I am truly amazed by the Pioneer Press posted account of some of Randy Staten's comments concerning the Johnson-Lee vs. Police Federation issue as well as the Mayors "handling of the shooting". I believe the Mayor acted with the utmost sensitivity to the issue and more importantly acted correctly. There is a difference between the two deaths and Rybak gave this difference the smallest amount of consideration as possible because of sympathy for the dead assailant's family. It would have been understandable if Mayor Rybak had taken the opportunity to make political hay, but to his credit he did not.
The naked attempts to mix race into this issue by some such as Staten is far more troubling. Such efforts are problematic because of their divisiveness and the possible backlash they may spark. Giving opportunities to others to also play the race card by pointing out assault rates of one race upon another and other such crime statistics. I can remember no time or situation when the white population attacked Sales-Belton for any comment or action against a white person because she was Black and they were White. > "Staten and others also criticized Rybak for his overall handling of the shooting and fallout for not defending Johnson Lee's comments. The forum crowd cheered Staten's statements and echoed his call for Delmonico's resignation. >"The mayor of Minneapolis was irresponsible in how he dealt with this question," Staten said. "We can't let him off the hook." Even if Mr. Staten were correct, and he is not, I would think he would be a little more understanding and forgiving. I think Mr. Staten was happy the community appears to have "let Mr. Staten off the hook" for far more troubling indiscretions. Mr. Staten should remember Jesus' words about those without sins casting the first stone. Mr. Staten needs to wait for a lot of other people to throw their rocks first, if they wish. But he certainly should not be the starting pitcher. Mayor Rybak and Councilperson Johnson-Lee seem to be wisely advising that this be put in the past and allow healing to take place. We all should follow that lead because there are far more important things going on in this city and certainly real issues of patterned discrimination against communities of color by the City of Minneapolis. Real issues such as a failure to afford equal protection and policing in communities of color, and protection for families of color, get lost in such political demagoguery. The house is on fire and threatens to be consumed while Mr. Staten is worrying about what shade of green the back porch got painted. It is time for the real community "Leaders" to start exercising some leadership. Martin Luther King said we need to look at the content of a man's character rather than the color of his skin. We also need to look at the content of the message, not the shading of color our own preconceptions might ascribe to the meaning of each word in that message. WE, all of us, need to stop this black-white, them-they stuff and start talking about "OUR" problems, and how "WE" solve those problems. Jim Graham, Ventura Village ----- Original Message ----- From: Dooley, Bill To: Discuss Minneapolis (E-mail) Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 7:44 AM Subject: [Mpls] Police Union Letter According to today's Pioneer Press, the police union letter condemning CM Johnson Lee was not signed by Union President Sgt. John Delmonico (who was on vacation) but by Minneapolis police officers Cpl. Lyall Delaney and Lt. Dan Roen. See "African-American groups upbraid mayor; police union." http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/3858034.htm?template=c ontentModules/printstory.jsp Has it been reported before that Delmonico did not sign the letter? Was Delmonico's signature stamped or did the letter actually bear the signatures of Delaney and Roen? Bill Dooley Ward 13 Kenny _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
