Glenn (and list neighbors),
I believe some words-images should not be posted on a community list.
It was a friend, CM, who posted a link that opened to a dead child,
hanging out the window of a bomb shattered bus.
It was an image I did not (and do not) want in my head.
And I needed to forgive CM for his choice to post it, with no proper
warning.
I rarely attend even "R" films.
There is enough violence.
Seeing evidence does not help me find or work toward peace.
There is a huge difference between the way young black males and middle
aged white females are treated by the police.
I believe that being arrested while walking to the corner grocer is more
wrong than being arrested for a spontaneous act of civil disobedience,
but I don't think arrest is appropriate in either case.
In my mind, the biggest difference in between what ML did on a hot summer
night 15 years ago, and what you did in Rittenhouse Square last week is
that your public protest (disturbance) was intentioned and planned.
ML describes herself in a shirt, shorts and Flip-Flops.
This is appropriate dress for a trip to the sidewalk in front of her own
home, on a hot night.
ML's rendition struck me as having been skewed to mitigate her role in
defying authority and refusing to identify herself.
This is her right as a first person author.
And I succumbed to tipsy opportunism, for humor.
I could have made better use of my time.
I hope my post was perceived as "no harm and no foul" or at least reality
based.
I was chided, off list, by two friends whose judgements I trust.
I imagine others will build on their own thoughts.
But your post takes the story to a dark place that reflects poorly on you
and on this list and is unfairly hurtful to ML and to women in general.
Why did you convert the story to word images of a "handcuffed scantily
clad" jailed and tortured "award winning" <woman> and apply it to someone
who exists, who is our neighbor, a wife, a mother, a hard worker, a
frequent volunteer?
It is unfair.
It is too specific, too personal and too ugly for my consumption.
And since I may be one of the tougher people on this list, and not known
for being ML's biggest fan, it makes me question:
how was it perceived by others? and
what can be done to stop or mitigate such damage?
I am beginning to wonder if some posts or some voices should not be kept
off the list.
I had an interesting conversation with someone today about civil
discourse.
The vehemence with which he described a lack of civility in our
neighborhood has me thinking.
I abhor false courtesies; don't "smile in my face" "back stabbers".
But I thrill to sincere emotions of pleasure or gratitude.
I am not seeking more horror stories.
I would like to learn more about encouraging neighborliness about
cooperating toward mutual success, about crossing cultural divides in a
"Win-Win" manner.
As tenth of twelve my upbringing involved constant competition for food
and attention.
I do not see this as an area, in which I could be a strong leader.
But I do want to learn.
I want to sweep some of the toxins out of the stew that is our public
discourse and learn how to do better without the sacrifice of doing good.
I believe this neighborhood is peopled with many people who do have the
right skills and knowledge.
I hope they are not too discouraged to lead us toward the light.
Glenn, your recent posts meet my definition of toxic.
I don't want to become a substitute target.
I want you to practice restraint.
But I don't want any women, or any neighbor, or any human, to be made an
unwilling subject of anyone else's degradation fantasies.
Please group, keep the on-list replies civil.
Best!
Liz
On Fri, 11 May 2007 15:26:08 -0400 "Glenn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
writes:
The city that loves you back, after consultation with highly paid city
planners from the University of Pennsylvania, has worked its magic again!
The new marketing slogan designed to lure the worlds elite to the new
improved, brightly, lit Baltimore Ave is brilliant!
Receiving an A plus on the UCD report card, "Stop and Frisk," surged
ahead of the second place slogan, "eat the poor," to drive the new 100
million dollar marketing spin. Decided upon in the extremely exclusive
back rooms of the Horny Hardart, the citys new slogan, "Stop and Frisk;
the city that loves you back" will be launched tomorrow.
In the new TV commercial of the media blitz, Mayors Street and Nutter
will be shown wearing their pajamas as they exclaim, "its better if you
spend the night" then point to a jail cell housing the well known
Philadelphia intellectual, the award winning real estate agent, Melani
Lamond. The commercial will begin airing in the Beverly Hills area and
the green zone of Baghdad starting tomorrow.
Mayor Nutter issued a statement explaining the logic of the rather sexy
and revealing images of the commercial, "hey we have to compete with
Britneys panties dont we?" ...
