Sunday, August 29, 2010
Law Silver threads
Posted by Max Brantley on Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 4:56 PM
Start them right here.
And if you haven't yet, take a look back at Rock Candy, with more from Gerard Matthews, including video, of the sold-out benefit for the legal cause of the West Memphis Three. Can justice be in the offing in this misbegotten case? Support from the likes of last night's all-star cast and the sold-out audience that contributed to the cause can't hurt.
Also, I forgot: Jeremiah Wright was in town today, preaching at a local Baptist church pastored by Judge-to-be Wendell Griffen. He preached against the Iraq war. And, in defending those who criticized Griffen for opposing the war while a judge, he defended his former congregant, President Obama, too.
PS — Skip Rutherford Tweets that Rev. Wright reports dining at Sims Bar-B-
Q. Good choice. I had a rib dinner there last Wednesday. It's more (good) food for $8 than anybody should eat. Skip also Tweets:
Rev. Jeremiah Wright said young people didn't remember when blacks couldn't vote but now "we have blacks who will not vote."
PPS — Also, an initial AP report on Jeremiah Wright's speech included a misheard word. It has been corrected. But I suspect, given the Internet, the correction won't reach many ready to believe the worst about Wright. A statement from Rev. Griffen explains.
STATEMENT OF REV. WENDELL GRIFFEN CONCERNING INACCURATE REPORTING OF AUGUST 29, 2010 SERMON BY REV. DR. JEREMIAH WRIGHT, JR.
Within hours after Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. preached at New Millennium Church today, the Associated Press reported that Rev. Wright accused people who believe that President Obama is Muslim of being "psychopaths." That report was false, as have been all other news reports that have repeated it. Rev. Wright actually described enemies of truth as "sycophants," a word used to describe a false accuser or slanderer. "Sycophant" also refers to someone who is a flatterer of princes and great men.
"Sycophants" is totally different in sound and meaning than "psychopaths."
According to the Oxford American Dictionary, "psychopath" refers to a person suffering from a severe mental disorder, especially with aggressive antisocial behavior. At no time during his sermon did Rev. Wright accuse any persons of being "psychopaths."
I am attaching an mp3 file to this message with the relevant portion of Rev. Wright's sermon. The file proves that the Associated Press report was untrue.
When I learned of the Associated Press report, I contacted Andrew DeMello [sic, it's DeMillo] (the reporter who authored it), told him his report was untrue, and insisted that he admit and correct the false report about Rev. Wright's sermon that was circulating across the nation. Mr. DeMello checked his tape recording of the sermon and agreed that Rev. Wright said "sycophants."
As Pastor of New Millennium Church, I call on the Associated Press and all other media outlets that published it to promptly and prominently admit that the initial report about Rev. Wright's sermon was untrue and apologize to Rev. Wright and our congregation. Regardless to the intentions of the reporter and subsequent publishers, the report is false. It wrongly casts Rev. Wright, his sermon, and our congregation in a bad light.
The false report has already reached the Internet. Those responsible for creating and publishing it owe it to Rev. Wright, our congregation, and the public at large to be as prominent in admitting the truth as they have been in publishing untruth.
Wendell L. Griffen
Speaking of...
-
Mike Huckabee lie about Obama? We report, you decide
February 10, 2012Mike Huckabee, who doesn't release his income tax returns, jumped President Obama today on several points, first his support for the availability of birth control on women and then on the president's supposed dishonor of God for insufficient charitable contributions. /more/
-
Obama administration guarantees free contraception
February 10, 2012The White House statement on its changes in policy on contraception to remove religious objections is on the jump. /more/
-
West Memphis 3 judge: I did good
February 10, 2012As you might expect, Sen. David Burnett of Osceola, the judge in the West Memphis Three case, isn't happy with their release and believes, at most, they should have gotten a new trial rather than freedom. /more/
-
The Republican war on birth control
February 9, 2012Let's have a roll call on this one. Sen. Marco Rubio has responded to the Obama administration's effort to prevent birth control discrimination by introducing legislation, with 26 Republican co-sponsors, that would allow any employer to deny contraception coverage under a group health insurance policy. /more/
-
KAIT lands interview with West Memphis 3 judge
February 9, 2012Could be interesting. State Sen. David Burnett of Osceola, the judge in the West Memphis 3 who was decisively overruled in a landmark Arkansas Supreme Court ruling, is going to talk at length on the case tonight on KAIT-8 in Jonesboro. /more/
-
Depp options Echols' forthcoming prison memoir
February 7, 2012Johnny Depp, one of the most vocal celebrity supporters of the West Memphis Three, has optioned Damien Echols' forthcoming prison memoir for possible development into a feature film. /more/
-
Damien Echols on life in and out of jail
February 6, 2012Damien Echols — on tour promoting with wife Lorri Davis and "West of Memphis" director Amy Berg while promoting the new doc — gives Democracy Now! /more/
-
National unemployment rate drops to 8.3 percent
February 3, 2012I think one of my morning readers has it right: News that a jump in jobs sent the unemployment rate from 8.5 to 8.3 percent in January will be credited by Republican candidates to the national expectation that Mitt Romney will win the November election. /more/
-
The line is open
February 1, 2012News summary: Seatbelts work. Republicans hate Obama. Arkies give to Super PACs. /more/
-
Colin Firth to star as P.I. in "Devil's Knot"
February 1, 2012'Tis a long way from the great houses of Britain to the trailer parks of West Memphis, Ark. But get ready for an actor to make the transition. /more/
- More »
Comments (47)
Showing 1-47 of 47
"The Billionaires Bankrolling the Tea Party"
Frank Rich's column in today's NYT is a keeper. He outlines a brief history of rightwing extremist corporate groups going after presidents they don't like.
snip-
"All three tycoons are the latest incarnation of what the historian Kim Phillips-Fein labeled “Invisible Hands” in her prescient 2009 book of that title: those corporate players who have financed the far right ever since the du Pont brothers spawned the American Liberty League in 1934 to bring down F.D.R."
It's no accident that Koch Bros father, Fred, was instrumental member of the John Birch Society's governing body.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/opinion/…
like
dislike
Gosh, I enjoy walking the Big Dam Bridge. I've been saying for a long time that I need to lose weight, so for the past few months I have taken my two small dogs nearly every night for a walk on the bridge. But there are two things that are ruining bridge: rude bicyclists and people who do not clean up after their pets. I hate that a few bad apples spoil the bunch, but something needs to be done about these things.
Almost every night I am nearly mowed over by several cyclists who think it is appropriate to speed over the bridge and yell "move over" as they nearly run me and the dogs down. I am just about tired of their behavior. I watch families nearly get mowed down, along with children, pets and adults. These people stop at nothing. I see no need to race over the bridge. Nor a need to be disgusted that pedestrians are on a pedestrian bridge.
My complaint with pet owners is that they allow their dogs to crap on the bridge and they make no attempt to clean it up. I realize that dogs do their jobs at times when people may not have bags, but with as many people who take their dogs on the bridge I would bet that if you asked someone, who had a dog, for a bag they would give it to them for a clean up.
I can't get the link with the article reporting on Rev. Wright's sermon to open for me.
However, the AP article by Mr. DeMillo reporting on today's sermon initially announced that Rev. Wright stated that those who believe President Obama is a Muslim are "psychopaths." This article at Washington Post has now been revised to remove that word, but as of 6:13 P.M., the text under Rev. Wright's picture in the article retains the word "psychopath": http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte…
I was in the church. I heard the sermon. Rev. Wright did not use the word "psychopath." At one point as he discussed these matters, he used the word "sycophant."
The "psychopath" report has now, however, gone all over the internet, I believe, like straws blown everywhere by the wind, which no one can ever gather back up.
I'm not much on preachers anyway, but I agree with much of what Rev. Wright has said in the past. You got to remember that a preacher preaches to his flock. He knows their troubles, he knows their past, he knows the view of the world held by his parishioners.
When Rev. Wright was hard on whitey, he had plenty of good reasons. One can hardly drop a random finger on any day in US history and not see some situation where the blacks were being beat down. So I don't hold anything against Rev. Wright's sermons that contained anger directed at white people. You, I, someone else might not be guilty, but there are millions of racists living and dead who rightly get caught in Rev. Wright's cross-hairs.
Do he have an ego? Has anyone ever met a preacher who doesn't? Is everything Rev. Wright has said since birth been on the money....no, how's your record? The Foxpublicans demonized Rev. Wright just like they've demonized everyone else not listed in their Talking Points list of good Foxes. No doubt the Koch brothers, Karl Rove, and Tim Griffin have helped fire a few missiles at Rev. Wright.
Psychopaths....sycophants.....either work for me, but I tend to like racist, greedy, dumbasses much better. Look over the last 10 years of US history....sure looks to me like our chickens have been coming home to roost.
I, too, was there. It was a wonderful sermon, and the word "sycophant" was clearly audible.
By the way, the story is inaccurate in another sense. Wright clearly criticized both the war on Iraq and the war on Afghanistan.
G Cheese, just walk with a cane. If you have to slow down a cyclist just stick the cane in between the spokes. I makes a cooler sound than a playing card held into the forks with a clothespin.
Thanks for confirming what I heard in Rev. Wright's sermon, John. Rev. Griffen's report is absolutely correct, and I'm glad he called for a correction of the AP story, though AP simply altered the original story without noting that they had to correct it.
I'm struck by how shallow the entire report of Rev. Wright's sermon is, via AP. I didn't hear the reference to President Obama as central at all. What I heard was a profoundly inspiring call to any of us interested in the struggle for justice and truth in our world to remember that we do not walk alone, but are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who struggled before us. And who overcame, with divine help--as we hope to do, too.
When I compare that message with the one I heard yesterday in the D.C. event (via television), I have to conclude that one captures central insights of the major faith traditions of the world. While the other bastardizes them . . . .
government_cheese, I often run and walk the beautiful Big Dam Bridge, and I, too, get disgusted with the dog owners and dog shiz at times. Last I heard, Buddy Villines was pretty steamed about it, too, saying it costs the county something like $1,000-$1,200 a month to powerwash the mess off the bridge. Said we can’t afford to do that forever and that if the quorum court eventually has to ban dogs on the bridge, so be it.
Don’t know if you were walking the bridge at the time, but back in late April or early May, we had a problem with horse shiz on the bridge. I believe in late June or thereabouts, the county finally passed an ordinance banning horses and certain other livestock on the bridge. For sure, I haven’t seen a horse or its droppings since then.
As for the brainless people (young guys, usually) on bikes almost running people over, I’ll share what I do: I wear a referee’s whistle around my neck and when somebody whizzes by too closely, I blow that sucker as hard as I can and then shout “SLOW DOWN!” at the top of my lungs. Almost without fail, they’ll slow down.
One young guy, though, hit his brakes one day and when I caught up to him he wanted to know if I had “a problem?” I told him that, yeah, I did have a problem, but it was nothing compared to the problem he’s gonna have when he gets his socks sued off after hitting somebody. He gave me the finger and rode off. But I’d be willing to bet ya a Ben Franklin that he’s cleaned up his act, at least to some degree.
Pity that we have people like this among us, but we do. And they’ll prevail if they’re not called down. So get yourself a whistle, fella, and blow that sucker loud as you can when the need arises. You might be very pleasantly surprised with the result.
Speaking of bridges, the new pedestrian bridge at the foot of River Mountain Road that’ll cross the Little Maumelle to Two Rivers Park is coming along nicely. That’s gonna be a mighty sweet addition to our existing network of trails.
Rev. Wright is no different from any other preacher out there. No matter what they say someone is going to criticize them. The real problem Rev. Wright had was that his most famous follower threw him under the bus. Obama didn't have the balls to stand up for him. Instead the President took on Jim Wallis as a spiritual adviser. Wallis, who lied about accepting money from George Soros, still holds his position in the President's Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
The President picked a lying white guy over a black man who made a majority of white people uncomfortable.
Think the reporting on Sharpe was intentional or not? Curious about the actual source (transcript or tape) since we all know about the power of the repeated lie.
As one among many attending the service today, Wannabe, I can't speak for everyone there. And I surely don't know the intent of AP in initially issuing an article that misrepresented the sermon--or whether this was simply a mistake.
I find it hard to imagine anyone could listen carefully to the sermon and come away hearing the word "psychopath" when it was so clearly not there. But I also find it hard to imagine anyone could hear a sermon that made only one reference to the president and come away featuring that comment as the focus of the sermon.
My reason for wanting to report what I heard was simply to see the truth told.
And still, as of this posting time (8:50) the Hill is still featuring the psychopath quote in its headline about the sermon: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-roo…
Once something like this gets out there, it's hard to correct even when it's retracted.
Having spend an afternoon or two riding across the bridge I can tell you some bicyclists are terrified of the pedestrians. Certainly I feel like crossing the BDB is more dangerous than the Broadway Bridge.
And I am happy with a 6 mph speed limit for the bikes.
Groups walking 5 abreast are just inconsiderate but not a problem. Its the people who have their dog on a twenty foot leash and walk on one side while the dog drapes the leash all the way across. Its the people who stand on one side, then turn and walk to the other side without looking, the 4 year olds who suddenly break into a game of chase. Basically its people doing the same things that would get them killed if they did it on a city street.
The fact is, the pedestrians are clueless and that will never change. The cyclists are rigid and they might be beaten into civility.
People leaving their DS on the bridge ought to forced to face the consequences, because banning the dogs from the bridge would be a real shame. Maybe you should follow them with the whistle and blow it and yell at them to clean up.
If you are a Ron Paul fan, he lays it on the line for the Teaparty folks.
http://www.digitalmeetingcenter.com/ron-pa…
As a young black person who has voted in nearly every election since I've been eligible, I take offense to Rev. Wright's sweeping generalization of black youth voting tendencies.
Also, I'm not sure I understand the point of Skip Rutherford's tweet. What is the context? Was it just an observation with which he agrees or just something he found clever or profound? Having just criticized the Rev. Wright's sweeping generalization of young blacks, I recognize the irony in the statement I'm about to make, but I think generally white people who don't live near, work with, or even have genuinely amiable relationships with black people should steer clear of making statements about them--even if it's merely restating something they've heard.
Excellent points, mudturtle. I’ve witnessed everything on the bridge you’ve described. No doubt about it: Lots of people are irresponsible, clueless clods. Hadn’t thought about whistlin’ down those who don’t pick up after their dogs, but it’s a dang good idea and I think I’ll start doing it. Wish others who enjoy the bridge would, too. And Judge V, if you’re reading this, how about having more warning signs posted and enforcing the bridge-use rules, too? Would make for a cleaner, safer crossing and save the county a lotta dough, too.
Overcaffeinated, I'll take a stab at responding, since it may well be you're addressing me with your comment about white people repeating what they have heard black people say. It might help me to know more about where you're coming from, but based solely on what you say in your post, I'd encourage you to think more carefully before you opt for a segregationist stance.
I don't see that that stance does any of us much good. It deprives the white community, which strongly needs to hear the witness of African Americans, of the opportunity to benefit from that witness. And it overlooks the fact that "white people who don't live near, work with, or even have genuinely amiable relationships with black people" cared enough about assisting their black brothers and sisters to obtain rights that they came south during the civil rights struggle.
And in some cases, died for that decision. Have you heard of Schwerner, Chaney, and Goodman?
Personally, I'm deeply thankful for my African-American friends and for all I have gained from them, as I learn from them. And I'm grateful to the two wonderful African-American friends at New Millennium church who invited me to attend the service today. They mean the world to me and have enriched my life in profound ways.
Segregation does none of us a bit of good.
Wright is a white-hater and the fact the Arkansas Tums doesnt say that means you are totally biased
I wonder how many people who heard the preacher say "psychopaths" were actually hearing the word "sycophants" for the first time today, didn't know what it was, and the word "psychopaths" was as close as they could get. I wish I had been able to go.
I keep a big bag of doggie pickup bags by the front door, but when I dont have pockets, sometimes they fall out of the waistband of my shorts (which is amply padded) or whatever I have tried to improvise. These are as cheap as all get-out, folks, and they claim that it won't stink once bagged; I haven't conducted any testing. I try to get a Wal-mart sack to stick in the other pocket for used bags until we pass a trash can.
one of my neighbors has a st. bernard that he cannot control which has attacked us twice. He has it on a retractable leash which I believe is good for dogs up to 90? pounds ? but he can't control that dog,as I graciously pointed out the second time it attacked us. this annoys the hell out of me. A grown man looks like a damn jackass, anyway, running behind a huge dog on a pink leash, obviously trying to regain control that he never had. When I walked our 90- to 95-lb. Lab, the only times I had trouble controlling him were when we saw a squirrel or something. We didnt use the retractable leash after he outgrew it. I just sat down on the ground and let him take me for a ride because I had a lot more traction that way and I knew we were goin' squirrel-huntin' no matter what. My children told me I was a disgrace, and I told them to walk their own dog then. I still tear up thinking about him. But I know what you mean about big dogs on long leashes.
I do need a whistle, even though I dont live in LR and dont get to walk on fancy bridges. And as for the kids running from side to side like heathens, you have every right to say, Honey, (you little @#$@#$@#), You and your brother need to stay on one side of the bridge and stop running across it. See how fast those men on bicycles go? Im afraid you might get run over. If their parents dont like it, tell them that on public property an unattended child is fair game and, after all, you're just worried sick about their safety.
anyway if you walk your dog, and you think bagging up his fertilizer deposits is just too disgusting, get some of the little bags at Atwoods or Petsmart or Satans Emporium, I guess. The little bag works like a glove, then you turn it inside out & tie it. you can stick it in your pocket as is, but i prefer the plastic sack method.
I still have this here broken arm? but if you had a dog and you got extremely annoyed at jerk bicyclists, I dont see why you couldn't throw a sack or two of doggie doody at the back of their heads, SMACK! and then act innocent. ;) I mean, I myself would never, ever do anything like that, and I know Durango and Sister and DBI adn all my blogger/walker friends wouldn't either, but you must admit it would be quite rewarding.
Mr. Lindsey--
Is Rev. Wright's "witness" more valid than mine? It would seem based on your response that you feel so. If you are as genuinely interested in what African Americans have to say to the white community (a statement that shows fairly clearly that you are the one who lives in a segregated existence--one broken only when you are invited to church by your "African American friends"), why did you find it easier to dismiss what I was saying as segregationist drivel, rather than actually responding to my point about a random and misplaced comment about black youths? What about anything I've said denotes segregationist sentiments? It pains me that you seem to think that blacks exist solely to give "witness" to your version of the truth and not as humans in our own right. In trying to dismiss what I've said rather than actually addressing the point I was making about the voting tendencies of black youth, you've tried (rather unsuccessfully) to paint me as a George Wallace, line-in-the-sand segregationist. Congratulations.
And yes, I have heard of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner.
Have you heard of Colvin, Carr, Carter, and Stennis (not the US Senator from Mississippi)?
I remember years ago as I tolerated a baseball game at Jr. Deputy a grandmother sitting on the grass smoked about 14 cigarettes during a game, dropping every one in the grass next to her. As expected, she left them there as she rose to leave.
I picked up every one and put them in a Dixie cup. When I caught up to her, I told her, "I realized you forgot to pick these up, but I know you'd want to throw them away. Here"
Maybe one could make a point by carrying an extra dog bag and scooping any recently abandoned poop and placing it on the hood of the offender's car.
p.s. even though I don't live or walk my dogs in little rock, I think it would be a terrible shame to ban dogs from the bridge. if I DID live there, I would be afraid to set out on a walking adventure alone.
banning dogs would probably keep a lot of walkers at home.
Sigh. And so we go from a genuine give and take, from a fairly honest exchange of ideas and impressions to . . . the word handed down from on high.
I was reminded of Durango tonight. It's weird how he'll cross my mind from time to time.
(Tap, the only reason it reminded me of Durango was because I had an encounter with a flirtatious white guy. If it had been someone who looked like the Old Spice guy and was charming & brilliant, I'd be writing about you).
My dear friend of 20 years and I were out for drinks at a local tavern and this young man asked if he could join us. We said, in unison, "pull up a chair.''
Well, we got to talking about SEC football (at our urging) and his eyes just lit up. Unfortunately, he was also ordering shots of jagermeister, which soon began to impair his judgment.
I think I said something derogatory about Houston Nutt's recruiting ability and he just stopped and stared at me. He said, "Are you dating anybody?''
I was flattered that this drunk, young man who was 10 years younger would ask, but I said, "You're sweet, but I'm a lesbian and my wife is in the Middle East fighting for our country.''
Without missing a beat, he said, "What about her?'' looking at my dear friend of 20 years.
I said, "Nope, she's a lesbian, too.''
He gave us both a kiss on the cheek and bought us another beer.
It was another typical day in Hillcrest, Arkansas.
Good comment mud. I used to think I was the only one who cleaned up after folks at jr. deputy. Appreciate your efforts!
Dearest Sister,
You can doo-doo on me all you like, and I’ll just keep coming back for more, ‘cause I willie willie love you, babe. Always will. I’ll tell ya something else, sweet pea; if I’d been at that bar tonight, I’da offered ya a heckuva lot more than a kiss on the cheek and another beer. From your precious little ears down to your sweet little toes, I'd give you more of me than you could stand.
Oh, yes I would!
Love,
Durango ♂
PS: Hey, is that offer of free parking for the Sept. 11 Hog game still good?
As y'all know (and perhaps are sick of hearing), I don't like painting with broad strokes.
Maybe the place for me to start my comment is with a reference to census bureau statistics on voting, broken down by race and other characteristics, in 2008 and earlier presidential election years.
http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p20-56…
Black folk voted at a rate only slightly lower than whites, the difference being smaller in 2008 than in earlier presidential elections. (The question of concern to me is relative *registration* rates, and I understand there is a significant difference there, but I don't have those facts at hand.)
That said, I do agree with Rev. Wright that we have black folks who won't vote. And, yes, of course there are whites and Hispanics and Asians who won't vote. The latter categories are of no concern to me in the specific context of the pain that must be felt by those who risked life and limb to secure the right to vote that was specifically and vigorously denied to blacks for generations leading up to the civil rights movement.
It is that pain, I surmise, that gives rise to Rev. Wright's comments, which of course are overbroad. We know there are black people who weren't alive or of voting age during the civil rights movement who vote everytime the polls open -- even if it's just for dogcatcher. Okay. I know we don't vote for dogcatcher, but allow me some rhetorical flourish.
And it is baffling, painful, soul-wrenching to those who witnessed 1960s youth brave attack dogs and firehoses for the right to vote, to then see *some* (notice how I am avoiding broad strokes?) in the oppressed group show no interest in the rights earned at such a high cost. Hence, perhaps, Rev. Wright's generalization.
But I think he would acknowledge, and laud, those who have taken advantage of the franchise secured through blood and sacrifice. They are not the target, or topic, of his concern.
And so, speaking only for Tap, I take Skip Rutherford's point -- an illumination of the poignant dismay felt and expressed by some who worked so hard for the franchise, at the cavalier disregard of the rights by some -- SOME -- among the beneficiaries. Personally, I think it was an important part of what Rev. Wright had to say.
And if whites disregard the franchise at a rate similar to blacks, I do not care. Not for purposes of this discussion. This discussion is about the blood shed for the rights of one group that was unnecessary to secure the rights of the other.
It is a tragedy worth discussion, by all who support the free and equal franchise.
It's just that when you paint with strokes that are too broad, the message seems to be diffused.
Durango, my ex-boyfriend who always cheated on me...yes, I admit I think of you from time to time.
But, I only reserve one space for the LR game for my blog boyfriend, and that's Tap...hell, between now and then, Tap and I may be broken up. I think he was put off by the fact I've been with more than one (he tends to be prudish, like Dott).
I stand to make a mint on that game and can only reserve one free space to my blog boyfriend. We still have 13 days before the biggest party in LR so I don't know at this time.
(Tap, I'm rooting for you because you've never cheated in front of my face).
As for you, Durango, I can't resist dedicating this song to you AGAIN. It's just so apropos.
P.S. Houston Nutt is a loser!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-JzgxSvoRg
Jeez Durango, you're blatantly sucking up to Sister only because she has that parking spot. At least she is on to you. She definitely has you pegged in her song choice.
Ah, stj, the difference between me and Durango is that I know when I am being trifled with.
I would no more count on the benefit of your fleeting and illusory blog affections for a parking space than I would count on them for a nod of your head in the presence of your WBW.
And you know, of course, that I can never join you in reviling HDN -- having reduced the number of touchdown passes he threw at Central High by exactly one: the haunting aftermath of a dropped pass on a Go route that smoked the Marianna cornerback in 1973. In my dreams I catch that pass, and I am not moved to free safety in the next season.
But I digress. I will not argue with those who say he was a better teammate than he is a football coach.
Oh gee, Sis, how kind of you to put drop-dead gorgeous Carrie Underwood on here just as I was thinking about hitting the sack. After watching her twice, I’ll hafta pour another glass and go sit on the deck to collect myself before trying to get some shuteye.
Or maybe I'll just wake up the dssw and see if she wants to talk about what you've done. Or something.
And, NVR, cut me some slack, please; don’t ya remember? Sis offered me that parking spot long before Tap, in all his brilliance, came along. I just thought she was a woman of her word, ya know?
Tap, I think I may remember that bobbled drop, but as your bud, I’d never have brought it up. Some things are best forgotten?
You know Durango, I believe you and Sister are 2 of a kind--fickle in your blog affections. You should know by now that once her blog affections changed, the parking spot was off the table.
Of course, for the entertainment value, Sis may offer up some kind of competition between now and game day for dibs on the parking spot. Arm wrestling? Mud wrestling? Tequila shots? Trivia questions? Come on Sister--make it interesting!
Would that I could, Durango, my friend. Would that I could forget.
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore..."
I draw hope, though, in believing Greg Childs and Jarius Wright and Joe Adams will not know, this season, the anguish that haunts.
You know the old adage about men and women...Men looking for a parking place and woman needs a reason to let them.
overcaffeinateddaily,
I will admit that I don't know for certain who "Colvin, Carr, Carter, and Stennis (not the US Senator from Mississippi)?" are, and the google didn't help me. Would you explain?
Overcaffeinated, you ask, "Is Rev. Wright's "witness" more valid than mine?"
As my response to you initially said, if I knew you better and where you're coming from, I might well understand the point you are making better. Rev. Wright is a public figure, and to that extent I "know" him. I also heard him yesterday speaking from his life experience and his own heart, and so I "know" him to that extent better than I do you, who are a blogger on a thread with a username, with whom I have never interacted before this thread.
It was not my intent to discount your witness. My response to you simply points out that you are arguing for a racial segregation that I myself find destructive for our society. In pointing out that most of us live separate from each other in very many ways--separated by strong racial lines--you are simply pointing out a fact of life, which I find unfortunate and would like to work to change.
And so I spent fifteen years of my professional life teaching in and doing administrative work in three historically black colleges and universities. Did those years make me understand the African-American experience from the inside? No. I will always go through life with the privilege afforded me by my white skin.
But does that mean I cannot try to listen to and learn from the African-American experience and the wonderful African-American friends that God or providence or fate has brought into my life? I hope not.
Otherwise, we are all separated behind walls of distinctive experience (due, e.g., to race, gender, sexual orientation, ethic origin, socioeconomic status, etc.) that prohibit any of us from understanding each other and our shared humanity.
That vision of the world seems tragic to me. And it plays right into the hands of those who WANT to divide us along all those lines so that they can continue their economic and political control of everything.
When I heard Rev. Wright challenge us to struggle to build a different kind of world, and to remember as we build it that we are surrounded by a cloud of invisible witnesses, I heard him calling me to a vision of the world very different from the one you're offering me. His vision calls me to move beyond the walls that divide us.
Your vision tells me that because I am white, I need to remain behind those walls, since I can't understand you or your experience because you are black.
That's a segregationist conclusion, and one I don't accept, because it is dehumanizing. It might interest you to know, by the way, that the "black" church at which Rev. Wright spoke yesterday has white members, too. And it shares church space with a "white" church that happens to be my aunt's church--a church losing members, with an aging congregation, which has had the foresight and generosity to see that it can benefit others by sharing its resources. Breaking down walls, not building them higher--that's what I hear folks like Rev. Wright or Dr. King powerfully proclaiming as their vision. And that's where I would prefer to go with my life, instead of down the path of segregation that folks like Mr. Beck still urge us to take.
Obama’s minister and friend, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. and his Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, honored Louis Farrakhan at a gala, bestowing on him its Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Lifetime Achievement Trumpeteer award.
Durango, Im sure you can still park in sister's primo yard spot. Only, you know, not free. Does she like jewelry? maybe the two of you could go on a day trip to Sissys Log Cabin and find out for all of us if life really IS too short for ordinary ju-ray, and you could find some trivial token for Sister to reaffirm your love and send Tap packing?
So Sis can be bought with jewelry? I thought it would take that and at least a bottle of wine.
My apologies to Rev. Wright for suggesting (above) he might have been overbroad in making his excellent point about the tragedy of some who won't vote despite the price paid for their rights. Turns out, from the article today, that he used the word "some;" he didn't make a sweeping generalization at all.
And no, personally I don't fault Skip Rutherford's tweet for my misimpression. It's Twitter, forgoodnessakes.
Tina & Perplexed,
I'll have you know that my affections cannot be bought with expensive jewelry. For shame!
However, a 12-pack on ice will get your foot in the door. A girl does get thirsty, after all, especially during football season.
Isn't the Arkansas Blog great? We can have threads simultaneously on Dr. Jeremiah Wright and dogs shitting on bridges. that's why I am a faithful reader.
As he has done on other misquotes, I predict Frank Fellon will write that Rev Wright probably meant to say psychopath, and he stands by the story.
Author Archives
-
Women rise at Walmart
Given its battle against a huge sex discrimination suit, Walmart's announcement today of promotion to two women to lofty positions in the company seems worthy of note.
- Jan 20, 2012
-
Shane Carter will get Little Rock airport job
Good guess here yesterday. Little Rock National Airport Executive Director Ron Mathieu announced today that he'd hired Shane Carter as the airport's new director of public affairs and government relations.
- Dec 1, 2011
- More »
Event Calendar
-
Re: Thank goodness, it's Friday
Outlier, your friend is rich beyond most folks' wildest dreams to have you. Zelda, shame…
- on February 10, 2012
-
Re: Thank goodness, it's Friday
Not sure what's for breakfast, elwood, but right now I'm feasting on Ina Garten's chocolate…
- on February 10, 2012
-
Re: John Shannon resigns as state forester after adverse audit
Martha Shoeffner/ Director Shannon-Forestry/ been a bad week for matt decample and " the gov".
- on February 10, 2012
Top Commenters
Blogroll
Site Index
News
Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / Smart Talk / The Insider / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Bob Lancaster / Words / Guest Writer / Letters
Entertainment
A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Graham Gordy / Books / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / What's Cookin' / Calendar / The Televisionist / Movie Listings / Gallery Listings
This Week's Cover
Quick Links
Special Publications
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
