Wizard and now David Strand have touched a tender spot with me - partly from my recollection of the tensions at redistricting time and partly because I'm one of the "old heads" albeit not a person of color. Age is easier to address because I live it every day. Race/ethnicity/national origin and class confront me whenever I venture forth from my aerie in Phillips West.
It seems to me that we have a hard time coping with the idea of "the greater good" when we dress for battle in our civic affairs. Parochial interests have greater volume by default on our personal radios and seizing the day sometimes appears to be a matter of uncritical inertia/momentum - I know I find myself preaching about seniors' needs regularly and some of that is transference given the implacable demands of an aging body. Still, we are blessed with higher faculties if we make the effort to use them and I can rest easy when I see commitment and insight in my vicinity. When Alberto Monserrate of Gente De Minnesota uses the sharp point of his pencil, he is a treasure to hold dear. During the 2000 redistricting episode, even my status as a commissioner couldn't get me past the flak catchers in the Spanish language community and I still regret that my willingness to carry that interest forward fell short. Not just because of language and culture differences, but because the larger community as represented on the redistricting commission and elsewhere in our governing bodies seems to be satisfied with ephemeral nods to diversity while making darn sure that our own kind get the inside track. Don't get me started! Help me prepare the ground for the 2010 redistricting cycle so we don't have to return to this historical lesson yet again. Fred Markus, Phillips West -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of wmmarks Sent: Sunday, October 09, 2005 12:38 AM Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Re: RE: 5th ward fireworks [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >We have to realize that redistricting caused the only two sitting minorities >to be fighting for one seat, just like redistricting cause the downtown area, >where the money lies, to be taken from the 5th ward. > > I don't think it's fair to lay all the responsibility on the fifth ward. The eighth, which had been represented by African Americans for 20 years running, did not, in the end, support another African American in the primary this year. In some ways I'm at a loss to understand this, since African Americans have been a mainstay of the DFL in this ward for much longer than a generation. However, some of the "old heads" who could rally the troops did not appear at the DFL convention this time. Truth to tell, some of the elder statesmen and women did not choose younger people to train up in how to work for votes, how to work the caucuses and convention, and how to find the ones most likely to be electable to put up for consideration. Thus, some of the old heads who supported SSB and Herron were not able to muster the wherewithall to support new candidates. That's sad. It means that these elders are passing on. By this time in history, both the sixth and the ninth wards as well as the eight and fifth, should be able to produce more than one credible candidate for council member who is either African American and/or American Indian. WizardMarks, Central >________________________________ > >Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy >Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] >Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > > > REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
