Astonishing figures – Ratifying the 13th Amendment...

Following my last post on the celebration of the centennial of women's gaining the right to  vote in California, my dear friend Ron Vazzano forwarded me the following astonishing figures:

These states did not ratify—that is to say… did not give formal approval to the passed 19th Amendment— until the years indicated:

• Maryland - 1941
• Virginia - 1952
• Alabama - 1953
• Florida - 1969
• South Carolina - 1969
• Georgia - 1970
• Louisiana - 1970
• North Carolina - 1971
• Mississippi - 1984

1984? Yes, 1984. It boggles the mind.

I can’t help but think of all of this now, when we consider some of the debates in our “modern day,” about human rights issues. We hear those in opposition proclaiming that “it’s never been done this way… and there must be a reason for that” or… “it isn’t the natural order of things.” Forgetting of course, that at one time, those very objections were made against a woman’s right to vote. And worse, to keep human beings enslaved
– Ron Vazzano