Ralph Carr is finally getting his due.
For so long, Colorado failed to honor one of its greatest citizens. Boulevards, buildings — even cities — have been named for lesser politicians, but this year the former governor has been honored twice.
Last week, Gov. Bill Ritter approved a new state judicial complex in Denver to be named after Carr and earlier this year lawmakers renamed a portion of Highway 285 in his honor.
So what makes Carr so special?
Simply, he defended humanity at a time when it was under threat.
When the U.S. government was rounding up Japanese-Americans in 1942 and shipping them off to internment camps for no other reason than their heritage, Carr took a bold yet unpopular stand, saying the Constitution applies to all Americans.
“If a majority may seize a minority and place them in jails today,” Carr said, “then every minority group may expect the majority to treat them the same way.”
Most Coloradans opposed Carr, and his heroic stance eventually cost him his political career.
It’s unfortunate that it has taken so long for Carr to be duly recognized for standing up for what is right, but we’re glad he’s getting his due.
