Jordan Kushner wrote: >First, if the crime in Phillips has such an impact on >daily life, can = >you imagine how life must be in a country where there >is a lack of food >= >and clean water due to U.S. economic and military >aggression, and then >= >literally have bombs dropping on one's house and >neighborhood, and now >= >the threat of an invading army?
You mean the rest of the world doesn't look EXACTLY like the Kingfield neighborhood? I'm shocked! Jordan continues: >Local elected offiicals, as the rest >of = >us, have an ethical obligation to speak out against >atrocities being = >committed in our name. Anyone in an official and >visible position has >= >more of an obligation because they are in an official >and visible = >position. As I am sure others will shortly point out, you are making a logical leap for which you have no factual basis here: 1. Whose ethics are you talking about here? Maybe Paul Ostrow and the other CMs agree with military intervention in Iraq (I don't know if that is true or not). Just because you and your friends believe something to be ethically wrong doesn't make it universally true. If in fact these council members DO agree with military intervention, then they were "taking an ethical stand" by working against the resolution. The only difference is that their perspective happens to be in the majority. 2. Maybe the council members DO NOT in fact support military intervention, but also know that perhaps the city council chamber room is not the best place to voice their view. Maybe they participate in protests, write to their elected officials and letters to the editor, etc..., but realize that their JOB as city council members is to make sure that the city runs, not administer or set a vision for US Foreign policy. Frankly, I'm proud to have voted for Paul Ostrow last year, knowing that even IF we disagree on Iraq I know he's very responsive and has done great things for North East. Now that I live in ward 2, I've gotta wonder: why is Paul Zerby talking about Iraq when there is much to do IN his ward? Again, Jordan: >The only hope for urban problems is for city and >community leaders to = >stop responding to problems in a reactionary manner, >and address the = >underlying causes. This includes recognition that >what happens in the >= >city of Minneapolis is not just based on what >happens in the city of = >Minneapolis. Our problems are connected to what is >happening >elsewhere. = > In particular, the problems are rooted more in >Washington then the = >disenfranchised teenager in Phillips. If more >communities recognized = >that and directed energies accordingly, we get some >real change. So, are you saying we should abolish the city council and let the US Congress solve our problems? That's worked wonders for the City of Washington, DC. Jordan, you're wrong: The way out is to empower local resources to solve local problems. NOT to complain that "war machinery" creates crime in Phillips or that we're somehow going to change "undelying causes of behavior." What's that thing in the Green party platform about de-centralization again? Kudos to the council members who voted to remain on task. Making sure trash is picked up and our streets have community police on them isn't as sexy as a vague resolution on Iraq, but it sure makes life nicer here. Patrick Dinkytown ===== -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEL:612.379.4722 AIM:a11235patrick MSN:patrickepeterson -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com _______________________________________ 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
