Friday, September 06, 2002

BRONSON: Abstinence works
This is the Peter Bronson I grown to loath. I was starting to feel really troubled having to agree with many of his column on the boycott and related issues. I am feeling much more at home see him be the fundamentalist prude out to indoctrinate everyone's kids with his brand of religion. I wish Peter and his conservative brethren applied their love for abstinence from sex to that of guns. Why not fight to keep guns out the hands kids, as well as keeping their "pee-pee" and "woohoo?" I would instead use the conservative's dogma back against them. Sex doesn't kill, people do!
Evendale hears new protest
This little village has no reason to be going through this nonsense. It would appear that the "protestors" are lacking in something constructive to do, and need to show their inner-city friends that they are just as much with the "movement," despite their generally higher level of success. The TV highlights of the meeting are almost like watching the clown posse of City Access Cable fame.

Thursday, September 05, 2002

Vice Mayor Calls For City Official's Resignation In Wake Of Twitty Indictment
Who is Alicia Reese trying to fool? Fagel may be a jerk, he may be snobbish bore, but why blame this man and undercut the process with baseless implications? Well, that answer is simple: she wants votes! She wants to gain votes in the black community. She has a bit of a PR problem in the black community. Calling for someone else to resign takes big balls in her case. There is more reason for her to resign for the allegations made against her, than there is for this man. The Vice Mayor looks like a cheap politician. That just might be all she is, and ever will be.
My Response to the Comments from Greg Flannery of CityBeat
I will start off by giving an apology to Doug Trapp. As Greg stated, Doug originally used the term "riot" in place of "uprising" and "rebellion", but Greg changed them. Greg then should at least be in my Media Dog House; the Hall of Shame was a bit harsh. I really do not think Greg's reasoning as to why he felt those words were better than "riot" holds up. If the intention was to illustrate the motivations of specific members of Stonewall, then I believe the way those words were used fails at that intention. The words were used in a manner that indicated a fact to the reader, not as the motivator of the people referenced. Here is the paragraph in question from the original article:

More so than the other new board members, Ford, McCleese and Bruins were energized by the social movement that followed the April 2001 uprising in Over-the-Rhine. From the rebellion emerged two new groups -- the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati and Citizens Concerned for Justice -- that joined the Black United Front in a boycott of downtown businesses.

What I found to be the problem is that the article declares that the "events" as Greg called them in his email, were not what motivated them, it was the aftermath of the events. Those events cannot honestly be called an uprising or rebellion. They were riots. I stated in my article that calling them a civil disturbance or unrest was not ideal, but they are politically positive terms for the black activist community that became generally acceptable by most of the media. They became reasonable. They were still not accurate, but they were within reason. By changing these words you spun the story to support the propaganda of boycotters.

As to Greg’s overall comments on the April 2001 riots I can only read it as revisionism. They only day with nonviolent protests was the Saturday after the Funeral of Timothy Thomas. Those were not technically illegal protests, but they were nonviolent. On the nights of rioting there was no nonviolent protests on the streets, at least none to speak of. Claiming that the riots were justified is not only wrong, it is sad. There is no justification to run around town breaking windows, throwing bricks and bottles at white motorists, looting stores, and shooting at police.

Luken's term “terrorist” was correctly used for hate groups like the "Black Fist" and the "New Black Panther Party." Those types of groups, whose members are wrapped up in with the boycott groups, are a few steps from becoming a "PLO" or "Islamic Jihad" type group. At this point the CBUF and the CJC have even been tainted by allegations of the use of threats and intimidation as stated by former Judge Nathaniel Jones. The boycott is extortion, so “terrorist” really is not a bad comparison. I can see where the timing of when Luken used it as a problem, since it was not to long after the 9/11 attacks.

What I find terrible about the entire situation, not so much of an issue with CityBeat, is that several of the boycott demands are things that I would agree with. What I cannot agree with is the means the boycotters seek to gain those demands. Instead of organizing a political campaign, they are trying to force a brand of progressive-populism on the populace with a neo-Leninist style to it. As a liberal I can find it difficult to draw a line with groups that under different circumstance I might find common causes. Instead I am pushed away and blamed for history based on the color of my skin. That is sad.

Boycott supporters vow to intensify efforts
This is yet another advertisement for the racist/bigoted boycott groups. I hope that the Black United Front boycotts all corporations in Cincinnati. I don’t know where they would then eat or buy food, clothes, medicine, or shelter. Will this boycott include not eating at Damon Lynch's restaurant? Why does the Post give these bigots a platform? Why does most of the media either cheer them on, or sit on their hands? Ask some questions Cincinnati media!. No one in any of the boycott groups would ever answer questions from someone like me. I don't care about ratings or votes. I am not afraid of being called a racist. I have already been called that, so I can look their bigotry and their racism in the eye and laugh and feel pity. I really don't know what they will do when their attention whoring no longer attracts the Johns (TV and Newspapers)? It will be a big shock. They will have to stage bigger and more outlandish incidents. This is where they will not be able to hold back the violence that bubbles in many of their supporters. That will not be pleasant to watch, but I will be watching from the comfort of my middle class chair, which they will not be able to knock me off. Their goal of revenge and separatism will not succeed. I wish they would instead get on board the mainstream, or cut out a niche that can fit into the melting pot.
Six charged in attack on bus
A handful of kids act out and it is a riot, but 150+ kids act out and it is a "wilding" or a "melee?" It would appear that race might have played a role in this incident, at least on the surface. Deerpark is a mostly white school district, while Mt. Healthy is close to mostly black. That information was missing from the story.
Prosecutors defend Twitty grand juror
" The jurors themselves picked Mr. Fagel as their foreman, the person who informs prosecutors of the jury's decision and signs the indictment." This not what the law states. (read my last post)

The real joke was Fagel's "laugh" to Luken. Fagel appears to be an arrogant ass. Luken is an ass for making that public knowledge. Why did the mayor mention anything about his conversation with the man? That sounds like something Todd Portune would do, not a form U.S. Congressman.
Rules offer insights on grand jury
Enquirer Watch:
"Q: How did Mr. Fagel become jury foreman, and what is the foreman's job?

A: The jurors select a foreman by voting. The foreman is technically the leader of the jury, but he has no more voting power than any other juror. "

Ok, this would be the case for a petit jury, but based one the Ohio Revised Code Section 2939.02 Selection of grand jury which states that "The judge of the court of common pleas may select any person who satisfies the qualifications of a juror and whose name is not included in the annual jury list or on a ballot deposited in the jury wheel or automation data processing storage drawer, or whose name is not contained in an automated data processing information storage device, to preside as foreman of the grand jury, in which event the grand jury shall consist of the foreman so selected and fourteen additional grand jurors selected from the jury wheel or by use of the automation data processing equipment and procedures in the manner provided in this section."
Today on WLW several callers who claimed to have been on grand juries support the fact that the foreperson was selected by the judge, not by the vote of the other jury members. Some of the callers were sure of this, other described a very informal process where "someone" asked who wanted to be foreperson, and only one guy raised his hand. That guy was made foreman, and that "someone" was most surely the judge.

One of many demagogues of the Buzz, Jay Love, praised this article for describing how Grand Jury selection works. I would agree, except for the section I mentioned above. Now, since the perception that this one part of the article is a little bit invalid, I am sure Jay would have to agree that this brings everything else in the article under complete suspicion. He must agree that the reporter, editor, and publisher put the fix in to mislead all of Cincinnati! Jay must now be calling for that reporter and editor to be fired!!!! The oppressors must be vanquished. We must raise ourselves, and our children. We must not let the racists force us to read newspapers!!! Reporter Brutality must be stopped! NO JUSTICE, NO PEA...........well you know.
Relpy from City Beat on My Post regarding an Article by Doug Trapp
Subj:
Date: 09/05/2002 1:37:46 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: gflannery@citybeat.com
To: CincyBlog@aol.com
CC: dtrapp@citybeat.com

Dear Brian,

I am writing to correct your statements about Doug Trapp's article on Stonewall Cincinnati.

If the use of the terms "uprising" and "rebellion" qualify a person for your journalism hall of shame, it is I, not Mr. Trapp, who deserve the nomination. Fact is, Doug used the term "riot"; in editing the article, I changed the word to "uprising" and "rebellion."

Mr. Trapp's article describes the reaction of some Stonewall activists to what happened in April 2001, saying they were "energized" by the events following the police shooting of Timothy Thomas. I think it safe to say that what the activists found "energizing" was not property damage or physical assault, but rather the spontaneous expressions of moral outrage that filled the streets. In the context of the article, "uprising" and "rebellion" are more informative and more accurate than "riot."

But perhaps more to the point, the actual violence in April 2001 was a relatively small part of what happened in the streets; far more people participated in nonviolent, albeit noisy, street protests than in any kind of activity that would qualify as "rioting." Use of the term "riot" unfairly denigrates the legitimate anger prompted by police brutality, just as Charlie Luken's use of the term "terrorists" to describe the civil-rights boycott of Cincinnati unfairly characterized their movement.

Thank you for allowing me to respond to your commentary.

Sincerely,

Greg Flannery
News editor
CityBeat


I will have a response later on tonight.
Defense upset that city lawyer headed grand jury
The defense is not upset; the defense is out tainting the jury pool. I think Sharon Zealey will be looking to get as many black people on the jury as possible. It appears she is going for a nullification defense. She will scream about a conspiracy, show no evidence of one, defame many people, and hope for a hung jury. This will end up being a mini-OJ trial, and I would not be surprised to see some of it on Court TV.

Wednesday, September 04, 2002

Queen City Soapbox: Grand Jury Follies
Chris has summed up the fracas over Stephen Fagel better than I did or could. I have just been amazed at talk radio host Jay Love's demagoguery on this entire issue. You would think Twitty has been lynched on Fountain Square. I am not sure, but I think the "Black Fist's" racist propaganda might actually be starting to sink in.
CityBeat: Stonewall Decides
This "news" article is horrible biased. I know City Beat is a progressive-populist publication, but their revisionism on recent history is not even close to objective journalism. This section of the article demonstrates this quite clearly: "McCleese and Bruins were energized by the social movement that followed the April 2001 uprising in Over-the-Rhine. From the rebellion emerged two new groups -- the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati and Citizens Concerned for Justice -- that joined the Black United Front in a boycott of downtown businesses. "

If Doug Trapp instead used "Civil Disturbance" or maybe "unrest" in place of "uprising" and "rebellion,” I would not be chastising him. Calling the April 2001 riots an “uprising” and a “rebellion” is nothing short of revisionist propaganda right from the playbook of the boycott groups. I would understand not using “riot.” I would disagree with not using it, but it is in the realm of reasonable journalism. Doug has moved away from journalism. He is nothing more than a propagandist. Doug’s story is otherwise reasonable, but placing those terms as a matter of “fact” is horrid journalism. Doing such is a form of imposing a false “truth” on his readers. Any honest reporter would shun him in a NY minute. He has made my Media Hall of Shame.
CityBeat: Your Negro Tour Guide "Can You Hear Me Now?"
I can hear, but this literary representation of a spoken word hip-hoppy poem just lost me. It might work in a coffee house, but I am not impressed with in on paper.
Action Agency to go against boycott
This was a big blow to the boycotters. It is unfortunate that this story broke the day after the Twitty Indictments. I can't emphasize enough Judge Nathaniel Jones report that the CAA board members where threatened and being intimidated by boycotters. I wish these statements were made to the police, but I don't know to level the actions reached. The next test will be the AFL-CIO dinner, followed by the Boss's concert.
SMITH AMOS: Opening lines
She brings up a good point. An indictment does not a conviction make. If Mike Allen does not have proof that Twitty's account is false, he will have to fight through a racially charged jury. One black jurist could utilize jury nullification on behalf of his/her "oppressed people" and that would send this to overtime, and conflict galore.
The Cincinnati Post Editorial: The presumption of innocence The Post gets it right except for this part: "Twitty, for his part, has maintained his innocence" Lt. Col. Twitty has never said he was innocent. His lawyer has stated such, or nearly such. That piece of this case makes me emotionally loose trust in his story. The facts make me lose most of my trust, but Twitty not having the guts to say anything himself, knocks him down a few more pegs in stature.
BRONSON: Lt. Col. Twitty
Unfortunately, Peter is correct. I must now take a shower, I feel dirty!
City official headed panel
Well this is going to be the battle cry for Twitty backers. Jay Love apparently is going to make this the topic for his show this afternoon. This is a jury-tainting tactic from Twitty's lawyer. I would like to know how this information was determined. Who made it public? Is the identity of grand jury members’ public record or secret?

This story will breed ignorant conspiracy theories that will run wild on the Buzz all day and the rest of the week. Will this be a ratings boost? I am sure they are trying to make it one.
Iron Bars Won't Silence Boycott (pdf)
I see that on this press release from the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati that Nate Livingston has been removed as a contact. I wonder why he has been removed as a contact. Could it be that he will soon be incommunicado at the county pokey? What is the most funny thing about this case is that these the other two contacts are women and this women compare Nate to past Civil Rights leaders like MLK and Mandela. How can you compare a man who has been in court for Domestic violence charges more than OJ Simpson to one of great men of the 20th century? Is that how domestic violence is rewarded in the activist community, a slap on the back in congratulations for being "elected" as co-chair of a bigoted boycott group? The same group calling Chief Streicher a wife beater elects a domestic abuser to be one of their leaders. I guess what is good for the goose is not good for one racist bigot about to be put back into jail.
More of the same, black leaders say
From the Article: “We say "No justice, no peace,' but peace is not even on the horizon,” said the Rev. Damon Lynch III, president of the Cincinnati Black United Front. “It's just no justice. Justice remains as elusive as ever for black people in Cincinnati.”
This kind of attitude bodes well for more violence and more racism on the part of Lynch's self declared constituents.
Reactions to Twitty Indictment
These reactions seem to be very one sided. I do not see much diversity in the comments chosen from area officials and "activists".
Cincinnati gears up forbig weekend
This is good press from Columbus. This weekend should be grand for the Downtown. All of the hotels are booked or nearly all booked. The games are sold out and Oktoberfest will be ready. The boycotters can do nothing to change this. I wonder if they will try, since they seem to only target Black events and entertainers, except for the Boss.

Tuesday, September 03, 2002

Queen City Soapbox: A Game of Chicken
Chris's analysis is on target, except for one issue. A second possible scenario that was raised on the radio today includes Twitty having his car towed from the park to his house. This could still fit with the theory of Twitty covering for someone else's crash, but it still leaves open the possibility he wrecked the car himself. In my opinion it is not really a crime if you hit a wall and then leave the scene. I don't think that would require a police report, unless the wall was damaged. That might explain why no indictment for hit-skip or leaving the scene of an accident. I of course could be wrong on the issue of hit-skip. The question that was not asked or not answered was, were those charges available to the grand jury. I do not know the answer, but that is the question that needs to be addressed.
I like Chris Anderson's Chris Anderson's take on my Evolution post. He agrees with my view that Evolution should in the public schools, and Intelligent Design should not. He does have a few doubts on Evolution in general, but that is a different discussion.
Hagan will back video slot machines to close deficit
I am pro-gambling, so this is positive to me, but I wonder if will get the independent libertarian vote? The religious will not vote for this, but Hagen would not get their vote anyway, excluding the minority religious vote, which will stay with Hagen in most areas.
Taft campaign takes issues on the road
Taft only got 100 people at a Cincinnati rally? That is a weak rally. An old man urinating in the middle of Fountain Square could get 100 people.
Radio Callers Sound Off
This article does not indicate the racism and the conspiracies brought up on the Buzz. That is not a surprise, since FOX19 is a partner to the Buzz. I wish the Buzz was more responsible in how it handles racist and nutty callers. They do not seem to screen anyone out, and they should consider do so.
New Clear Channel radio chief staking lower-profile path
I hope this new guy does change the horror that is commercial radio today. I doubt he will change a thing. Talk radio will continue to be the mindless right wing drivel Clear Channel likes. More intellectual gruel for the ignorant masses.
Firefighter charged with assault on son
I am surprised this has not been picked up as something more than an abusive father. No oppression claims? No pro-abuse lobbyists out there? I figured there would be a big group of "its ok to beat your kids" people populating the tri-state.
Twitty's Lawyer Reacts To Grand Jury Indictments
The lawyer is already full of crap. The police reportedly found cement residue on the car in and around where the damage was made. That is what she seems to want to avoid, as does Twitty, as does his knee jerk supporters. All she has to do is find the person who drove into his car. I am sure Mr. Twitty is qualified to search for this person himself. I even bet Scotty Johnson of the Sentinels, the black police union, would be up to help to find this person in his spare time.

I hope I don't see Twitty walking the golf courses in years to come, looking for the real reckless motorist.
Mayor Luken's Statement
Luken's words here are short, simple, and lack much of importance. There is not much he can say beyond this simple statement, and would be criticized if he said nothing.
Group protests union meeting
There is no way this union can walk out on union staffed hotels. The boycotters will loose on this one. I am pleased to see this reporter called the group of protesters "small". It is odd since their appeared to be more at Coney Island, almost two dozen, compared to the less then one dozen who protested recently at the NAACP offices.
Twitty Indicted By Grand Jury
Based on the evidence made public or reported by the media, this was a no-brainer. Twitty's case does not look good. He will have to cop a plea.

Listening to 1230 the Buzz I can only just sit in shock at level of racism, the level of ignorance, and the level of acceptance of conspiracy by the mostly black callers. People view this as part of some religious or grand movement in which they are at battle for their "race." This just drives every person with any level of honesty and sense of reality into a funk of "huh?" The same mindset seems to have taken root as did for the OJ Simpson verdict. I just do not get this group mentality. This extreme type of an "us vs. them" attitude is common in humans, but is rarely more strongly used along racial designations.

Speaking of OJ Simpson, I do have some suggestions for Twitty's defense team. These are some good slogans to use in the closing arguments of the trial, if it gets that far.
1. If you did not see the crash, you cannot give him the lash
2. Even with the cement, he must be innocent
3. Because he is black, you must assume he's under attack

They may not work, but they fit the spirit of where this trial is headed.
Cincinnati Enquirer Editorial: "Teach all the evidence"
Is this the reason why the Enquirer does not publish its editorial page on the web? I think Peter Bronson’s legacy has left its mark on the editorial board, and that is the mark of Cain!!!!! Well, in reality, it is the mark of evangelical/fundamentalist Christianity. The Enquirer editorial board is off their collective rocker. There is no credible evidence for any creationist theory yet put forth. Now, they did not use the qualifying term "credible", which I did, and that is where their argument fails. They confuse evidence with possibility. It is possible that one of the creationist variations is true. The probability that a creationist variation is true is lower than the possibility the Moon is made from cheese. Possibility is not congruent to probability, but many seem to miss the subtle difference.

There is more "evidence" that life began here on Earth via a spilled test tube from an alien kid on a field trip from the Vega Cluster School for Gifted Narns, than there is for any creationist myth, including "Intelligent Design". Intelligent Design is not a science concept, it is a philosophical concept. In fact Intelligent Design is nothing but a combination of the Teleological and Cosmological arguments for the existence of "god" found in most any basic philosophy textbook. Trying to pass this off as science is totally transparent. Any educated knows that the process of evolution is a fact, not a theory. The theory is in the details of that process, and to the “origin” of life. Most creationists do not see a difference in my explanation, but that goes with the use of flawed science. Creationists start with the assumption that a “god” exists and that the Christian Bible is infallible. Everything they come up with then cannot contradict those "facts."

The Enquirer's desire to "broaden the 'life origins' discussion in Ohio public schools" would logically be followed by the desire to broaden the discussions of the "theory" that the Earth revolves around the Sun, or the "theory" that "germs" cause disease thus making bloodletting unwarranted. Next the Enquirer will be lobbying for the Flat Earth Society along with the creationists. If they cannot see were this will lead they are not looking. Science is open to new ideas; it is not open to bad ideas that have been rejected. Holding on to your religious conviction is your right, but it is not your right to try and get every school kid exposed to them.

The effort to promote creationism is nothing more than a desire to protect and infuse a religion. This is not about open discussions. If you want an open discussion in schools, why not start with being open about sex, or the reality about drugs. The Enquirer instead just wants equal time for their religious beliefs. They want to protect their children from reality, instead of allowing them to learn about fact. The Enquirer is advocating the teaching of lies, magic and the supernatural as a regular part of science. Why not include witchcraft? That has as much place in science as their religion.

If the state school board votes to put any type of creationist dogma and propaganda, including intelligent design, into Ohio public schools the State will be the laughing stock of the nation. We will join the backward states, as the Enquirer jokes about, which have toyed with this nonsense before. This issue was settled long ago, but conservatives do not want to let go of their emotional crutch. The bible is not infallible. Religion is not science, it is not relevant to science, and it should not be part of the public school curriculum.
Grand jury indicts officer Twitty
I will follow-up with more tonight, but I will watch for what fallout occurs during the day.

Monday, September 02, 2002

No Kurt Vonnegut??? Chris at Queen City Soapbox has his list of favorite books posted. I have not heard of half of the books. I need to read more.
Eight people injured in two shootings
Is this a record for Cincinnati in a 24-hour period? Not one of these incidents was related to Riverfest. I think the enquirer should set up a crime page, keeping a running log of the violent crimes in the city or in the region. This would be good for two reasons. It would be a good crime statistic to use, and it would be good to compare to the police’s crime statistics to see who missed something or who is hold back reporting/recording them.
Group takes on 'uncool' Cincy
I am under 40, and I have no problem with the "things to do" in this city. We do lack communication. We have no good web communities or websites to build upon, mine excluded of course. We need cyber cafés, and places not geared toward the suburbanite with 2.2 kids. We don't have little local media to report on much of anything. The local media are built for families and old people. If you are under 40 not married, and have no kids, you are as good as dead to the local media outlets. The city is way to family focused, and when I say family, I mean the bland Leave it to Beaver family that suck the life blood out of any intellectual idea, because anything that a 3 year old kid can’t experience is considered to be a danger to the community. When the most influential media outlet is one geared towards 40 to 50 year old family men, you know you are going to have a beer can and quilt community. We have things to do in this city, and plenty of people to partake in them, but we are shielded from them, and we have no way to think beyond our own back yards.
Riverfest red, white and boom
"During Riverfest, Cincinnati police reported about 15 arrests for minor incidents like alcohol violations,..."
I saw no fights, no one getting beat up, no bus drivers being attacked, and there were a hell of a lot more people there than the Black Family Reunion. There were also more unsupervised teenagers from far more neighborhoods all mingled together, yet no mob violence occurred. How is this possible? I saw bikers there, I saw skater punks, I saw jocks, and preppies. How could there not have been a mob of kids fighting? Don't kids just do that? Hmm??

The fireworks were really good. I saw them from the serpentine wall, right across from Newport. It was the prime viewing location. The highlights were the spinwheels on the Taylor-Southgate Bridge, and the series of beam fireworks that arced over the crowd. I do not think it could have been much better, except I was so close I could not hear the many radios around me over the fireworks themselves.
Satan not welcome at prison
Ok, no how can anyone with a brain not see that religious freedom is not just the freedom to practice a brand of Christianity or of monotheism. Who determines what a "recognized" religion is? What authority will declare Catholics, Mormons, Baptists, and Snake Handling Protestants ok, but consider Wiccans, Satanists, and Bokononist not ok. How can anyone who advocates allowing Christian missionaries to run free in prisons, not allow any religion to run free? Many Christians are against allowing Islam to go unfettered in prisons. One such Christian is convicted felon Charles Colson, former Nixon official convicted as part of the Watergate affair. Chuck fears the rise of Islam in prisons. I must laugh at this kind of a person, this kind of hypocrite. I wonder what Peter Bronson would think about this? I would guess he would either agree or at least sympathize with the criminal Colson.

Christians cry religious bigotry when they are not given preferential treatment by the government or the media, but when they move to oppress the practice of other religions, they say the are doing their "god's" work and seem to forget about religious freedom. Theocracy is back in vogue with the red states, and it will be the death of freedom if it spreads.
Ohio's troubles pose little threat to Taft
It appear the Enquirer is one again behind the times or sees numbers in a vastly foriegn manner. The article states this: "Early polls suggest that most statewide GOP candidates will coast to victories in November. One of the newest governor's race polls, conducted Aug. 23 through Friday by a Columbus newspaper, found Mr. Hagan trailing Mr. Taft by 8 percentage points. "

But this AP story: Poll: Taft 8 percentage points ahead of Hagan tells a different story. I realize that the reporters most likely did not have this poll when they wrote this story, but that is what you get for writing the story early, and then taking vacation.
BRONSON: For whom do unions fight?
Ok, now is Bronson Union bashing or not? He bashes the public employee unions and their support for Democrats, but he praised the local AFL-CIO for not caving into the boycotters. Bronson is a shill for the GOP, the party still beholden to the Boss's small and large, yet he seems to be trying to gain the votes of union members. Does Peter want to break the unions or does he want to keep their organization and gain the votes. Is it principle or is it pure political jockeying. If you said the latter, you are today's winner of the obvious! Come on down to city hall and gain your prize: a big fat lobbyist trying to buy your vote. The rest of you will get the home version of our game "Screw the workers, gains some votes."

Sunday, September 01, 2002

Riverfest, fireworks end summer with bang
I shall be there and I will be watching for uncontrolled crowds. I wonder if Jay Love will be there, or will he be too fearful to attend?
What happened at Huntington Meadows?
A good follow-up from Greg Korte. I hope to see a follow-up in six months on what has happened with the former residents, the property, and any investigation into potential wrongdoing.
Miami stuns UNC - again
Love and honor to Miami,
Our college old and grand,
Proudly we shall ever hail thee,
Over all the land.



Alma mater now we praise thee,
Sing joyfully this lay,
Love and honor to Miami,
Forever and a day.


Fight Song Audio (RP)

Football game ends with attack
Another bunch of thugs who need to be arrested. Gee, I am saying this without knowing what their race(s) were! How about that! I can form an opinion without assuming what a person's race was. Yea for me! I will be waiting to hear on the talk shows how this event pans out vs. the aftermath of the Black Family Reunion. The race of these punk kids will define which radio station, WLW or WDBZ, devotes more time to this topic. I wish it would not, but it will.

I would raise one issue about the Enquirer printing this story. When a group of people in Over-the-Rhine attacked a motorist on Vine Street and started a mini-riot, it took Peter Bronson to report the story in his column. This story got not only newspaper space, it made at least WLWT-NBC yesterday. I again do not know the races of the kids involved, but does that have anything to do with the level of coverage this story has gotten? I do not mean the coverage because they have been black, I mean because they have been white.

Saturday, August 31, 2002

Voters to decide drug issue
Yet another statewide story gone missing from the pages of the Enquirer and Post. This ballot issue should bring many advocate ads on both sides, that might get ugly. It sounds like a fun time for all!
CincyNation.com seems to be showing a clear bias in their comments on this story:
"Jail the leader, just like the old South during civil rights movement
The 1st Ohio District Court of Appeals upheld Nathaniel Livingston Jr.'s conviction and sentence for disrupting a speech by Mayor Charlie Luken at the Oktoberfest opening ceremony in Fountain Square. It reminded us of the old South. If all else fails, jail the leader. Link to story
"
Where the hell did they get this? This "us" they mention, is that the same "us" that is a boycott supporter? This comment is unfair and unjust. Nate Livngston deserves what he gets. He is no civil rights leader; he is a bigot, a racist, an opportunist, and an attention whore. Trying to compare him to the civil rights leaders of the 1960's is ludicrous, and it is even more outlandish to compare his prosecution to acts of the Old South. I have not seen this website exhibit such unabashed bias before, but I will have to keep better watch. It is one thing to comment on story and criticize it, but it is another thing to make outlandish exaggerations with no basis in fact. CincyNation has made a big mistake in mixing its news links with it editorial. If they want to be a blog, then be a blog, don't try to be an objective source of news, and bait and switch it with opinion.
GUTIERREZ: For blacks only
Karen Samples Gutierrez again is telling us that the white community is perpetuating segregation. I again ask for examples of it. Do we perpetuate segregation by simply acting out the mainstream culture, instead of embarrassing the urban black culture? Are we racists because we do not accept the desire of some of black community to be submissive to their culture? If we don't accept them we are bad, but if they don't accept us, they are just celebrating their own culture? This is nuts. Karen, I think you are out on a limb of selective freedom. I can't be myself without oppressing them, but they can be them self without any repercussions. This is the epitome of a double standard, and I can see nothing but "white guilt" overtaking reason.
CAA capitulation prompts resignation
The key paragraph: "Judge Jones said Friday that he could not tolerate a decision by the agency board to move its annual dinner out of a downtown hotel simply because board members were afraid after being threatened with physical harm."
This sounds like it vindicates the lawsuit by the Cincinnati Arts group and it supports Peter Bronson's Column. Why the newspaper only has Nate Livingston as a spokesperson is a mystery. How can anyone trust a convicted criminal's claims? Was he the first person called or the last person called? Linda Newman and Amanda Mayes were not answering their phones? Nate’s claims were rather dubious, at best. These threats should be investigated. This has all of the earmarks of extortion. I hope the police and/or Mike Allen do not shy away from the firestorm that would be created in going after the "thuggish" boycotters who made these threats to the CAA.

I wonder what it took to get this story into the newspaper and to get it as a top story? This kind of incident has in the past only been in Peter Bronson’s columns. What changed in this set of facts? Does Judge Jones’s words carry more weight? Does a former Mayor, Bobbie Stern, raise so many eyebrows that no one can avoid this story? I hope the Enquirer keeps this kind of reporting up, and does follow-up and see if any prosecutions occur. Will Mike Allen look into this? Will the CJC find a patsy? Stay tuned.
W. Chester officials try to shut out adult shops
More fascism on the March. Why are people listening to Phil Burress? Why do they embrace theocratic fascism? I know many people need to be told what to do, especially when they are told to tell others what to do, but do they have a shred of individuality or freedom? I guess they fear the young boys will grow up to be guys who like to look at naked women. That sounds like something horrible!!!! Oh the humanity!!!!!!!
BRONSON: Spin cycle
When a spinmeister is whining that his spin is not working on the media at large, I must just take a moment to dance around the room singing and yelling in complete and utter bliss.
SMITH AMOS: Lincoln Hts. reunion
Denise Smith Amos has hit double with this column. She correctly and cogently covers both angles of this situation and calls out those who have made a bad situation that had improved, even worse.

Friday, August 30, 2002

CityBeat: Burning Questions "Do You Want to Know if a Politician Uses Racial Slurs?"
The answer to that question is yes. I want to know. I want to know everything a politician does that relates to his job or a current issue in the consciousness of public discourse. The case that Greg Flannery brings up is not as clear-cut as he alludes with his comparison to Dick Nixon and the Nixon tapes. One is a first hand source: the Nixon tapes. The other is a second hand source: the deposition.

For the record, I think Simon Leis Jr. is a fascist, and should not be in office. I also think Simon Leis has many other prior actions that have bordered on or been in full violation of either the law or of department policy or both. Facts of these actions have been reported in the past and are only relevant here as a measure of Leis's credibility.

Credibility is the crux of this case, and where the media’s trust lies. This issue has at its core an issue of credibility on the part of Mr. Leis and William Engleman. I do not know who is telling the truth here. It is legally a moot question in regards to the discrimination lawsuit, which caused the issue to come to the surface. That lawsuit was settled. Media outlets have to judge whether or not these allegations have any merit to them, and if those allegations are “news.” If they pass those tests, then they should print the story.

These allegations were not just the rantings of some nutcase off the street. Instead a former member of the Sheriff’s department, while under oath made them. Even though there are other allegations made about this source, from a sworn statement from Mr. Leis, it is a credible enough source to be reported. The allegations as indicated would be news in any situation, but they take on greater meaning in light of the police-community relations issues that have been the forefront of nearly all political discourse in this city for the last 2 years.

The Post and Enquirer, as well as the rest of the local media (except for City Beat), were derelict and should have reported this story. I am surprised that the TV outlets have not reported the story with a hot button issue (the "n" word) that can draw big ratings. However, I do not see a disingenuously hidden agenda on the part of the local in not reporting this story. The only hidden agenda that might exist is the same agenda that keeps stories like Peter Bronson’s BRONSON: Tainted vote in a opinion based Column, instead of a straight news story. That agenda is an attempt to avoid inflaming a tense city. In this case I think the story would spin the Lt. Col. Twitty case into an even more racial charged battle than it is, if that is possible. I wish the other media outlets would not worry so much about reporting the truth, instead of keeping an image, whether the image is of a peaceful city or a righteous civil rights crusader.

I am glad Greg wrote this article, but there is one major problem with it. He is concerned with whether or not Leis said a racial slur. This is the holy grail of racial politics. In this case the real issue is whether or not Simon Leis fired an employee because of her race. Greg did not ask that question in his article, and as far I know, no one else has either. That is the material story. If the only evidence to that story is the racial slur, then I see no proof of discrimination. If there were valid reason to fire this person, then no matter what level Leis’s alleged bigotry rose to, saying what he is alleged to have said would not have risen to the level of discrimination. The problem is that the world at large would not see it that way. The “n” word is like yelling fire in a crowed theater in this country, and no matter how deplorable Leis is as a person, words alone do not make discrimination.

Thursday, August 29, 2002

Chris at Queen City Soapbox comments on City Beat's Porkopolis. I agree with Chris on his support for Dave Schaff running as the Democrat nominee for the 34th House District against Tom Brinkman. I would vote for a monkey or dead man instead of Tom Brinkman. Brinkman is a far right zealot, hell bent on theocratic anarchy.
Press Release from Boycotters - 08-28-2002 (pdf format)
This is just filler. If this press release were food, it would be an empty taco shell. The boycotters are championing a recent editorial and some alleged comments from the City Manager to try and push their negotiations proposal forward. They have no meat to feed the public. Instead they have hollow motives. They are trying to bait and switch the City. They are raising a fig leaf, but they are not out to negotiate, they are seeking the capitulation of Luken and the Council. This group does not speak for countless ragtag list of inbred organizations that claim to support the boycott. Nothing positive can come from this group, short of calling of the boycott.
Two more hotels pull sex movies
Why do we tolerate this form of Theocratic Fascism? Why do we allow religious zealots to extort legal and vibrant businesses? Why do allow public officials to waste time with the private lives of individuals, doing no one any harm, while ignoring the many thefts and robberies that go unsolved?
Tristate A.M. Report: "Festival says no to ride provider" (scroll down)
Well, it would appear that the planners of the Lincoln Heights festival will not be using the amusement ride vendor who had pulled out from the festival last week. It appears that the organizing committee decided they did not want the company because they "didn't feel the crowd would be accepting of them." That infers that the organizers feared that the vendor's rides would either be boycotted or the equipment and/or ride operators would be in danger of possible hostility, verbal or physical.
Boycott leader must serve time
Na na, Na, Na, Na na, Na, Na, hey hey hey, Goodbye!
Chris at Queen City Soapbox raises a good point on Bronson name dropping. Adding Stonewall Cincinnati to the groups that participated in the NAACP boycott is a gigantic overstatement. The boycott was a small number of people, and if one or maybe two Stonewall members were there, who are part of the CJC as well, that does not justify listing Stonewall. Bronson is known for his religious based stances on almost everything, including sexual orientation, and shows his colors by dropping Stonewall into the fray for no other reason by to lump them with bigots and racists. Chris is also correct about Stonewall heading for disintegration over the backing of the boycott. Kathy Wilson has reported on what has happened at meetings recently.
Major union may bust boycott
This is one huge test for the boycott. If the AFL-CIO caves into to this group, that will show some real movement in the effectiveness of the boycott. If the AFL-CIO does not cave they will be called every kind of racist there is to be called. I would bet the union rank and file would be very against the boycott and most of the boycott demands except the pro-union demand listed to try and bring the unions into it. The Union leadership sees this as the only way to gain power in the changing politic of the city and the nation. The far left socialistic economic policies are dying hard and fast with the populace. Liberals like myself are full-blooded capitalists and might support the right of workers to unionize, but deplore the 1930's mindset in methods and goals. I bet they will not cave totally, and look for some kind of compromise.

This news article seems like a plug for the boycotters, adding the pressure the boycotters want. Additionally, if your main quotes are from Nate Livingston, you must have really been scraping the bottom of the barrel.
The “Go-Getter’s” Ups and Downs
UPS: John Schlagetter sent me an email over the weekend about a post of mine covering the Phil Heimlich semi-controversy about his stint as a radio talk show host on WRKC-AM earlier this year. This issue covered whether Phil’s stint on the radio amounted to a campaign contribution. I do not know if it does or not, but it should be investigated. John’s point was to differentiate Alicia Reese’s and Ken Anderson’s radio shows and he is correct. Both Ms. Reese and Mr. Anderson had different situations than Phil Heimlich, but overall each of the three raised the issue of politicians jumping back and forth from candidate/office holder to member of the media, ala Pat Buchanan’s revolving media door. My point was not to allege either Ms. Reese or Mr. Anderson had violated any campaign finance laws. My point was to question media outlets that hire politicians back after the election season, for which I question both WRKC and WDBZ.

DOWNS: John was filling in as host for Jay Love today on the 1230 the Buzz and he made a comment about Peter Bronson’s Enquirer column called “Tainted vote: NAACP intimidated by thugs.” John took Bronson to task for using the term “thug.” John seems to hate that term, mostly for its overuse. I can say the same for terms like “healing” and “change”, but that is a different issue. Here John is not fair in claiming Bronson used the word totally on his own volition, with an implied purpose of demonizing the protestors. The protestors do a find job of degrading themselves, but I digress. Norma Holt Davis, local NAACP President, is quoted in the column: “the protestors were ‘thuggish,’ she said. ‘I stand by that.’” I realize that “thug” and “thuggish” are not exactly the same word, but they are close enough for Bronson to use the noun form of the word in his column subtitle. John, in my opinion, took a cheap shot at Bronson. Bronson deserves to be knocked down often for many of his columns, but not this one.

Wednesday, August 28, 2002

BRONSON: Tainted vote
"The only thing more amazing than the news in this town is the stuff that is not considered news."
Peter you need to address this issue with the newsroom of the Cincinnati Enquirer. You readers cannot do much about it, beyond bitch about it like I am.

On Monday WLW talk show host Mike McConnell read on the air from this column or a similar unpublished story about the same incident and included information that the protestor “broke” into the NAACP offices, banged on walls, and barged into the local NAACP board meeting and stayed until they board “voted” to change the site of the dinner. Mike facts correspond with the Bronson column, but go a bit further in implicating the intimidation and coercion used by protestors, or what could be called, most appropriately, THUGS.
CityBeat: 'Continuous Pressure' - Interview with Rev. Lynch III
One word: Softball. There were a couple of questions that were semi-critical, one about Islam over Christianity, and the other about Lynch's father supporting Billy Graham. The separatist question had promise, but without knowledge of any follow-up questions, it loses all meaning. In that question he did confirm that he wants an afro-centric society, or at least he wants a separate afro-centric society. This is a passive form of black separatism. What I still do not get is what is the difference between euro-centric and afro-centric? What is euro-centric? I have never been to Europe, well except that I think I was conceived in Spain, but other than that my culture is American. I am not European. I like Europeans. There are commonalities between American Culture and European Culture, but they are clearly not the same.

What is it about American culture that Lynch does not like? Does he hate the fact that historically most of the faces one sees are not black? Is that it? I don’t fathom his position if it is not separatism. He wants to live in what he calls afro-centric, but I think it is clear he wants a black dominated society. He thinks that is what white people need: “Maybe it's time for the 30 percent white kids to sit through an Afro-centric education, the way we had to sit through a Euro-centric education.

Mr. Lynch and the boycotters have no desire to get along with the mainstream society. They want to live in a society where they are dominant. If I reject it, I am called a racist, as my hate emailer has pointed out to me. I have no choice but to reject their bid to take over the city and seek revenge on the white citizens of the society. It appears that the boycotters will not be satisfied until they can form their own Apartheid society here in Cincinnati. They want a South Africa style system where instead of white control; they are in control.

I know that some of my readers are hoping I am going over the top. I really hope I am over the top on this issue, but I see little evidence to sway me that my extreme conclusions are not really that extreme. How far apart are the views of the “Black Fist” from the Black United Front? I would hope the are miles apart, but the “Black Fist” is a hate group, the equal to a neo-nazi group, and I do adhere to the adage that you are who your friends are. If you are friends with and are supported by a hate group, you are a hate group.
KORTE: City Hall
I have no problem with Ms Lemmie speaking her mind. I do think it is unwise for Charlie Luken to have her speaking to the media on a regular basis about non-specific city business. Lemmie is not a political official, she is an operations manager.

I clearly disagree with her contention that slavery reparations are an issue that should be discussed by lawmakers. If that is the case why don't lawmakers discuss giving the Nation of Islam their own state as they wish? Why should we do neither, you might obviously ask? We should not discuss crimes of lineage or appeasement. I am not responsible for the crimes of my father let alone the alleged crimes that my great-great-great grandfather, who most likely did not commit any crimes against blacks, and probably knew few, if any black people. I am sure to get more hate mail, but facts out way the bigotry of a few.

Tuesday, August 27, 2002

Chris at Queen City Soapbox raises several good points about the Transit sales tax proposal. I agree with one of his overall points: they system should be regional, which includes regional funding.
Transit tax levy faces opposition
The region needs this transit program, holding it up now will only keep the Federal Government from fully funding their portion. It is true the entire region should be flipping the bill for this system, and the sales tax increase is the way to do that, but don't hold back change now because you want more money now for your own pet projects. Luken, with Cranley in tow, is making hay with the anti-tax sentiments that run through almost every voter out there. Opportunism is not going to build a new transit system.
Lawsuit against boycotters dismissed
I am going to restate my scenario on this subject from my prior post on this issue. Would it now be legal for me to send a letter to suppliers that have contracted with Kroger to make shipments to the Cincinnati area with the following statements:
1. Since Kroger sells widgets and widgets are "evil", I am advising you not to ship you products to any store in Cincinnati.
2. If you do ship your products to Cincinnati, I cannot rule out the possibility that violence might breakout at some of those stores.

Is this a legal action? Is this not similar to what the boycotters have done?
A big warm welcome to the Blogosphere to Chris Anderson over at the Queen City Soapbox. I look forward to trading links and comments with another local Cincinnati Blogger. I have to thank him for listing my site on his, and I will soon be returning the favor.
Al Green Planning Free Concert For Blue Ash
Now will the boycotters claim to have made Al Green ill?
Hagan won't get $50,000 paid for Janeway's uniform
This story has the flash that at least the Enquirer's Tempo Section would have gone after. That is why I am shocked that I could not find it on their site today.
Taft, Hagan make tax returns public
Once again you would not know this happened if you only read the Enquirer or the Post.
Gov. Taft expected to campaign for math
This is not a news story; this is just reformatting a press release. I wonder if the Enquirer will do this for the Democratic candidate? I will not be holding my breath.

Monday, August 26, 2002

Press Release from Boycotters denouncing violence at Black Family Reunion (pdf file)
I would be inclined to think Nate and Amanda were jumping for joy while watching this on TV. I was more amazed that they questioned the success of the Nation of Islam Security at the event. I would question anything associated with a hate group.
CincyNation.com wants the City to Settle
Time for leadership: Settle with the boycott group now rather than later
When all is said, the city of Cincinnati will settle with the boycott group. So why not settle now instead of allowing this continual barrage of bad news to severely damage Cincinnati's reputation regionally and nationally?

The economic damage has been staggering and can only get worse. A settlement between the city and the black community will happen because there's no other alternative.

Do it now before the damage can't be undone.

August 20, 2002


Appeasement will get you nothing but a bigger boycott. There are people boycotting who will boycott until they get their own country. I am serious. They will not stop boycotting until they are granted a "black dominated" country. Don't cave in to extortionists.
Soul singer Green fails to show in Blue Ash
I am waiting for one of the boycotters to claim they convinced the Airline Al Green was flying on to delay his flight. Nothing would shock me from that group.
Judge tosses anti-boycott suit
So let me get this straight. If I write to all of Kroger's suppliers and tell them they should not make previously contracted shipments of their products to Cincinnati, and I tell them that if they do make those shipment against my advice violence might break out, then I have not broken any laws?
Suburbanites eschew downtown
Jay Love wanted to call this a boycott. This is not a boycott. This is just an economic reality. He is right, however, that suburbanites not coming downtown are doing more damage to the downtown than current boycott has done or will do.
More on Riverfest Comparisons
Jay Love from 1230 the Buzz agreed with a caller today that "racists" tend to use statistics when arguing. This contention was made by a self-professed minister named Bill. Bill was referring to a prior caller on Jay's talk radio program. As a further extrapolation, Jay went on to try and equate the actions of the riot after the Black Family Reunion to last year’s Riverfest where 12 of 2,000 to 3,000 is less problematic than 35 of 500,000. He focused on the fact that 35 is more than 12. I think Jay might have flunked math as well a relational science. If you are going to compare something, you have put them on an equal playing field.

I wonder if Jay listens to his show after it is over. I wonder if he makes note of his mistakes. Jay made the claim that Riverfest is just as bad or worse in terms of crime than what happened after the Black Family Reunion. How is .0048 better than .00007 as a rate of number of crimes per person? Does Jay only like comparing "actual values"? I guess he has some fear of exposing the problems in the black community on a quantitative basis in comparison with the "white community". I don't really think that is true. I have heard him speak on the rate of unwed mothers in the black community and how it compared to the mainstream community. He feels they are out of whack and speaks to how that can be corrected. I am puzzled why he is trying to downplay the violence acted out by this group of kids after the Black Family Reunion.
Police see noisy night, no violence at Riverfest
I referred to this issue previously, and McConnell on WLW had a similar opinion.
BRONSON: Black parents 'mortified' after melee
Bronson seem to be a bit behind the curve on this one. He seems to be reacting to the talk radio vibe and maybe even the blogosphere??? I doubt Pete is a blog fan, but you never know who might be reading my site.
Hate Mail
I got my first hate email! You know you are doing something right when you get email like this:

Subj: You Still Suck!
Date: 08/26/2002 6:19:15 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: incredibleewf@yahoo.com
To: cincyblog@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)



You are still a newsboy who can't get a job at a real newspaper. You suck! And you have no credibility. You frequently misspell words. (Can't you afford a spell check?) You suck! Your website has two letters written by that dingbat and poverty pimp Linda Berger. The letters seem to be written by an elementary school student, yet you post them on your website. Face it, you have no credibility! And in case you missed it, you suck! Damn racist bastard.


It is too bad that this coward could not at least sign his name. My reply:

At least you could have signed your name, Mr. Livingston I presume?

Sunday, August 25, 2002

Local Woman's Body Found Under Refrigerator
This is one of the those cases that on the surface could write itself. I would guess Drugs are involved. If not drugs as the cause of death, I would surmise domestic violence as the second choice. I am not familiar with Richmond, Indiana's crime rates, but I would think they don't get many homicides there. This case will fall through the cracks unless something "sexy" or somehow children were involved. And so it goes.
Ohio Senate President Released From Hospital.
This is rather big news, and happened here in Cincinnati. I missed this in the local Papers.
Update: This was buried in the Tristate A.M. Report on 08/24/2002 in the Enquirer.
Rides return for Lincoln Hts. festival
This appears to look like a single employee of Star went overboard with some bigoted viewpoints. I am glad this issue has been resolved allowing the event to go on. What is disturbing is that the owner of the company who was interviewed by local TV did not want his face shown on TV. He was motivated out of fear, ether to be considered a racist, or that he would be targeted by someone because of his race.
BRONSON: DNA test could prove he's not child molester
One day Pete is a libertarian-conservative and the next he is a populist-conservative. Today I just see him being a plain old conservative. The three faces of Pete might make a good after school special; maybe PAX would pick it up.
SMITH-AMOS: Heimlich talking or campaigning?
This is a big issue that gets little attention. Ms. Smith-Amos rightfully brings out Phil Heimlich's deal to get free PR. Phil is not the only candidate to straddle the media line. Alicia Reece, Vice-Mayor of the City, and Ken Anderson an independent Candidate for city council, both have had radio programs of a similar type to Heimlich's but instead on WDBZ 1230 AM.
PULFER: Jungle Jim needed downtown
This is a great idea, but that is why it will not get done. Good ideas that change things will not get support in this city. Only stale ideas get support in this city.
'Star Trek' convention raises money for Democrats
The Enquirer suddenly realizes there is an election for Governor in just over two months, and it realized it with an article showing negatives about the Democratic candidate. It is amazing how the Enquirer would run a news story about the how the Democratic candidate is lacking money, is linked with Hollywood, nerds, and Bill Clinton. I don't think Bob Taft's lackeys could have written a better story.

Compare the story from the Columbus Dispatch, Plain Dealer, and the Akron Beacon Journal.
Twitty case: How car wreck came to inflame city's wounds
This is a good summary of the fallout from the Twitty incident. The most telling event is the automatic and prejudiced reactions heard from callers on the Buzz and from other leaders like Scotty Johnson and the ever-irreverent Damon Lynch III. They new nothing of the information, but they assumed that since it was a white chief suspending a black officer, that must be an injustice. I do not understand this attitude. I understand it exists, but I cannot grasp why people believe such propaganda. I also do not understand why this kind of bigotry goes unchecked and unchallenged by the media and by the black community, and I will continue to beat my head against a wall trying to get that word out to the public.

Saturday, August 24, 2002

News - No Shirt, No Shoes, No Baggy Pants?
This is an old story, but I had a personal experience with "baggy pants". On Friday, while getting lunch on 6th Street, I was subjected to following a man, aged 20 to 25, with his pants below his ass. He had on boxer shorts, so nothing was showing, but this was disgusting. The man not wearing a shirt and was carrying a small child. I think his pants even had a belt. I was never close enough to him to comment, but I was contemplating doing so. I was thinking about how to say I thought what he was doing was wrong, without being label a racist. Our, I did not mention this guy was black. That is not really important, except for my hesitation of going out of my way to tell this man to pull his pants up. I also hesitated a bit because he was not a kid. That made me conclude that he was wearing his pants this way on purpose. I had seen an earlier example of this on a younger person while driving along Central Parkway. This person was around 16 to 18 years old, and was walking with a girl of similar age. I was in my car this time and did not stop of course. No one else was walking around the couple, so my motivation to stop was very minimal.

Is this supposed to be a fashion statement? It appears to be more like a primal mating ritual. This man yesterday just strutted like a peacock down 6th street during midday lunch rush. This must be a self-centered person who really needs the attention. Well, I have given it too him, but I think those who read this and those who saw him came away with the same impression that I have. This person is ill-mannered, inconsiderate, and self centered. I wish I could have said something to him, with the fear of being called a racist because any white person questioning the actions of a black person is more often than not considered racist by the black community and "white guilt" crowd.
Phone line disruption debated
"She said 911 and emergency service dispatch centers were not affected, because they have redundant and backup systems to be able to continue to operate."
Not true. I dialed 911 to test it out the night the wires were cut, and I got nothing. So Ms. Long is not correct. I think we are going to get a little bunch of nothing in a credit for lost service, a couple of bucks at most. I want to know who will or has lost their job over this.
Lemmie has right to speak out, but ...
This story was very thin on facts. Chris Monzel, the opportunist at large, was either sticking out his neck or left out to take the fall for critiquing Ms. Lemmie.
Actors ride dreams to stardom
No, I was not one of the 2,000 actors. I was tempted to go down for a second, but I fear my bar room floor looks would not be film friendly.
Loves join list of big givers
This does not compare to my 100 dollars a year, but you have to give what you can give. Good show Love Family! I hope this gives Jay an idea or two.

On the only down side, I wonder how much grief Ross Love will get for giving this to the United Way, instead of a "black run" or "black focused" charity.
RADEL: Disease carriers --Dead birds seem to rain from the sky
"Don't panic, I told myself. Don't succumb to West Nile virus mania."
To late there, Cliff, I fear you have pushed the panic button and now the easily scared soccer-mom will be filling up the SUV with gas and food, and locking the kids in the storm cellar.

Evidence that the media has pushed the panic button: from the Enquirer and the Dispatch.
GUTIERREZ: For blacks only
Is this just more "White Guilt" run amuck? I am the only liberal in this town not to feel that the white man is not to blame for the ills of the black man? This quote from the column seems to be amiss of detail:
"White people don't say much, for instance, about the unseen forces that keep African-Americans out of the suburbs. Or the disparities in the quality of health care received by blacks and whites, as detailed in a March report by the National Academies' Institute of Medicine."

"Unseen Forces"? Is this the same “white hand” keeping the black man down? What about the "unseen forces" that keep my white ass from the suburbs? I call it my lack of a bank account balance greater than a down payment on a house. If a poor black family making $25,000 with bad credit thinks they are kept from buying a $100,000+ house in the suburbs because of the color of their skin, then I think they are either misinformed, ignorant, or suffer from delusional paranoia.

The health care issue can be traced to economic class. Blacks are not denied health care because of the color of their skin or any other reason. Anyone can go to a hospital and be treated if injured. Whites can afford more health care on average because whites are wealthier on average. Saying it is racist that whites on average make more money is a stupid as saying it is racist that more blacks play professional basketball. Blacks cannot gain wealth by osmosis. It takes playing the game of the mainstream economic culture. You either assimilate into that mainstream culture, reaping the benefits of existing business structures, or if you want your “own”, you then must fend for yourself.

Blacks have nearly the same opportunities as whites. There is racism in this country. There is not that much of it, however. What there is more of is cultural bigotry. Whites in general and middle and upper class of all races do not “like” what I can only term as "urban black culture." That is a term that I cannot quantify with a specific meaning. It is not meant to be the same as "black culture" which is as much of a myth as "white culture." Those terms are used for simplicity's sake. When people complain about black youths running on the streets they don't generally intend to defame a race. Some do mean to do that, but they are an insignificant group.

Those that are called racists today are really they type of person who hate the inner city black culture. If you took a black family that shared much of the same attitudes as they did, they would have no major problem befriending them.

What really is the problem on this issue is that blacks define their culture based on race. They group themselves on race and generally race alone. Whites and other races to a lesser extent do not do that. Whites, again with exceptions, group people by ethnicity. Irish, English, French, Spanish, Polish, German, or Greek is how they are viewed. Blacks in America may have some subgroups, but they would be defined almost solely by class, not ethnicity. Blacks view "African-American" as an ethnicity. On a certain level it has the characteristics of one. Blacks have been treated like an ethnicity historically, but when in the last 50 years blacks seemed to have accepted being African-American as an ethnicity and comparing it to being White or "European-American". This is a big mistake for many blacks. Whites today, and generally historically, do not view ethnicity the same as race. Until this concept is understood in the black community there will be conflict. I can go on and on about this, so I will end it here. I will have more as the days and weeks go on. I don’t see a meeting of the minds anytime soon.

Friday, August 23, 2002

Hagan's campaign to run ads on Internet
"The Hagan for Governor campaign, bereft of money for television ads, will wage its media war via the Internet -- a risky strategy never before tested on this scale in American politics."
The reporter seems to be forgetting the last Ohio Senatorial campaign, where the Democrat did the same thing, and lost. I am surprised this story has not hit Cincinnati yet. I guess the Enquirer and Post do not even want anyone to know that Bob Taft has an opponent. Here is Hagen's Website. Taft's site is here.
Lemmie: Businesses must listen to boycotters
Is that steam coming from Charlie Luken's ears? Lemmie has guts for saying this. She also sounds like she is ready to give up and cave to the "demands" of the boycotters (terrorists). I had no criticism of Ms. Lemmie so far, but I think this was a huge mistake. She is fueling the boycotters. She seems to share sympathies with the boycotters goals, but not the means. I have no problems with some of the demands, but most of them are unreasonable, or just plain moot. She has taken her first big step as City Manager, one that rivals the role of the Mayor I might add, and that step was into the forest. Her first grade is a D.
NAACP Protest
This was a clearly a racist protest, and here the boycott website is playing it up with pictures. If this was the KKK in black face, the media would be charging like the Calvary. Bigots to left of me, racists to the right! I guess the boycotters have no shame of the racists they consort with. Also something you should note, there are maybe 10 people there protesting, if that many. How could the NAACP cave in to a mere 10 protestors? I smell something fishy.