GreensboroPolitics Report on Gang Forum is Must Reading
Posted in Greensboro City Council
Nov. 16, 2007 at 11:57
by BrendaBee
GreensboroPolitics reported on the Forum on Gangs and took some interesting notes and comments of those who spoke. I do hope you all are paying attention to this site and I hope he continues to play it straight and not get biased in his reporting. This is so far proving to be a site we need. Below is the only opinionated comment that he made and for which I personally can not fault him for making it."As I was exiting the forum I saw the name badges from individuals that were not in attendance. Name tags not picked up belonged to Goldie Wells, Yvonne Johnson, Zack Matheny, Mary Rakestraw and Sandra Anderson Groat. There were a few other badges but they belonged to media and various other individuals. Robbie Perkins and Trudy Wade were the only City Council members in attendance. "
Gangs and the growing in Gang membership is I believe the largest problem in our society, let alone our city, because it has its roots in all the other social problems we face as a society. And yet, only two of our past and present city leaders felt compelled to attend. Makes a really loud statement wouldn't you say?
I was also gratified to read from his notes that Cuthbertson has gotten his thinking straight on at least one count "Race, economic status and prejudice must be removed from your mind when thinking about gangs.” The very first statement out of his mouth at the last forum was that "racism" was the first and foremost cause of gangs. Dear Lord, but I was so disgusted and this is soooo Greensboro in thinking. But, if he has indeed changed his tune, if not his thinking, then maybe there is some hope for some progress being made in addressing the real issues. One of which is very much race if not racism and that is Black babies being born to unwed mothers. Unofficially I have heard the figure 83% of Black babies born here in Guilford/Greensboro. You would think with problems like these facing the community the ministers of the Black Pulpit Forum would have their hands full trying to teach some restraint and moral values to their flocks rather than having meetings with tainted city officials in basement rooms.
Forgive me GP. I do get a little upset and angry at where Black leaders place their priorities. I did what I could when I could to make all people equal and to bring Black people up to where they belonged in our society, and now to see where so many of them have fallen...well, I must cry. At least in the days of Jim Crow (pre-1960) the Black illegitimacy rate was at about 25%, gangs weren't a problem and there was some moral decency and believe it or not, some hope and dignity and love and life. What has happened?? BB
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Nov. 16, 2007 - Ah Hem
Billy The Blogging Poet""As I was exiting the forum I saw the name badges from individuals that were not in attendance. Name tags not picked up belonged to Goldie Wells, Yvonne Johnson, Zack Matheny, Mary Rakestraw and Sandra Anderson Groat. There were a few other badges but they belonged to media and various other individuals. Robbie Perkins and Trudy Wade were the only City Council members in attendance. "
BB,
I'd like to point out that several of the people who were not in attendance have already seen Detective Culbertson's presentation 1 or more times over the course of the last few weeks. I attended a gang awareness presentation Wednesday night and Ryan Shell of Greensboro Politics was NOT in the room.
I would like to point out that Ryan Shell also selects which comments he chooses to publish and should you catch him in the wrong he'll simply make your comments go away. Also, the company Ryan Shell works for is a PR and marketing company whose #1 client is one of the largest private developers in the nation and in bed with Action Greensboro, the Bryan Foundation and Robbie Perkins.
Posted by Billy The Blogging Poet
Nov. 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Thank you for the in formation Billy. I will certainly try to look into what you are saying.You know, I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt until they prove that my trust was misplaced. So far, GP has impressed me with his lack of bias and for that reason I will continue to watch his blog.
As for the company he works for, well ones livelihood may often force one to remain quiet on issues that we would rather speak out against, but to do so would jeopardize our job and our family's security. I was once in such a position and believe me it was a terrible position to be in. I needed the job because I had two children to care for but my boss was a skunk of the first order. I didn't know this when i took the job of course but learned the facts soon after. I personally was never required to do anything unethical because then I would have had to quit regardlesss of my need of the job. There was nothing I could do but wait until I could get another job and at least get out of the situation. But even then I could not speak up about the man or the company because to do so would have followed me, if you know what I mean. That is the one advantage to being retired and not beholden to anyone: I can at long last say to Hell with You to anyone and no one can hurt me or mine.
I will continue to give GP the benefit of doubt and believe that perhaps this is his only way of perhaps speaking out without losing his job. That is, until he crosses my line of integrity and then I will drop him and denounce him. Okay?
Thanks for stopping by. I'm am glad to gottten to know you thru your blog Billy. Good people are hard to come by. Brenda
Posted by BrendaFayBowers
Nov. 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Oh, and yes, I am sure many people have attended other forums on the same topic, but at this one more than just Det. Cuthbertson was attending and I would have thought that the newly elected and the old timers on the city council would have made a point to be there. This is a very serious issue in our country as well as our community and anyone in a position to do something about it should be as knowledgeable as possible. These people asked me to vote for them and promised to act on my behalf. That action does not simply consist of sitting at the council during regular meetings. Yes I expect a lot and the job pays very little but then they asked for it and now that I gave it to them I expect them to give it their all. BBPosted by BrendaFayBowers
