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20 JAN 04: GETTING IN A HUFF
A "mass march" was called in downtown Columbus Monday morning, to protest the Sheriff's Department. Yet for some reason, organizer Wayne Baker never mentioned it during the noon-hour Martin Luther King Jr. service. Does this mean it wasn't mass enough?
The most political comments at Monday's "Unity Week" service came from a surprising source - Muscogee County Tax Commissioner Lula Huff. It's easy for her to speak out, of course. We have to pay her money, no matter what she says.
Lula Huff said the Kenneth Walker case has revealed "white Americans and black Americans can see the same thing in dramatically different ways." Some people could have realized this long ago, by listening to AM radio talk shows.
Tax Commissioner Lula Huff spoke against many things in her "why are we here" M.L.K. Day remarks:
+ She compared late-term abortions to "genocide." So much for putting her on Hillary Rodham Clinton's mailing list.
+ She said people should resist "Ebonics." Haven't some African-American people moved past this already - to "Snoop Dogg speak?"
+ She warned against any move to erode Georgia's HOPE scholarship. In other words, students need HOPE - but they shouldn't have faith in the Governor.
You may recall Lula Huff gave a last-minute high-profile speech last November, in favor of the school sales tax question [4 Nov 03]. After Monday's speech, I can't help wondering if the Tax Commissioner is positioning herself to run for another office. After years of collecting tax money, maybe Huff wants to pass it around instead.
The most emotional comments at the Unity Week service came from another surprising source - Columbus Mayor Pro Tem Jack Rodgers. He sounded close to tears, as he urged people to resist those who want to tear down city unity. I think that's another way of saying, "Please don't move your conference from the Trade Center to Howard Johnson's."
Naomi Buckner spoke in behalf of the Muscogee County School Board, and urged people to "invest in PUBLIC education." If that's so important to remember on this holiday, why did Martin Luther King Jr. sent to a private school for two years -- then attended the private Morehouse College?
Metropolitan Baptist Church hosted the King Day service, and Pastor Joe Andrews served as "Worship Leader." But I was left with the feeling he doesn't lead like this very often. He didn't move his hands during hymns - and he forgot to have an invocation. [True!]
As he introduced the guest speaker for the day, Pastor Joe Andrews reminded the audience of the fight for civil rights. "Without God on our side," he said, "we'd still be in the Liberty Theater." So what's wrong with that?! The Liberty's seats would have been more comfortable than his hard wooden church pews.
The main speaker at the Unity Week service was Dr. Dolphus Weary, who directs a racial reconciliation movement called "Mission Mississippi." We appreciate what he's doing - but if Sylvester Croom coaches Mississippi State's football team to a national title, that might be even more effective.
Dr. Dolphus Weary's theme was to "Dream Forward" - explaining if you look back too long, you'll be defeated. He has a fun new idea here - take the rear-view mirrors out of all the cars in NASCAR.
Dr. Dolphus Weary recalled the day Martin Luther King Jr. was shot in 1968. He was at a Christian college in Los Angeles, where he said some white students openly cheered the assassination. How many of them are still in California - under the government of an immigrant from Austria?
Dr. Dolphus Weary said there's only one way to avoid stumbling-blocks in life - and that's to sit at home and do nothing. Obviously he lives in a home where he doesn't trip over things piled up on the floor....
E-MAIL UPDATE: Speaking of city unity, we received this lengthy message about our recent postings about the Kenneth Walker killing:
I ran across it somehow on the web looking for something else in Columbus. Anyway I unfortunately live in the Metro Columbus area and just wanted to let you know.... people are reading your weblog.
As a African American male I also would like to thank you for your support of the events following the Kenneth Walker shooting. Race aside it's a senseless tragedy. However race is the real reason that it's 30+ days later and we still have nothing in terms of answers. Columbus is no different of many cities where there is just a true lack of respect for African Americans as a people. We are treated as a lesser life if that makes any sense. I witnessed this for years living in Columbus, working and also patronizing business around town. I can understand that the sheriff sticks by his deputy (that's a part of his duties as a leader) but there should be someone higher than the sheriff to be the one to step out and "do the right thing." What we do know is this man posed no threat much less a threat of life to the officers because he was unarmed, however he was fatally shot. The deputy's excessive use of force should at least warrant him to stand trial for manslaughter. If he gets off which he probably would... then at least he would have passed through the system like anyone else.
I personally know Rev. Wayne Baker and I can say that he is a fair, fine and upstanding man. As you pointed out maybe he was off on some points but a lot of credit has to be given to him for stepping out on a limb to rally support for this cause. As far as the city officials go.. black or white.. I feel like many of them are limited to what they can say or do. I've heard and seen situations of how "the powers that be" really run this town and even more so than other cities, elected officials must please them even more so than the constituents. In many cities, mostly larger cities our city of Atlanta here this a$$draggin investigation wouldn't take place and I feel that's because the line is less drawn between black and white because blacks have real economic and political power but there is a new divide. The economic divide, where many whites are included and don't even have the benefit of a voice because technically they are in the majority.
Do you remember the incident where the shop keeper killed the preteen because of an attempted robbery? The boy was fatally shot in the back. The storeowner waited 10 minutes before calling the police. People on WRBL that were interviewed (all white and by appearance apart of the have-nots) agreed with his actions because he was defending his property. When did property become more
valuable than human life??? Let me stop here because I could go on and on.
Columbus shows its true colors in the light of unfortunate events like this killing.
- Jake
I appreciate your insight, Jake. Truly African-American people should NOT be treated as a "lesser life." Maybe that's why they stopped calling it "Miller High Life" beer.
There could be someone "higher than the sheriff" who might step out and "do the right thing" Jake's talking about in the Kenneth Walker case. The problem is, Jake would have to talk Al Howard into moving out of Russell County - then starting a recall petition drive in Columbus
I'm certainly not questioning whether Pastor Wayne Baker is an "upstanding man." After all, I've seen his religious telecast - and he stands up for the entire half-hour.
Is the "economic divide" Jake describes really that new a thing? In a city like Columbus, it's existed for a long time. The only difference now is that mill workers with low wages have no work, and NO wages.
"When did property become more valuable than human life?" Jake asks. I think some Native Americans would trace this back to the winter of 1621....
In a very different light, here's a reply to last Friday's comment on the Auburn artist who draws a blue cat named Pete:
I thought the Pete and Re-Pete comment was funny - the artist James Dean actually has a kitten he just named Re-Pete. Are you psychic?
Thought I would pass that along.
Take Care and Keep Bloggin'
Gretchen
No, Gretchen, I'm not psychic. Old jokes simply recycle more often.
Now let's briefly check other holiday highlights....
+ One day after traveling to Plains to see Jimmy Carter, Howard Dean finished a weak third in the Iowa caucuses. Our projections now indicate Mr. Carter will have to buy his own plane ticket to the Democratic convention.
+ Live Georgia Lottery drawings disappeared from Columbus television. WRBL announced it's NOT showing them anymore. The odds that they'll surface on NBC-38 are 4-to-5.
+ The Riverdragons lost at home to Fayetteville by nine points. At halftime they trailed by 22 - and I was ready to suggest the team make a King Day demand for redistribution of all the points.
+ Instant Message to American Van Rental: In response to your commercial currently playing on WDAK - yes, I CAN believe summer's over. For one thing, it's mid-January.
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