Leaders Needed
Cincinnati is on pace to break the all-time high record of homicides in one year. Crime is out of control and has been for some time. There's a great opportunity for someone, or some people, to step up and distinguish themselves as leaders in the fight to bring peace to our city.
I can't get past the fact that the bombing of the Islamic Association of Cincinnati's Mosque, which resulted in a little property damage, generated so much condemnation but the deaths MURDERS of dozens of Black Cincinnatians hasn't caused a collective eyebrow to be raised.
Aside from being politically correct, what is it about the Mosque bombing that sparked a reaction from Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, U.S. Senators George Voinovich and Mike DeWine, Congressman Steve Chabot, State Senator Eric Kearney, Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk, Cincinnati Police Chief Thomas Streicher, Cincinnati Fire Department Chief Robert Wright, NAACP Cincinnati Chapter President Edith Thrower, National Conference for Community and Justice President and CEO Robert "Chip" Harrod, National Underground Railroad and Freedom Center President Spencer Crew, and Cincinnati Human Relations Commission Interim Executive Director Leslie E. Jones, and more than a dozen other so-called leaders? How can these leaders remain silent as Black men and women get moved down on the dangerous streets of Cincinnati?
Ah, but here's the challenge. There are lots of people with leadership skills in Cincinnati who say to themselves, "I should be considered a leader ... I'd lead if I only had an opportunity." Well, the devastation plaguing Cincinnati is an opportunity for someone, anyone, to come up with a solution. We can't wait on the "old guard" to lead us, we need leadership NOW. Where are the young ministers of God? How about the young politicians? Young activists?
Perhaps people are afraid to step up and lead because they know that once you become engaged in working for change, there's a group of negative people who sit back and criticize everything you do. They want to take your place without doing any work or working on their skills. (It's happened to me dozens of times.) But a leader can't let fear stop you from doing the right thing.
Cincinnati is suffering from a lack of leadership across all spectrums -- religion, business, government, grassroots. If we don't figure things out, 2006 will be worse than ever. If you are one of the people who don't like the City's current leadership and think you can do better, I challenge you to step up, get involved, and for God's sake ... lead.
16 comments:
Nate:
I am shocked! For once I finally agree with you on this one. This is the kind of conversation we should have more often. Especially surrounding violence within the black community. It is so unfortunate but very true. I would encourage you and others to step up and make this type of cause one that we all would want to join.
Derrick D. Blassingame
Derrick!
Why don't YOU step up and make this type of cause that he would want to join?
I can't get over the fact that you have such a problem with the response of the mosque bombing! Is it because you're supposedly a christian and the community affected by this bombing are muslim?
First of all, the Islamic Association of Greater Cincinnati called a press conference! Not the mayor. Not the governor. Nor anyone else.
It got the response it did because of the message that was being sent. Departments other than the Cincinnati Police got involved because of the means that were used (bombs...not bullets) and the intent behind the bombings of religious hatred and intolerance.
If one of your churches got bombed would you still feel the same way. Probably not. If you want people to be fair towards you and the community you claim to represent, then you have to be fair yourself...across the board...not when you feel like it.
Nate said:
Perhaps people are afraid to step up and lead because they know that once you become engaged in working for change, there's a group of negative people who sit back and criticize everything you do. They want to take your place without doing any work or working on their skills. (It's happened to me dozens of times.) But a leader can't let fear stop you from doing the right thing.
Not only would there be negative people shouting against your cause for negatvity sake, but most people don't want to "step up" because they don't want others digging in their personal business, whether you've done some wrong things in your life or not. And they'd only be digging for dirt to either spew more negativity or get a rise out of the person trying to be an activist. Personally, I wouldn't want to be under that microscope. I don't mind working at the grassroots level, but others can keep the spotlight because it comes with a cost to your family.
The City of Cincinnati Law & Public Safety Committee will meet Friday
NOTICE – SPECIAL MEETING LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
The Law & Public Safety Committee will meet Friday, December 30, 2005 at 10:00 a.m.
in Committee Room B (Room 312, City Hall)
801 Plum Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
The committee will meet to review the shooting incident that occurred on Christmas Eve in the Roselawn community, which resulted in the death of one young woman and the wounding of another youth.
Committee Members:
Cecil Thomas, Chair
Leslie Ghiz, Vice-Chair
Jeff Berding, Member
John Cranley, Member
Chris Monzel, Member
Jim Tarbell, Member
Abigail Imn
Clerk to Committee
___________________________________The Story.... so far
Not only should the promoter of the Christmas Eve dance party that turned deadly at The Legacy be question but all others releated to this. Where is the CCA? When the "dance" turned rowdy it resulted in the death of 19 year-old Chanel Jordan should we in the community stand up and change this city.
Meet us at the World Peace Bell at 3PM on the day before the new year (Saturday December 31, 2005) to call for peace in the Hood Jobs in the Hood.
http://www.worldpeacebell.com/
Anonymous Wed Dec 28, 03:39:13 PM EST wrote: "I can't get over the fact that you have such a problem with the response of the mosque bombing! Is it because you're supposedly a christian and the community affected by this bombing are muslim?"
What a stupid question and demonstration that you lack basic reading comprehension skills.
I don't have a problem with the response to the Mosque bombing. My problem is with the shitty response to the death of a fellow citizen which I believe is due, in part, to the fact that she was young and Black.
I can't get over the fact that some people, apparently you included, have such a problem with me advocating a timely and worthy response to the death of a valuable human being by the city's leaders.
I hate saying this but it needs to be said. Every life is important to someone. But the majority of the murders in this city have to do with drugs, robberies, or retaliation for both. I for one think it's time to stop giving these clowns the attention and sympathy of the community. Other then the true accidents most are dope boys and robbers. These aren't innocent folks comming or going to work everyday. These are the young punks that make the streets unsafe for decent folks. Maybe if we give them 5 more years they will kill each other up and we will be done with it. They could do us all a favor and finish the job in a month and we could worry about something else besides why are dope boys and stick-up kids killing each other.
WHAT?!! Cecil "Ceephus" Thomas got appointed as a chair of a committee? What is going on. Also, notice you don't see Laketa's name associated with this committee anywhere, but Tarbell is. That's sad.
Nate,
Once again, you're wrong. My "reading comprehension skills" are just fine, thank you.
Comments such as
"I can't get past the fact that the bombing of the Islamic Association of Cincinnati's Mosque, which resulted in a little property damage, generated so much condemnation"
expresses that you do have a problem with the amount of coverage the mosque bombing received.
This quote from your "dateline" post...
"Dateline: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 -- A bomb explodes outside the Mosque operated by the Cincinnati Islamic Association in Clifton nearly 3 hours after evening prayer has concluded. No humans are injured, but a very important door is damaged."
further demonstrates that you have a problem with it OR that you're too incompetent to see that the bombing was bigger than "a very important door" being damaged! I really don't believe it's the latter...which leaves us with my original statement!
Yup. My comprehension is just great!
There are people standing up in grassroots efforts in their communities. It does come with a price, as there are individuals with time on their hands attempting to dig up tawdry information on them, even creating misinformation, & they're labeled as "racists" when they do stand up to the dope dealers & the gunslingers.
As an example, the Price Hill people have been certified as racists, same for the Westwood residents & there's been scratching at the Northside folks, all because they are standing up & demanding justice.
Gee, I didn't see the rhetoric reverends speaking up in the matter of the woman from Hamilton County JFS whom "Yogi" decided to push around. Where was all the cohesiveness when the 84 year old man was shot in Price Hill? Is anyone doing anything about Kevan Turner shooting the Evanston family??
Help & cooperation is a 2-way street without the "racist" labeling. The bottom line is, the White folks will not get involved in black on black crime because of the "racist" tag that is slapped in their faces on a daily basis.
No. You certainly need a remedial class in reading comprehension.
First, you deliberately misquoted me. My complete quote was: "I can't get past the fact that the bombing of the Islamic Association of Cincinnati's Mosque, which resulted in a little property damage, generated so much condemnation but the deaths (strike that) MURDERS of dozens of Black Cincinnatians hasn't caused a collective eyebrow to be raised."
Second, maybe because of your inability to read and decipher my words, you misinterpreted my sentiments. Some bloggers might let you get away with misdefining them. I won't. My problem with the different reaction to the Mosque bombing versus the death of Ms. Jordan was laid out in clear and unambiguous terms in my blog entry and in my comments above. Why don't you quit now and save yourself any further embarrassment?
Misquote? No! I didn't post the entire quote because it wasn't necessary to prove the point. I think someone doesn't know the definition of words he uses. It would have probably been better to say that I took your statement out of content.
I'm not going to address your problem with the mosque bombing anymore. The point has been made and proven. Whether it was your intent or not, you belittled the bombing at the mosque. PERIOD!
Lastly, you could NEVER embarass me. I don't care that much about any of this to get embarassed. Can you understand that? If you knew me, you'd know that opinions of people like yourself mean absolutely nothing to me.
If anybody should be embarassed, it should be you for making such a stupid comparison in the first place!
The real power behind local as well as national progress toward better conditions is public opinion . . . Public opinion, however cannot make itself affirmatively effective except by the creation of institutions adapted to give it effect. Mere verbal expressions of opinion get nowhere . . . What is everybody's business is nobody's business.
To get things done some human agency must be designated to give effect to the general desire that they be done.
The question inevitably arises, "How is it that cities composed of people who don't want trouble are continually having trouble? " The answer is that opinion against trouble has been without adequate institutions to give it, (that is the opinions), effect and affect. . . . The important thing is to get the right kind of an institution started, even though it be in the most rudimentary form.
Nate,
No comparison! A mosque is a physical symbol of another religion and an attack on it is a general prejudice, and a general attack which community leaders can and should denounce.
Cincinnati's crime problem is not an attack by one (or a few) hate filled people against a whole group. It's a free floating, drug and violence fueled, social problem which is perpetrated primarily by errant youth who are troubled to begin with.
Just recently, I couldn't believe a TV show was interrupted to have a news conference with Streicher, Mallory and the coroner (Owens?) to quickly and nervously explain the death of a young black drug dealer on Queen City Avenue while in (or fleeing - don't remember)police custody! The police reputation is so poor in this city, that something like that couldn't wait for the 5 PM news????? Well, yes, it is, BUT it just goes to show that the city is sensitive to these issues on some level even if it's out of concern for possible civil unrest.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: we need outside intervention and cooperation to get the drugs and violence under control in this city because right now we don't trust each other and we do nothing but look to lay blame. So Streicher, (yoo hoo Mallory) get some humility, invite the DEA in, do some fair policing, put the fear of God (not fear of racist officers) into the drug dealers, and don't give Nate an opportunity to make comparisons that don't make any sense. (Just kidding - I admire your efforts very much).
Happy New Year.
Nate, just consider this anonymous guy above. I have asked you before whether you think these people are just trying to piss us off.
I mean, seriously. Can anyone actually mean the things he said? Your analysis of your own quotation was right on target. It is plain to all of us who can read.
This anon is just jerking your chain, right?
I must think so -- because if people really are that stupid then we are in more trouble than I thought.
To Dean of Cincinnati,
I am the anonymous who just posted ahead of you. I was sincere and had no desire to offend.
Please explain why you think these comments are not relevant or do not speak to the issue of comparing a mosque bombing to the murder/homicide of one young girl in our community.
And do you not feel the heightened sensitivity among members of our community about crime and racial issues, almost to the point of not being able to discuss them without OVERemphasis on them?
In any event, I am educable and would prefer an explanation/conversation rather than an aside to another person.
Anonymous under fire.
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