The people, rather than the governmental structure, proved less flexible
Here, Alexander points out the irony that although the United States Constitution is adaptable, most American citizens remain inflexible to change. The charter of consolidation fell victim to citizens who were resistant to governmental changes.
Citing this Excerpt
Oral History Interview with Frederick Douglas Alexander, April 1, 1975. Interview B-0065. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007) in the Southern Oral History Program Collection, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Full Text of the Excerpt
- FREDERICK DOUGLAS ALEXANDER:
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You must bear in mind that change is the hardest thing in the world in
our society to accept. It's a strange thing. The philosophy
of a democratic society is based on an acceptance of change. The
structure of our government grew out of a document that was so well
written until it allowed for change. I don't know whether
they had the real wisdom to how thorough their intellect and
their...Put upon the tressel board a document that was
malleable, that could adjust itself and stretch to change as our
document has done. I think it's a marvelous thing.
It's the people that can't change. Who live under
that document. This is the struggle of government today. Trying to
accept and wrassle with changes.
- MOYE:
-
Do you think that one of the problems in getting this charter passed was
just the general reluctance of the electorate to change. I mean a lot of
the opponents made a...
- FREDERICK DOUGLAS ALEXANDER:
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A part of that was it. Then, I think that, too, was a part, as you say,
of a realization that maybe, of some citizens, that "we
don't want to do all this changing we thought we wanted to
do." The strong desire to support the change, or to bring the
baby you have birthed to manhood, was lacking.
