My new hero!

His name is L.F. Eason. He was the director of North Carolina's Standards Laboratory until this week, when he opted to retire rather than fly the flag at half staff in honor of Jesse Helms. What a grand gesture!

Eason followed his heart. He thought Helms' first election was a fluke, but asserts that Helms was able to establish a core of supporters who based their votes on fear, and so he continued to win reelection. I remember the Helms years. I absolutely could not believe that a state that produced so many fine writers also elected a senator of his ilk.

And speaking of terrific North Carolina authors, I heard Jill McCorkle read from her new book in 1989, when Helms was in the midst of a tough reelection campaign against Harvey Gantt. When I had the opportunity to speak with her, I told her how much I admired so many authors who hail from North Carolina, and expressed my loathing for Jesse Helms. She drawled, "Oh, Jesse - we're so embahhrrassed." She was so charming. When Helms won (after his last minute racist ad barrage), I received a postcard from McCorkle that ended, "P.S. Boo, Jesse!" This represents the only fond thought that comes to mind when I think of Helms. I think it's pretty cruel to call someone a waste of skin, but Helms and Strom Thurmond (or Sperm, as my brother calls him) come pretty close. Frickin' racists.

Anyone who's curious about Jesse Helms' history can read about him here. I will take a holiday from reality and pretend he never existed for a while, until I feel the need to remember the evil that can happen when sheeple vote from fear, as I fear many will in the upcoming presidential election. (Hint: McCain is already working on making you afraid, very afraid.)