The color of political language

“Lord help us, they’re talking race again,” writes Leonard Pitts columnist with the Miami Herald— talking about race. For nearly half a century since the “content of character” was supposed to trump the “color of skin,” racial agitators have never stopped talking about it. In fact, it seems to be getting more shrill and bizarre instead of fading into a “colorblind” America as promoted by civil rights activists. Actual racial discrimination has been long legislated into oblivion. Now, as Mr. Pitts reminds us, it’s all about offending words. (link)

Pitts brings back some past cases starting with Newt Gingrich. During the recent GOP presidential primary Newt “had engaged in dog-whistle (only dogs can hear it) politics designed to rouse the racial resentments of white working-class voters,” says Pitts. How did he blow this silent whistle? Gingrich called Barack Obama a “food stamp president”—clearly racial. Apparently, only black non-working class people sign up for food stamps. I didn’t know that.

White people must be very careful about the words they use so to avoid the dreaded “racist” word stuck to them. Pitts even accuses President Ronald Reagan because Reagan used the term “welfare queens.” These were code words to white voters referencing “lazy blacks,” Pitts writes.

Pitts seems to be a nonpartisan critic of political racial language. He called Joe Foot-in-Mouth Biden’s remarks to a black audience that the GOP will “put y’all back in chains” “stupid” and “linguistic blackface.”

And he recalls Hillary Clinton’s slavery reference in 2006, when she accused the GOP of running a “plantation.” Other words reference “black” without saying “black,’ writes Pitts: “drug users,” “urban,” “poverty,” and “crime…carry racial weight.”

Yes, we’re heavily burdened with race.

So white folks are on constant notice of intolerance toward their choice of certain English words used in any political context. Our language has become nullified, purged and colorless out of paranoia that we might, God forbid, offend some hypersensitive political group.

Speech is a terrible thing to waste.

Wilmington, The City of Secrets More and More

It is a sad day indeed.  Wilmington should be a thriving city that leads in the area of economic opportunity and job creation.  World class cuisine, an amazingly diverse culture, a great history and a beautiful location.  But the city has become one of backroom deals and secrets with officials who simply refuse to answer tough questions.

Case and point has been the desire to have a taxpayer funded stadium.  The city has held secret meeting after secret meeting. The taxpayers are being asked to say “yes” to $37m in bond money without, at this point, an agreement for them to even review.  Several council members won’t even answer tough questions.

The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, under the leadership of Connie Majure-Rhett, has also refused to answer tough questions.  She also refuses to comment on two separate polls taken in this market.  She also will not do interviews on talk radio either.  So much for an open door policy.  And pursuant to changes in state law, she hasn’t been able to provide a financial statement from 2011 because the audit has not been completed.  You’d think their board would be concerned, but they’re deaf mutes on the issues as well.

On the taxpayer funded convention center.  After giving an overview of events to the city leaders (none of whom asked a single tough question), Susan Eaton commented to one inquiry from a taxpayer that she didn’t have to provide any answers as they were “private.”  Furthermore, she was unavailable for questions the following day.  More than a cursory glance at the events at the center show that it continues to take business away from local businesses.

Connie “Don’t Ask Me Tough Questions” Majure-Rhett

The good news is that more people are asking questions and dragging this out in the daylight is the only way to make it better.

Rezone The River Bottom!

Nope, can’t make it up.  Didn’t make up the headline, didn’t make up the news, it actually happened and it was actually written over at the StarNews:

Planning commission approves zoning land in river

The Wilmington Planning Commission unanimously voted Wednesday to approve zoning 10 submerged acres in the Cape Fear River as mixed use.   The land was recently annexed into the city of Wilmington by the N.C. General Assembly in House Bill 180. Once the land was annexed into the city, it had to be zoned, said Planning Manager Ron Satterfield, explaining that the city has to zone all property within its limits.

You have to wonder why the House saw the need to annex it, then you have to figure out why it had to be zoned for mixed use and then you have to figure out how to get the catfish and crawfish to comply and have appropriate setbacks.