This just in from Mayor England:
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“David Ward’s reported statement (Chicago Tribune, Oct. 18, 2008) that he is voting for Presidential candidate John McCain ‘mainly because he’s not black,’ is both regrettable and embarrassing. It speaks to latent racism that still permeates certain elements of American society. Through our actions as well as our words, the entire local community should repudiate this type of ignorance and intolerance,” Mayor Doug England said today.
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11 comments:
Where is this guy's shop so we won't support it by accident?
Nicely said Mr. Mayor. Thanks for stepping up.
I do believe the antique shop in question is on the south-east corner of bank and main street... With the red wagon wheels in front
I'm sorry, but my Bullshit Detector won't yield me any peace.
Is it going to change ANYTHING having every political candidate in Floyd County denounce the backward utterance of a citizen.
Is that really "Uniting" against Racism or is it posturing just 13 days before an election? Does it make people feel better about themselves?
I now await the shock, horror and attending inquiries into what I, on the contrary, would suggest.
with bated breath - jon
So...what do you suggest?
I suggest the party chair oust the offender, setting an example that such behavior is intolerable.
Editor sez: Here's another comment that I'm posting for Debbie. I promise to get on the task soon of getting her registration at blogger.com squared away.
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Reading all of the responses today with great interest and find some comments very positive, some nitpickers that I will ignore but I do have to respond to those that seem to think that speaking up is not worthwhile.
So what are we supposed to do? Roger asked people to respond to a terrible quote from a local business person published in a large national newspaper. Are we supposed to be silent? Maybe 40 years ago we would have been afraid and may have gotten crosses burned on our lawns or been harassed in some way and we are lucky that is not happening. I cannot figure out why speaking out could be bad and why everyone does not believe that not speaking out would accomplish anything. Good grief how do you think that criticizing those that decide to speak out is part of any solution? And, if people around here think it is ok to make racist comments then, yes, it was courageous of Marcey to address it. She is an elected official and most elected officials take the easy way and run for cover when they think they might cause a controversy or lose some votes. She does have a lot to lose - like her job and I have no doubt that there are people around here that agree with the comment but stay silent and that is the most insidious form of racism.
There are lots of jerks in this world that use code words and think with a wink and nod we all think exactly like them. Not looking the other way and speaking in public that racism is not acceptable and will be challenged is better than sitting around thinking "what good does that do?" Lots of good people looked the other way and kept their mouths shut out of fear for a long long time in this country and if I remember my history they did the same in Germany as well. I, for one, do not intend to be one of them and if anyone thinks we are wasting our time then get out the history books and brush off your cynicism because one just cannot let this stuff pass or else we will get the community we deserve.
Debbie Farmer
Thanks, Jeff, for that timely question. Sobriety is in my favor this evening. Over the summer my wife and I waiting in line in Kroger, an obese 60is whit eman was in front of us in an electric wheelchair. Catching my eye, he pointed to the prminently displayed Vigue magazine which featured Lebron James on the cover. The man jeered, "will you look at that nigger!" I was enraged, first and foremost, that the man felt entitled to proclaim such at a supermarket and that I should respect his opinion. My wife countermanded my impulse to shatter the bottle of cabernet I had in my basket over his skull. We went to another lane and I muttered deep into the night. Healthblogger can openinly present horrific images, safe and satisfied. I feel content to refer to him as Tory cunt whenever fielded the opportunity. Mr. Wade simply had a broader stage to deliver his own line. Standing one by one and stating in sequence that one is against something doesn't disaffect it, it is self-abuse with the intention of having people, perhaps insecure about their own biases, feeling more comfortable with the ceremony of taking a stand. . .on a blog.
Thereare bette ruses of people's abilities than this playacting. the debate about Rep. Cochran is one of them.
Even in the most cynical view in which denouncing racism amounts to nothing more than a cheap bet, whether or not one wagers is telling.
Even in the most cynical view in which denouncing racism amounts to nothing more than a cheap bet, whether or not one wagers is telling.
Except that those publicly denouncing racism aren't really gambling anything. It's easy to take a stand against racism these days, because the vast majority of Americans find it appalling.
If England, Wisman, Matthews, et al really wanted to show some political courage, they'd tell people like Ward to take his vote elsewhere.
Baby steps, EB -- baby steps. Even if you are right about "courage" in this context, understand that even this "easy" way has hitherto not been conceded publicly by the entities that have done so the past week.
Their historic default has been "no vote for our side left unpandered to." For an "against racism" platform to be elucidated aloud is historic.
I'm with you. Drum out the bad actors, and restore the institution of stocks and ritualistic public humiliation. But understand the context here.
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