Dear Piece of Trash ~ Cleveland Councilman Sounds Off Against a Drug Dealer

[mulattogyrl]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

LG,
I'm not stretching at all, because my point is about the standard of representation, not the group of people being represented. Would you ever approve of Ms/Mrs. Rice, in her capacity as sorority president, penning a letter like the councilman's to anyone? For any reason? I doubt it.

My comparison of frat/sorority leadership to councilman is not a comparison of job function, but of representative leadership. Mode of election has nothing to do with anything.

I've met Bro. Matthews several times, most recently a few months ago. He's a good brother. However, I suspect that if he ever wrote a letter like that in his capacity as general president of Alpha Phi Alpha, (which I'd seriously doubt he'd ever do) he'd hear about it. Quickly. And Repeatedly.

I do understand what you're saying Tony. I didn't think the letter was 'professional', but I also think that's what that person needed to hear in this situation.

I'm interested to know too though, how would we feel if one of our leaders addressed us this way? I'm really asking, why shouldn't our councilmen be held to the same standards as our organizational leaders?

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by mulattogyrl

I do understand what you're saying Tony. I didn't think the letter was 'professional', but I also think that's what that person needed to hear in this situation.

I'm interested to know too though, how would we feel if one of our leaders addressed us this way? I'm really asking, why shouldn't our councilmen be held to the same standards as our organizational leaders?

Because it is two different animals. And we must admit that there is a certain amount of superficiality in the election of our organizational leaders, and I am not just talking about sororities and fraternities. We would not elect a "rabble rouser" as a national president of our orgs but we would/should as a city council member so they could take on the "system." It's a totally different ball game.

But again, the Twin Cities is not for the faint of heart politician.

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by mulattogyrl

I do understand what you're saying Tony. I didn't think the letter was 'professional', but I also think that's what that person needed to hear in this situation.

I'm interested to know too though, how would we feel if one of our leaders addressed us this way? I'm really asking, why shouldn't our councilmen be held to the same standards as our organizational leaders?

M,
Point blank. If your national president wrote a letter like that, on sorortity letterhead, to whomever, for whatever reason, would you think it appropriate?

[mulattogyrl]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

M,
Point blank. If your national president wrote a letter like that, on sorortity letterhead, to whomever, for whatever reason, would you think it appropriate?

Most likely, no.

[Wolfman]

I have no problem with this letter; it comes from a hearfelt motivation of concern for his community and neighborhood--from real passion and frustration, not grandstanding. Would that more politicians get fed up with those who thumb their nose at those who are trying to live peaceful, productive, healthy lives in our communities and stand up and do something. Note: in his letter, there was no hint of racial animus or demagoguery. He's just voicing the concerns of many who don't have a voice but feel the same way in the black community, for that matter. Neither did he threaten the young man.

Personally, I would not use this language but I understand his frustration, and I think he's trying to fulfill the duties of his office in protecting and advocating for those he represents.

[nikki1920]

While I understand that there is a time and a place for everything, I am not mad at the Councilman. Sometimes you have to speak in a way for the other person to get it. ETA: that chit was funny. Call a spade a spade. I think we tend to play the race card when there is no need to do so.

And Mom needs to stop it. It's a little too late now to be concerned about your son's "image".

[Steeltrap]

I am hoping that some jackleg "we have to excuse people's behavior because they are poor and black" activist does NOT get involved in this situation. I am not seeing how a platform of coddling the Arsenio Winstons of the world could win.

It may look odd because the councilman is white and his constitutents are AfAm, but if his constitutents, who are the people who should count in the political equation, are praising him, why the fuss? And as an aside, I bet he may have had help in preparing the statement to make sure that it couldn't be crafted to insult all AfAms.