Good Job People!
First of all, out of the 27 comments we recieved so far on the Mary Mitchell topic, we have only had to delete two! One had nothing to do with the topic, the other one was completely wrong on a certain fact regarding the death of Brian Strouse, so we aren't bothering to publish it.
We salute our readers for their well thought out and intriguing commentary that stayed on subject and built on a lot of the points we made. Mary Mitchell is a damn poor excuse for a columnist and it's nice to know others feel the same way.
Second of all, just about 99% of the feedback regarding fully moderated comments has been positive. We're going to keep it going for a while as our readership numbers have only taken a tiny little slip and we aren't really in this for the numbers anyway. We do it because we enjoy it. And this site has suddenly returned to being enjoyable - at least for us.
We salute our readers for their well thought out and intriguing commentary that stayed on subject and built on a lot of the points we made. Mary Mitchell is a damn poor excuse for a columnist and it's nice to know others feel the same way.
Second of all, just about 99% of the feedback regarding fully moderated comments has been positive. We're going to keep it going for a while as our readership numbers have only taken a tiny little slip and we aren't really in this for the numbers anyway. We do it because we enjoy it. And this site has suddenly returned to being enjoyable - at least for us.
posted by SCC at 12:05 AM
33 Comments:
There is hope, read!
Clarence Page
Cosby's call for understanding
Published August 9, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Here's a scoop for you, America: Bill Cosby has a hard time getting his message out.
"The media love to choose what they want to use," he said. "I can't go door-to-door to tell everyone what I really mean."
But William H. Cosby Jr., PhD, did manage to get ahold of your humble scribe on my cellphone during my vacation, scoring some rare cool points for me in the process by saying hi to my teenage son.
Cosby is like my 100-year-old grandmother; you never know what to expect. My heart pounded. Was he calling to praise? To complain? To sue?
As it turned out, he was calling to complain, but not about me. He appreciated my recent column about the national debate he ignited with his now-famous speech on the 50th anniversary of the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education school desegregation decision.
No, Cosby was calling out of frustration, he said, over failure of other media to report what he has been trying to say. The Washington Post, which first reported the uproar over his 2004 speech, and other media have focused too much, in his view, on his sarcastic language. Too little attention has been given to the problems about which he was speaking: crime, violence, school dropouts, out-of-wedlock births and other self-inflicted plagues among black youths who were left behind by civil rights reforms.
"Our children are trying to tell us something [with their self-destructive behavior] and we're not listening," he said.
I listened. He talked. I took notes. The last straw for Cosby appears to have been Michael Eric Dyson, a University of Pennsylvania humanities professor and a Cosby critic. In a July 21 op-ed essay in the Post, Dyson lashed out at what he calls Cosby's "blame-the-poor tour" for ignoring major political and economic forces that continue to reinforce black poverty--such as low wages, outsourcing, urban disinvestment, unemployment and substandard schools.
"None of these can be overcome by the good behavior of poor blacks," Dyson declared.
But, of course, that statement is wrong, dangerously wrong in the disrespect it pays to the value of good behavior. As generations of successful black families can attest, good behavior won't solve all problems, but it beats drugs, crime, abuse, child neglect and other forms of destructive behavior.
Cosby offered two stellar examples, Jachin Leatherman and Wayne Nesbit, who defied the usual young black male stereotypes by graduating at the top of their class from Ballou Senior High School, which has one of Washington's worst crime, poverty and dropout rates. Having survived distractions that included the shooting death of one of Nesbit's football teammates, the two athletes are headed for College of the Holy Cross this fall.
At a July forum in Washington on the state of black men in America, featuring Cosby, Harvard psychiatrist Alvin Poussaint and other experts, Leatherman and Nesbit were asked how they did it. They praised their fathers and their athletic coaches for "staying on top" of them.
(The forum, sponsored by the Post, Harvard University and the Kaiser Family Foundation, can be seen at Kaiser's Web site, www.kff.org),
"There's the answer right there," Cosby said. "Why won't the media cover that?"
Alas, in newsroom terms, the lads are a heartwarming but play-it-inside-the-news-pages human-interest story. As one cynical mentor told me years ago, "News is what happens when things are not going the way they're supposed to." Want more attention for your honor students? Let them hold up a liquor store.
Some people think Cosby, who has given millions for scholarships and black colleges, has come down too harshly on black parents who shun personal responsibility, blame police for incarcerations and let their children exalt sports and improper dialect over books and proper English.
I suggested in an earlier column that Cosby might not have been harsh enough. For all of the burdens that we African-Americans have to bear from a legacy of historical and institutional racism, we also need to call each other to account for the damage we do to ourselves.
For starters, we could use a lot more fathers like those of the Ballou scholars. Unfortunately, good dads and good moms don't grow on trees, as my own dad used to say about money. If we, as a society, do not do all that we can to help families in crisis and encourage parental responsibility, we will reap the ugly dividends later in our streets.
That's Cosby's message. At least he has what some critics call his "bullying pulpit" to help get his message out--and he's not afraid to use it. ----------
Clarence Page is a member of the Tribune's editorial board. E-mail: cptime@aol.com
-Love LP
The blog has gotten so much better. I am a white cop and thoroughly was disgusted by the racial prejudice spewing forth from many coppers' mouths.
For the record, I believe that the hardest workers out there are black officers.
We, white people, don't have to answer to every so called alleged infraction like our African-American coworkers.
We don't have civilians threatening our jobs like the black officer does.
I am thankful I have two black officers on my tac team. They are amazing!
I use to read here alot but some of the commenter's were so abusive that I stopped. I checked in again tonight and see you have started comment moderation. I'm so glad you did that. You guys have a really good blog and it was a shame the trolls were ruining it.
Now I can strt reading and enjoying again.
Also, feel free to visit my blog sometime. My husband was a cop for 31 years. I guess I've been around it so much, that it is now in my blood also.
Mary Mitchell is a poor excuse for a human being. Now on to more important things. Are the feds ever going to finish investigating Matt Rodriguez for his involvement in the Mob. Is he still working for Pete Divine as an investigator. Inquiring minds want to know.
Check out abc7chicago.com. headline reads Cabrini Green Residents protest "DEATH" of 14 year old. the kid did not die, is ABC trying to sell papers with "LIES" and "FALSE" headline information, or just stir up the emotions of the citizens to keep selling papers tomorrow and the next day and on and on.
Check out ABC7CHICAGO.com. The headline reads "Cabrini Green residents protest the "DEATH" of 14 year old". unless I'm wrong, the teen did not die. Proof that ABC uses "LIES" and "FALSE" headlines to boost tv ratings, and inflame citizens to keep any controversey going.
Your slight dip in readership was all the pukes who if they really are on the job should never have been hired in the first place. So keep up the good work. Of course, maybe, just maybe, once in a great while you can have an open post without moderation- like once a year- to give then an outlet.
THe FOP has stood silent in the media regarding the incident in the 18th District. The FOP should stand up for the officers involved. I haven't heard one bleep from the FOP. Whaqt are we paying union dues for?
I haven't heard one bleep from the FOP. Whaqt are we paying union dues for?
8/11/2006 05:27:32 AM
Beer, booze and more beer and booze. FOP does not represeent us or our interests. They only care about drinking, golfing, and conventions. When has FOP ever done anything, except show up at a shooting and try to make it look like they are earning their dough.
It is a real shame. We pay. We complain. They do not listen. Oh, and we keep electing the same ineffectual morons time after time. They are corrupt. Hey US Attorney are you listening? The FOP is corrupt.
Well if your paying union dues your being ripped off. we dont have a union. FOP does exactly what the mayor wants them too. If you think they are "there for you" your a fool. It is slowly starting to crumble. But i for one dont even vote anymore. Its all bullshit.
Dear SCC
I Was E-Mailed this Link. Very Interesting.
> Please listen closely to the following media release issued on 8/8/2006 at
3:22
> PM by the SanFrancisco Police Officers Association President. I'm sure for
most
> of you it will hit a nerve.
>
> Click on the link and view the video.... we need more of this!
>
> There will be a short commercial first then the video will start. Turn
> up the volume after the commercial. San Francisco POA President lashes
> out at the judicial system and the media.
>
> http://www.ktvu.com/video/9591734/index.html
>
http://www.ktvu.com/video/9591734/index.html
Off Topic:
But I was amused at the story on the TRIBUNE web-site, about Police looking for Rape suspect who raped a 16 year old female on the southside.
Was it Political correctness or an oversight?
They gave a mostly complete physical description of the offender (approximate age, height, weight, clothing worn, etc.) even a detailed vehicle description..BUT, never mentioned the subjects RACE.
Then asks any one with info to call Chicago Police and gives a number. Makes it kind of hard to help the Police with "half-assed" reporting!
Any truth to the rumour that Walter Green is the new Commander of DOC Field Operations a guy that had no use for the DOC, and is his replacement in Two a former member of Daleys cabinet who was a Sgt maybe 3 years ago then Lt. and then Capt. in a very short time span.
Whatever happened with those coppers in SOS getting locked up?
Hey SCC, I so enjoyed your disection of MM's article, that I sent it to her Blog on the ScumTimes website. Hope she read it... and enjoyed it as much as I/We did. :)
I am tring to decide if i should leave for the fire department. I love this job but don't like the way this department is headed. I am trying to make a list of the good and the bad to help me. Any help?
My brother-in-law is a Chicago police officer. I regard him and his fellow officers with the greatest respect for their often thankless and dangerous job.
I travel often, both to NYC and Europe. In view of this latest terrorist threat, I for one would welcome the sight of police armed with machine guns.
In my travels, both at JFK and airports in Europe, the sight of police armed with Heckler & Koch MP-5 machine guns is a reassuring sight.
Many would feel much safer to see police at the airports, Michigan Avenue and downtown shopping areas heavily armed with automatic weapons.
me and the monkey are happy to see the post cleaning up. poor monkey couldnt believes his eyes sometimes.
No wonder student test scores are so low. The Illinois board of Education voted Thursday to lower the passing score that teachers must get to receive their license.
They now need only 57 out of 100!!!!
57% correct to be a teacher-what a joke.
Also, they only need 30 out of 100 to pass a newly created special education licensing exam. Hell, the kids they teach could get that!!
Sound just like what the city requires for a passing score in order to get a merit promotion.
Dear Englewood Ranger you hit it right on the head with Mary Mitch. Where does she get off saying that they (Af/Americans) are fed up with the police. I'm sure she is refering to the criminals and the politically motivated and not the working, non-criminal citizens. I was at the last march on 10 Aug 06 where the loudmouths were ranting. The saddest part was seeing 5-10 year olds holding signs saying F--- the police, bet none of them were on TV or the papers. I appauld Dep Supt Williams who was totally calm and collective the whole time. He even asked a cabbie, while we were walking on the street, how he felt about our gas prices, while the protestors were embarrasing themselves.
I saw the TV news tonight and threw up. Daley went on WGCI to speak to his people. Does he not know who keeps this city afloat? GCI, please!
Anonymous said...
THe FOP has stood silent in the media regarding the incident in the 18th District. The FOP should stand up for the officers involved. I haven't heard one bleep from the FOP. Whaqt are we paying union dues for?
8/11/2006 05:27:32 AM
--------------
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
"Shoulda, woulda, coulda"
Ya, adn those pesky Gold Stars never said nuthin bout that streat sign.
They gave a mostly complete physical description of the offender (approximate age, height, weight, clothing worn, etc.) even a detailed vehicle description..BUT, never mentioned the subjects RACE.
-----------------------
The RACE shouldn't matter! Just look for the guy MACTHING the DESCRIPTION!
Anybody hear anything about that jellyfish of a man, Dan Alvarado getting moved to another spot? We heard that he now has something to do with CAPS.
Mary is nothing but a race baiter. As long as there are People like her who look at a persons race first and the facts second there will always be racism.
For as many problems you have with the CPD you can match them with the CFD. It will be all the same bullshit just a different uniform.
The only thing you have to look at and decide for yourself is if you want to work their schedule or ours.
They have one on two off. It might change to one on three off or a different on, you never know. We have a six day work week, it may change, again you nvere know. CPD can take time when they want (comp, bfd, pd) depending on district of course. To get a day off with CFD you must trade with someone else, so you are really not buring comp time (they do not have comp time) you are just adjusting your day off.
Our duty avail. and uniform is more than theirs.
You could work a 2nd job more easily but if you are not in a trade or some type of proffesional job (account, real estate) you would be some type of rent a cop. Or do nothing if you do not need the money.
Depending on you time on the job your furlough will be 1a 1b 2a 2b for a long time on the CFD. It is a lot smaller department so it will be a long time before you could split or start to get spring/fall furlough.
Movement around the CPD is easier then CFD just because of manpower and senority.
It will all come down to these type of factors. Do not look at it as if one job is better than the other, unless your dream was to be a firefighter, which if it was you would not be asking. Both are city jobs and for all the problems we have they have. For the good times you have here you might have there too.
Thanks,SCC: back to a great site.Back from the UK on the 24th had occasion to met with several/ as we call then dic's from the Scotland Yard.Told me, wish I knew more about you ;we've got something going on! Had a great tour,couple of pubs. Hats off to the bloacks;good job! Any Doubts? you know me.
http://www.ktvu.com/video/9591734/index.html
This is a great video of the San francisco police Union President standing up for his troops. Lil commercial first but watch it!
MARK DONAHUE, WHERE ARE YOU?
NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT A JUSTIFIABLE SHOOTING? IN 018
NO BALLS $'S DONAHUE STILL SILENT. STILL MAKING $175k A YEAR!
The RACE shouldn't matter! Just look for the guy MACTHING the DESCRIPTION!
8/11/2006 09:46:35 PM
RACE is PART of the DESCRIPTION.
ex:6'2" m/w with an afro rapes a girl
Ommit the race in the above, and I think you will have difficulty in locating a suitable suspect.
Anonymous said...
The RACE shouldn't matter! Just look for the guy MACTHING the DESCRIPTION!
8/11/2006 09:46:35 PM
RACE is PART of the DESCRIPTION.
ex:6'2" m/w with an afro rapes a girl
Ommit the race in the above, and I think you will have difficulty in locating a suitable suspect.
8/12/2006 03:48:57 AM
You sir are worse than Hitler!
With race, you narrow down the subjects by 6/7's. I don't know about you but that helps out quite a bit.
Excellent video...that is what our "leaders" should be saying. Why are they so afraid to speak up on what is right? It is an embarressment that they hide and are afraid to stick up for us doing our job. I wish all our bosses had the balls that guy had.
Hmmmm, race doesn't seem to matter in a description?
6-2, 225 pounds, brown hair, green eyes, last seen wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans, black sneakers.
But he's white/black. Doesn't that make a differance? I've seen white and black people with brown hair and green eyes. So who are they looking for? Why not just put a paid ad in the paper and ask the offender to turn himself in?
Political correctness is such horseshit it makes me want to puke. If he's black, say he's black, brown, say he's brown, white, say he's white. For chrissake!!
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