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Gov. William F. Winter
August
2005
Overview: The Center for a Better South's Five Questions
series starts with an interview with former Mississippi Gov. William
Winter of Jackson, Miss. The governor answered these questions in
August 2005 following a trip by Better South directors to Mississippi
during the previous month.
BETTER SOUTH: What can progressive Southern candidates do to
attract moderate voters who have voted for conservative candidates
over recent years because of race?
WINTER: Despite all of the advances that we have made, the
politics of race continues to haunt us. We simply must acknowledge
that for a shrinking minority, race will continue to be a compelling
factor in their political attitudes.
For most moderate, reasonable people, though, I believe that a call
to come together around the issues of education, job creation, environmental
protection and the recognition of the worth and dignity of every
citizen will resonate favorably.
When more of us are appealed to by our politicians by pointing
out that we all have about the same basic needs and aspirations,
then the superficial differences based on what we look like tend
to fade away. We Southerners -- black and white -- need to remember
that we have so much in common and that we can teach the rest of
the country so much in race relations. I saw that recently happen
in that most unlikely of places -- Neshoba County, Mississippi.
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ABOUT
WILLIAM WINTER
William F.
Winter served as Governor of Mississippi from 1980 to
1984. He has been a long-time advocate for public education,
racial reconciliation, and historic preservation. Governor
Winter has served as Chairman of the Southern Regional Education
Board, Southern Growth Policies Board, Commission on the Future
of the South, National Civic League, Kettering Foundation,
Foundation for the Mid South and the Mississippi Department
of Archives and History. He was a member of President Clinton's
National Advisory Board on Race. An attorney in the firm of
Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis in Jackson, Mississippi,
he is a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of
Law. He is married to the former Elise Varner, and they have
three daughters and five grandchildren.
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BETTER SOUTH: Governor, as one of the founding members of the
LQC Lamar Society, you've been pushing for educational advances
for more than 40 years. How have things gotten better in the South
and where do we need to be focused on heading?
WINTER: At about the same time that the South finished dismantling
Jim Crow, it began to focus on reforming and improving its system
of public education. Those two transforming movements have
been the basis for the heartening progress that the region is now
making. The key to the maintenance of that progress lies in our
commitment to a continuation of enhanced investments in education
across the board and at all levels. The South cannot have a world-class
economy unless we create a world-class system of education. Recent
national surveys indicate that we are making encouraging strides
in that direction, but that progress is still uneven across the
region. We cannot let up in our efforts until we have assured every
child the opportunity for an adequate education. We need more emphasis
on early childhood education and the elimination of those factors
that cause so many students to drop out of school.
BETTER SOUTH: Governor, exactly what is a Southern progressive?
WINTER: A Southern progressive is one who understands and
appreciates the richness of the South's history and culture and
in particular its myriad contributions to the world's literature
and the arts and who seeks to build a society that is worthy of
that heritage. That means that we must be advocates of public policies
and civic initiatives which will enable all Southerners to share
fully in the educational and economic progress of the region.
A Southern progressive is one whose regional pride is reflected
in a commitment to preserve and protect the South's incredible natural
bounty, to build communities which enhance the quality of life of
their people, to respect and honor the diversity of our citizenry,
to promote civility, tolerance and fairness in all of our relationships,
and always to be mindful of our responsibility to pass on to succeeding
generations a better and nobler society.
BETTER SOUTH: Based on your experience as a leading Southern
progressive, how can we help Southerners see the light and build
a real progressive movement for the 21st Century? In other words,
how can we stop the Regressive Juggernaut that brushes aside civility,
tolerance, fairness, shared sacrifice and responsibility in favor
of greed, bigotry and hypocrisy?
WINTER: In the past Southern progressives in both political
parties -- leaders in the mold of Terry Sanford in North Carolina
and Linwood Holton in Virginia -- were opposed by some of the most
reactionary and uncivil forces in the South. They prevailed, however,
by successfully appealing to the better instincts of people and
by directing their attention to the basic needs and concerns of
everyday citizens. I believe that opportunity presents itself again
at this time.
There are certain issues on which just about everybody agrees.
For example, everyone wants an adequate education for
their children; they want a fair chance at a sustaining job; they
want to live in a decent house on a safe street; they want access
to affordable health care; and above all else they want to be accorded
dignity and respect by their fellow citizens. Why can't we direct
more of our energy toward the attainment of those reasonable aspirations
instead of on appeals based on greed and bigotry? From my conversations
across the region I believe that there are a lot people ready for
that sort of approach.
BETTER SOUTH: What is your hope for the South?
WINTER: My hope for the South is that as we face a period
of continuing change and unparalleled growth, we not let the pressures
that accompany that change rob us of the qualities that have made
the region so special. The Southern Growth Policies Board points
out how wise and farsighted initiatives are needed if, in Terry
Sanford's words, we are to 'avoid Northern mistakes in a Southern
setting." Already in our fastest-growing areas we are seeing
the problems which reckless development can cause. Clogged highways,
foul and unhealthy air, overtaxed utility systems, and the consumption
of some of our prime open spaces and productive farm land by urban
sprawl threaten the quality of life for many people. We must work
to preserve the livability of the region.
I hope that in our increasingly impersonal and technological society
we Southerners will insist on preserving our emphasis on civility
and graciousness and common courtesy which I like to think have
been a distinguishing characteristic of our region.
I hope that the education of all of our people in the best possible
way will be our first priority now and in the future and that we
will concentrate on finding ways to use our rich resources of physical
and human capital to create a higher standard of living for all
of our people.
© 2005, Center for a Better South.
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