

Also objectionable to blacks is an early provision that set up a system whereby the number of State Supreme Court justices would be based on an enumeration that included only white residents.

Settlers voted on the constitution in 1857.  Oregon became a U.S. state on St. Valentines Day in 1859

I have personally stopped hating the Romans, Vikings and  Huns that persecuted my ancestors beginning long before the birth of Christ and continuing through the late Middle Ages.  The British persecuted them for hundreds of years after that, but it's not healthy to harbor grudges so I don't hate them anymore, either.

One day, perhaps American blacks, too, will  turn away from ancient wounds and join the trek to the future.  It's hard to move forward when you spend most of your time looking backwards.  (LL)

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