Working for change
The fellas at Athens Politics have returned to discuss the debate, though it's morphed into the usual 'Chuck Jones vs. the world' showdown.
Chuck is discussing his desire for change in Athens-Clarke County, and by that he means ...
I am not interested in what you wish or don't wish. Write a letter to Santa Claus. I'm NOT going away, I'll keep fighting for change. Real solutions to poverty, the complete eradication of the Athens Grow Green people, postive student-resident relations, bringing low the snobbish gentry that puts trees and "quality of life" above people, etc.
This troubled me for a variety of reasons. Real solutions to poverty are needed, and we don't disagree. The caveat being that real solutions to poverty are coming from Partners For A Prosperous Athens. I've been a part of some of those discussions and studies, and I firmly believe we're going to see some real change, regardless of who our next mayor is. Folks from all over the community, from all sorts of political and ideological persuasions, have been a part of this discussion, and that's a good thing.
And that's the problem with suggesting we need real solutions because it ties in with other comments he made in that thread, which highlight his call to shoot first and ask questions later. This, naturally, is exactly the wrong way to address the challenges which face our communities these days.
Chuck didn't enter the practice of law without first studying how to be a lawyer. Doing so would be rash and also spell doom for his future. Taking the time to learn how to do the job is imperative when you want to do a good job. As a result, it's important to know all the facts, to run all sorts of studies and calculations and talk to as many people as possible to come up with the best plan of action.
Regarding the 'eradication of Athens Grow Green' ... I don't know why he holds so much anger and hatred toward this group, but I'd also say it's very dangerous language to say you wish an entire group was eradicated. Athens Grow Green is a very important and very beneficial organization which fights for responsible stewardship or our natural resources. You may disagree with how much influence the group currently wields (which, quite frankly, I think is a tad overinflated), but to wish for their destruction is petty and a bit disturbing.
But much of his hatred stems from the wholly false perception that the members of organizations like Athens Grow Green 'put trees ... above people.' Sure, that makes for a catchy soundbite, but it's also ridiculous ... as ridiculous as those who oppose the War in Iraq saying those who support it 'love war.' It's establishing a false choice which doesn't exist.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - the members of Athens Grow Green (as well as, say, BikeAthens) are engaged in considerably more than just Athens Grow Green. They are involved with the Boys & Girls Club, IHN of Athens, the Homeless Coalition, their churches, etc. and etc. There is more than one thing which compels them to service in this community, and their's is not because of an irrational disdain for another segement of this community's population.
I know, I know ... it's nice and easy to say things like 'they love trees more than people' because that goes for the shock value. It's also, well, demonstrably wrong and flat-out stupid. It suggests an inability to process the fact that people can be passionate about more than one thing.
A while back, after I resorted to a cheap shot at Chuck's expense, I penned him a personal apology, and I included some suggestions on how best to engage in responsible discussion. I had hoped he would take my good-natured criticism at least somewhat to heart, but apparently not.
Chuck is discussing his desire for change in Athens-Clarke County, and by that he means ...
I am not interested in what you wish or don't wish. Write a letter to Santa Claus. I'm NOT going away, I'll keep fighting for change. Real solutions to poverty, the complete eradication of the Athens Grow Green people, postive student-resident relations, bringing low the snobbish gentry that puts trees and "quality of life" above people, etc.
This troubled me for a variety of reasons. Real solutions to poverty are needed, and we don't disagree. The caveat being that real solutions to poverty are coming from Partners For A Prosperous Athens. I've been a part of some of those discussions and studies, and I firmly believe we're going to see some real change, regardless of who our next mayor is. Folks from all over the community, from all sorts of political and ideological persuasions, have been a part of this discussion, and that's a good thing.
And that's the problem with suggesting we need real solutions because it ties in with other comments he made in that thread, which highlight his call to shoot first and ask questions later. This, naturally, is exactly the wrong way to address the challenges which face our communities these days.
Chuck didn't enter the practice of law without first studying how to be a lawyer. Doing so would be rash and also spell doom for his future. Taking the time to learn how to do the job is imperative when you want to do a good job. As a result, it's important to know all the facts, to run all sorts of studies and calculations and talk to as many people as possible to come up with the best plan of action.
Regarding the 'eradication of Athens Grow Green' ... I don't know why he holds so much anger and hatred toward this group, but I'd also say it's very dangerous language to say you wish an entire group was eradicated. Athens Grow Green is a very important and very beneficial organization which fights for responsible stewardship or our natural resources. You may disagree with how much influence the group currently wields (which, quite frankly, I think is a tad overinflated), but to wish for their destruction is petty and a bit disturbing.
But much of his hatred stems from the wholly false perception that the members of organizations like Athens Grow Green 'put trees ... above people.' Sure, that makes for a catchy soundbite, but it's also ridiculous ... as ridiculous as those who oppose the War in Iraq saying those who support it 'love war.' It's establishing a false choice which doesn't exist.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - the members of Athens Grow Green (as well as, say, BikeAthens) are engaged in considerably more than just Athens Grow Green. They are involved with the Boys & Girls Club, IHN of Athens, the Homeless Coalition, their churches, etc. and etc. There is more than one thing which compels them to service in this community, and their's is not because of an irrational disdain for another segement of this community's population.
I know, I know ... it's nice and easy to say things like 'they love trees more than people' because that goes for the shock value. It's also, well, demonstrably wrong and flat-out stupid. It suggests an inability to process the fact that people can be passionate about more than one thing.
A while back, after I resorted to a cheap shot at Chuck's expense, I penned him a personal apology, and I included some suggestions on how best to engage in responsible discussion. I had hoped he would take my good-natured criticism at least somewhat to heart, but apparently not.
posted by Jmac at 9:10 AM
7 Comments:
Jmac,
Is there an e-mail address we can send press releases to? I couldn't find one.
Thanks.
I'm flattered.
I probably should set one up like the folks at Athens Politics. Let me see if I can get one and put the link up on the bar.
Amen to all written in this post.
Thank you for calling a spade a spade when it comes to 'false choice politicking.' I find such rhetoric to be the fuel that feeds partisanism and ignorance of certain issues. The idea that you can seperate 'people' from 'quality of life' is absurd. Quality of life is as much a part of the American Dream as sending your kids to college.
And 'eradication' of Athens Grow Green? I don't even know much about them other than what you've said, but their organization's name makes the term 'eradication' laughable at best.
In the heirarchy of 'things that need to be eradicated' pardon my pause as I don't count the 'Athens Grow Green' folks as anywhere close to the list.
Jmac,
I don't know how flattered you'll be when you find out who's sending you the press release. Hint: It's your favorite State Representative Elect (tounge and cheek).
I have one?
anonymous didn't say which state.
Another post devoted to me. Wow.
Anyway, I think you fail to realize that I like to use colorful language, such as "eradication." For example, I often say that I wish the entire Cobbham neighborhood would fall into a sinkhole, but that doesn't mean I am going to go out and dig a sinkhole under Cobbham.
As far as Athens Grow Green - they DID give a candidate a low rating because he cared more about eliminating poverty than he did about their environmental issues, did they not?
I'm not passing judgment on each individual in AGG. They could be living saints for all I know. But I do know that any group that, as a whole, feels you are not a good candidate for office if you care more about poor people than about the trees, is a group that needs to be eradicated.
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