At 10:46 AM 8/29/02 -0500, Karen Forbes wrote: >I was pleased to read Doug Grow's column on Spike Moss because I have been >wondering who this guy is. I have heard his name bantered about for years >but I know little about him. Does anyone out there know anything about him? >For example where does he live for starters? > >Also In Doug Grow's column he states that Moss would not speak to him. >Could this be due to the fact that several people from the press, including >two from the StarTribune that would assaulted? Has anyone apologized to >these people for what happened? Also is there an investigation still taking >place that will find the people responsible for these assaults and bring >them to justice? > from the column:
All of this sets up a revised turn on an old peace-and-justice chant. The old chant: No justice, no peace. Revised version: No cash, no peace. EY: Exactly. Goes without saying. The article continues: In the end, Moss did not take the money. Nonetheless, that money was discussed raises such questions as how many other deals has Moss been involved in and what motivates this glowering man. I wanted to raise the questions with Moss. But he's not answering questions of Star Tribune employees for the moment, presumably because Star Tribune reporters wrote the story of the peace-patrol negotiations. When I called Moss Wednesday, he delivered a brief message through an intermediary. "He says to tell the Star Tribune thanks for officially stopping him from stopping crime in that area," the intermediary said. Why would stories have stopped Moss from continuing his work? =========================== Good question. I guess my question is how does Spike Moss stop crime? It seems to me, that much of his rhetoric enables it. I still find the rhetoric from the Committee Against Police Brutality appalling. The idea that the media had it coming because they are racist, and therefore it is the reporters fault that they were beaten up, and the media van was burned - that's appalling. There's no justification for that. The whole attitude of calling middle class blacks "sellouts" or whatever else is also counter-productive. The point really is if you choose drug dealing as a career, then you also choose a high risk life -- high risk of getting shot, or going to prison. As far as getting more high wage jobs, a person has to get high wage skills. That means persistance, and it also means looking at the long haul. The article continues: Inspector Tim Dolan, top cop in the Fourth Precinct (where Jordan is located), said few of us are in a position to judge Moss' motives. Moss was there when he was needed, beginning last Thursday night, when rioters were burning vehicles and beating reporters. "You could say a lot of the people and organizations [in Jordan] had ulterior motives," Dolan said. "Maybe Spike was there because he was trying to keep City Inc. in the middle of things. Maybe [U.S. Sen.] Paul Wellstone was there because he's running for Senate. Maybe the NAACP issued statements because it's trying to build up declining membership and the media was there for the stories." Don't forget, Dolan said, the weekend was peaceful and he believes Moss played an important role. "There are people in Jordan who said that Spike's not their leader," Dolan said. "But he reaches people who won't listen to anyone else." ========================== EY: Sure. There were lots of reasons people came over there. Wellstone doesn't miss a chance to get a photo op. Anyway, now the city is trying to work with private foundations (including General Mills) to get the Spike Moss brigade funded. I saw some scenes on TV where people were wearing teeshirts that had cartoons of police -- which said "Danger Cops in Area" or something like that. That seems to be promoting the message that the police are enemies. Years ago, it bothered me when OutFront Minnesota got involved and was taking tips in the investigation of the serial killer of gay men. It seemed to me that much of what they were doing was undermining the police, and telling the gay community that you can't trust the police, so come to us. My philosophy has always been, I want the police to do their job, and in my experience, the police have done it. Years ago, when I had to call the police on my neighbor -- and her statement to the police was "well they are lesbians" referring to me, and my then partner, the police reacted "so what" -- I thought that was the point. They were there to enforce the law. In one of the articles covering this whole thing, Steve Wash was quoted as being angry that the NAACP was being considered as the major player in potential federal mediation of the situation in Jordan. Steve Wash felt that the NAACP didn't represent the black community well. I guess my question is who does Steve Wash represent besides himself? I encourage others to read Melissa Schmidt's obituary in Queue Press. I'm glad Deanna who started Queue Press is on this list, and hope to hear more from her about what is coming in issues of Queue Press. Eva Eva Young Near North Minneapolis "You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone - not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be." --Article II of the Bill of Non-Rights. _______________________________________ 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
