Somtimes it's best to bite one's tongue
As we wrote in an editorial Wednesday, City Council held a polite and positive discussion about Truth & Reconciliation Tuesday afternoon.
Not that some members didn't have to bite their tongues from time to time.
I detected admirable restraint on a couple of occasions:
When Dianne Bellamy-Small read a lengthy prepared statement that included a partial recitation of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address:
"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain ..."
Applying Lincoln's tribute to the fallen at Gettysburg to the Communist Workers Party members slain in 1979 probably struck some councilmen as a considerable stretch. I doubt a resolution seeking to "take increased devotion" to the CWP cause would win majority support. But good manners prevailed, and no one said anything.
On the opposite side of the issue, Keith Holliday repeated his long-held view that the city of Greensboro in 1979 was a victim of a clash between two extremist groups. and asserted that the T&R process has tried to put a "guilt trip on 238,000 citizens who are not responsible for the events of Nov. 3, 1979." Again, those who think the city, especially the Police Department, bear some blame exercised admirable self-control, and no arguments erupted.
I doubt anything will ever reconcile the completely different views held by people in Greensboro of those tragic events, their causes and the fallout. The best this city can do probably is for everyone to accept that minds aren't going to change and to respect the rights of others to disagree.
The City Council conversation showed that, with good manners, Greensboro can talk about this productively and then, just maybe, put the subject to rest and move on.
Comments (4)
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Doug you have high hopes just like that ant with the rubber tree plant. God bless you for it. I am one of those who believe this is all an indulgence in nonsence. And agree with Mayor Holiday. The council of course appeased some by passing the buck to the Human Relations department, or wherever they sent it.
Posted on July 20, 2006 12:28 PM
Brenda, I understand your point of view, and I tend to agree with Mayor Holliday about the T&R issue. But he's also willing to pursue further dialogue. If the council simply ignores this, then it won't go away. Its lack of response will be added to the litany of problems cited. They should let the Human Relations Commission look at it and make some suggestions. There might be some good steps that can be taken to improve race relations in Greensboro. It isn't necessary to adopt any of the TRC's recommendations in order to make progress.
Posted on July 20, 2006 12:53 PM
Doug wrote:
"I doubt anything will ever reconcile the completely different views held by people in Greensboro of those tragic events, their causes and the fallout. The best this city can do probably is for everyone to accept that minds aren't going to change and to respect the rights of others to disagree."
For 27 years, I think most people had accepted that minds weren't going to change and it was time to move on- until the biased T&R process came along to stir things up again. This was one of my criticisms of the T&R in the first place. I think it set us back a few years by reopening divisions that were in the process of healing and better left alone. The only reason to bring Nov 3. 1979 up again was to an advance an agenda that requires division and racial unrest to succeed. The city and its people end up being the victims
Posted on July 20, 2006 4:19 PM
Sam,
Thanks for your comments. I also have seen a political agenda in the TRC's work. That's reflected in many of its recommendations, some of which have nothing to do with 11/3/79. That said, there are still real issues to talk about and perhaps good purposes to be served by congenial conversation.
Posted on July 20, 2006 4:41 PM