My newspaper column is one of those short-item deals that catches me up, I hope, on some of the stuff I've missed during my summertime hiatus.

Random thoughts as heat melts my brain

by Edward Cone
News & Record
8-6-06

It got so hot out that all of my summertime column ideas melted and ran together into one big puddle of column goo, but I was able to freeze-dry the mess and salvage this collection of short items. I'm aiming for pithy, but if I hit something else I'll take that, too.

l l l

Mel Gibson blames his woes on Jews
Seems to me it was the booze
Not to mention scary views
That both he and his daddy choose.

l l l

It's hard to imagine a worse situation than what's been going on in Israel and Lebanon, but I bet they'll come up with something.

l l l

Remember Iraq?

The Bush administration hopes that you have forgotten about the war it chose to fight, and the compliant media -- you know, the folks accused of reporting only bad news -- are ignoring it as much as possible. But things are scary enough over there that we are sending in more troops, and even an apologist like the New York Post's Ralph Peters, who as recently as March penned a column sneeringly headlined "Dude, Where's My Civil War?," admitted in late July that "we may face a problem we have no hope of fixing."

Remember Iraq.

l l l

We spent some time this summer in two big cities, Paris and New York. The parks in Paris are manicured and beautiful, but in most places you can't play on the grass.

New York's Central Park, on the other hand, is threadbare in places from the exuberant use of its many visitors.

There is something to be said for both approaches; as a tourist, the Parisian method is compelling, but for residents I think the American way is preferable.

l l l

Another travel note: The dollar is not at all strong in Paris, but it ain't doing so great in New York, either.

l l l

I am proud of Mayor Keith Holliday for his work on the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation process, and for trying hard to be the mayor of this whole city. He's still listening, he's still cautious, and he's still working his way through the details of the long report, but he has seen and heard enough to know in his heart that this subject deserves attention from our elected officials.

It's been a journey for him: "I was wrong when I said I didn't believe this effort would open the door to healing," he said at the city council's round-table discussion in July.

Greensboro's mayor has one vote, just like the other council members, so he has to lead by example and persuasion and strength of character. Holliday is doing exactly that.

l l l

Prices are high and flights are few at our airport. This is not just an inconvenience, although it is certainly that. It's a business recruitment and development issue.

The tumbleweeds blowing through the Continental concourse are kind of scenic, though.

Edward Cone (www.edcone.com, efcone@mindspring.com) writes a column for the News & Record most Sundays.

Comments

[ben holder]

I saw the TRC plug...would you please explain to me what you are so proud of the mayor for? reading a report? I have no idea why you and others think the TRC is gonna change anything? Why do you think that? I think it is pain medicine for white guilt...that is all..no cure...no improvements...just pain medicine...for white guilt...some of your readers will probably over dose on it..tell me...what concrete thing will the trc produce that will make life better for the poor...and yes...yes...yes...yes..being poor and black go together like grasshoppers and baseball in gso.

[Ed Cone]

You are setting up false goals and then knocking them down, Ben.

The value of the process is in creating a better understanding of our history, and a better understanding of the way our government and police deal with a variety of issues.

It's not either/or, as in, either this project solves the problems of poverty and race by itself or it's a failure.

You have voiced your views on this process many times, and hinted at a personal agenda. Duly noted, again.

[ben holder]

How can you say that the process gives a better understanding of the way our government and police deal with a variety of issues when it does not. The commission has done nothing to clear up anything between the police and government. Do you think the police broke into the GTRC office to open file cabinets? Do you think the cops spied on Jill Williams? They cleared nothing up but added rumor and fear.

You did clear one thing up. All the GTRC is was a history lesson. A very expensive history lesson mixed with group therapy for the CWP. I can stomach that much better.

[Ed Cone]

Ben, you are focused on a tiny piece of the report, which you cite, yet again, in your most recent comment, as if it was the most important detail. You seem personally invested in this aspect in a way that others are not.

The report, which is several hundred times longer than the single page over which you obsess, and which involves many more people than the TRC's executive director, details the actions and inactions of law enforcement on 11/3/79 in ways that are valuable and instructive, and which have not yet been fully acknowledged by our city government and many of our citizens.

It also explains clearly the rhetoric and actions of the CWP in a way that undercuts that group's own attempts to whitewash history.

It is a flawed but valuable document, and the process of which it is one part doesn't have to obliterate poverty tomorrow to be worthwhile.

[ben holder]

To spread rumor about the current police mess...and provide false things like surveillance is a big deal...if you understood things maybe you could see how GSO and the police mess needs nothing but facts to be handed out...Nelson was not wathced...All the GTRC does is make it harder for the real people who are interested in a level palying field get shit done....I am focused on the big picture...I was REALLY stopping WORKING people from getting exposed to asbestos when the GTRC supporters were chasing Nelson around to make sure he felt good. the gtrc is flawed in many ways...they left the cops of that day as well as the klan of that day out of the ending phases....that would be a huge issue of Signe waller was left out...group therapy..for the cwp's...at the tax payers expense is all it was....If I am obsessing over one part...that doesnt make it less true....if it is a lie...then why not point it out...you seem to use the length of the report detailing stuff we already knew as a reason it is ok for the report to add more confusion to the police mess today...further...I read the whole thing. I just do not understand why this is such a great thing...i guess it is much like you and the rest of the group will never understand how the asbestos thing is important.

if the city does ackowldege that it was a mistake, what does that change? I would feel better if you and others were more interested if those first dump truck loads of asbestos hauled off from the city's biggest crack house's demolition and dumped somewhere. The only thing the city has reported is it was not at the landfill..but...that is not nearly as important as the postition of Nelson Johnson's left nutt when he got stabbed in 1979.

[Ed Cone]

I don't see the connection or competition between asbestos and the TRC. I realize that you believe the connection is real, and I respect that, but I don't share your view.

I am not part of a group. I'm not suffering from "white guilt." I don't feel any need to attack or insult you for viewing this differently, I'd appreciate it if you could share that courtesy.

I agree that misstatements in the report should be examined and corrected. However, there is a difference between doing that and saying that the whole thing is useless because of a given misstatement, or other errors. I've written that I find numerous flaws in the report, and the process, but on balance I find them both worthwhile.

[ben holder]

U r TOTALLY lost if you cannot see how working ACTIVELY TODAY to prevent low wage workers from working in dangerous situations has anything to do w the GTRC. R u 4 REAL? In the report they talk about low wage folks getting sick from working in dangerous conditions...did u miss that part? They are soooo much connected...whatever...i give up. U dont see the connection in a poor da loabor guy getting mesothelioma from tearing down Southgate before the asbestos was removed and a man working at cone getting brown lung? really?

[Ed Cone]

I understood your previous comment to say the TRC report somehow undermined current efforts to provide safe working conditions; now you seem to be correlating the report and current work in a positive way.

I found the TRC report's emphasis on working conditions to be fascinating, but poorly contextualized. Making those concerns the focus of the opening chapters gave undue weight to the CWP's claimed emphasis on union organizing, when in fact they admitted such organizing was not their primary concern.

[ben holder]

I never said anything about the gtrc doing anything about working conditions...becuase they dont...they did in fact add rumors to the current police scandal....they did do that..

Asbestos at Southgate was a very good example of government not protecting people as it should...it also showed how today working conditions for poor folks are still ruff...

the only thing that is positive is that i paid attention to it and stopped the demo..and worked w council to get a better procedure...

we need more of that...and less report reading...that is my whole point...the gtrc was a waste of resource...adding to it just wastes more...I think council could solve the problems of poverty by looking at the low income areas today...not reading a report about something that happened decades ago...

I never said anything about the gtrc underminig safe work conditions...they just added lies to a big stack of them regarding the cop mess of today...why praise that?

[Joe Killian]

I hate to stick my head in the lion's mouth here, but is there anyone in Greensboro you consider to be doing good work that isn't an insult, a waste of time, a pathetic joke when compared to the good work you're doing for real people?

I don't think anyone doubts you're doing good work. We've certainly heard about it. All of it. A lot. But it seems you're insulted whenever anyone who's doing anything else tries to contribute anything, or contribute anything in a different way.

[meblogin]

I wonder if the termination of our police chief recently is a good indication that the GTRC was being read and that it did and does serve as a valuable teaching tool. Like you Ben, I had my doubts early on about the value....I can't think of many cities that have booted out police chiefs. Can you?

Ed, I now believe I was more wrong than right about the GTRC. Thanks Ben.

BTW only the completely uninformed believes that meso does not cross all economic boundaries.

Further....WHITE GUILT...what are you a racist?? You write like you are there for all of us then you say silly things.

Ben, thanks for the good work you are doing...keep up the good work protecting those that need it and please make an effort to find the good in others even if they are different from you.

[ben holder]

Joe,

Please enlightne me on what good the gtrc has done? and u have heard just a small lil bit of what I have done...so..tell me...please...anyone..what good...what change has the gtrc made? is it worth the cost? Nobody can tell me what good the gtrc has done..tell me Joe...please do

[ben holder]

My original point was...I wish the people of GSO would become more concerned with real things like they are losing sleep over the mayor reading the gtrc report. I used asbesots at southgate as an example. The building was torn down before the asbestos was removed and some of the debris was hauled off. Nobody knows where. However, I am sure it was dumped in a poor section of town. there are illegal dump sites in poor areas in GSO. I just think real stuff going on today is more improtant and deserves more attention than the mayor reading a report. The GTRC does not contribute. Nobody can tell me how they will or have changed one thing.

[Ed Cone]

I just don't see it as either/or, Ben. I think there can be a meaningful discussion of the past and it's relevance to the present and future, and a concurrent focus on issues such as the ones you raise. In fact, I think one may reinforce the other.

I also think one can criticize the TRC report and process while finding some value in both. I've been quite critical of the process, and the report, and I think you raise some good points, too, but I don't see the flaws outweighing the whole thing.

If you think the whole TRC thing is a waste of time, well, fine. But it is possible that others may find value in it, and that they have actually given thought to its problems and contradictions, and also to other ongoing issues in this town, and so telling them again and again and again that they are idiots and dupes is of limited and diminishing purpose.

[ben holder]

nobody can tell me one concrete thing the GTRC has done that will level the playing field. i can tell you it cost over $500,000 worth of man power.

The GTRC IS in fact spreading half truths when nelson and others say they were spied on...that is not the case...of course..i am the only one who dug to the bottom..who did I find...Rick Ball.

blah blah blah blah blah..as long as anyone says...oh golly...i love the gtrc...i am gonna say...oh golly...they aint all that...I honestly feel i am the only one on the planet that looked at the whole process and helped the whole process..and then made a decision on my own.....others just waited to see what the report wanted them to do next....I talked to all of the players...and have come to the conclusion that the gtrc did not follow their mandate...they are not honest...they are expensive and time consuming..and they are harldy truth seekers. Why praise that?

But what would I know...All I did was talk to the unreachables and work to bring them in...do u know how bad it is to see Mike toomes and others and hear them say...i told u ben...told ya so....i told u in the end only one group would matter..." and they are right?

[Ed Cone]

"I honestly feel i am the only one on the planet that looked at the whole process."

Then you are paying no attention the thousands of words written about the process and the report, including many criticisms of both the process and report.

I don't see people saying "oh golly...i love the gtrc."

I see people saying that the TRC is talking about important stuff, and despite the flaws in the process and the report, that stuff is worth talking about.

[ben holder]

I am saying...I didnt see a whole lot of others successfully getting hands on in the work of gathering all parties together...cops...klan.....and watching the back ground stuff....

see people saying that the TRC is talking about important stuff, and despite the flaws in the process and the report, that stuff is worth talking about.

talk is cheap..and i knew the stuff needed to be talked about and fixed before the gtrc got their money to play.

why cant u just say...yes...they really messed up when they did not include the cops of then and the klan of then in the final process...and they should have gotten all the info about surveillance before they ran w it...and we woulda had two comments in this thread

[Ed Cone]

Of course they messed up by not including the cops and Klan in the final process, and their information on the surveillance seems open to question, too, although I don't think that has been answered conclusively.

But you aren't just pointing to those errors, you are holding them up and shouting that they show the whole process to be useless. It is upon that latter point that we disagree.

[ben holder]

although I don't think that has been answered conclusively.

It has been. You just wont take my word for it. And u wont look into yourself. Have you called Rick ball to see if I lied and made my story up? With that stance of non beilief and no investigation of course it isnt conclusive.

Of course they messed up by not including the cops and Klan in the final process

but nobody has pointed that out but me. That big mistake would have gone unoticed. Why didnt you quetion that at the ceremony. Did you ever once think..hey...wonder if Rooster is here or Virgil, Toomes? ball? was that not worthy of coverage?

If they forgot the cops and the klan, where was their minds and hearts? To me, forgetting the other two groups takes a whole bunch away from a already very shaky foundation.

[sean coon]

ben, if you want people to deal with the real issues that are plaguing greensboro's residents today, why don't you put together some sort of "troublemaker task force" -- something tangible that leads the rest of us shlubs in the right direction.

it could be as simple as a meetup, held twice a month at your location of choice, where you inform the group of situations in dire straights, discuss potential solutions and draw up a gameplan for the group. then maybe people who are unfamiliar with the issues directly affecting today's poor in greensboro could actually pitch in to make a difference. you could even post daily updates to your blog to keep people informed and pointed in the right direction.

of course, this would require leadership, collaboration and patience, three attributes you show very little evidence of owning. you would also need to tone down your act to get people who'd like to make a difference (like myself and many others who comment on this one blog), but think you're an egomaniac and would pause at the idea of ever working with you on anything.

so, are you really about the problems at hand or your ego?

[ben holder]

http://thetroublemaker.blogspot.com/2006/06/former-gpd-captain-rick-ball-talks.html

[ben holder]

require leadership, collaboration and patience, three attributes you show very little evidence of owning.

without those.....i could have never gotten thru all I have.

project 2400...massage parlors...crack pipes..all of that happened under your very aware nose and u ahd no idea how or why...it was me ass hole..leading quietly..

[sean coon]

that's what i mean: "under your very aware nose" "ass hole"

if you want change to occur -- real positive change through the efforts of more people than just yourself (which is what needs to happen, right?) -- you need to change your own attitude first.

i didn't even live in greensboro when you closed down the massage parlors. congratulations on the success, seriously, but you relive it daily like it was the football state championship in high school and you're drunk, 42 years-old, sitting at the end of the local pub. instead of using that success to drive more people to support your efforts, you beat us all over the head with it.

so again, i ask you: are you about the problems at hand or your ego?

[ben holder]

daily? really? u watch me daily? drunk? really?

but you relive it daily like it was the football state championship in high school and you're drunk, 42 years-old, sitting at the end of the local pub. instead of using that success to drive more people to support your efforts, you beat us all over the head with it.

u should say the same about nelson

so again, i ask you: are you about the problems at hand or your ego?

it has nothing to do w ego..u make it seem that way when i am just telling u...what works..what is cost effective..and how the gtrc is neither..and that hurts your feelings...sorry

this would require leadership, collaboration and patience, three attributes you show very little evidence of owning.

the asshole part and very aware nose was a product of your above comment.

the things i have done could not work without those...another example for when u lived hear...the gtrc came to me and said please help us ben! I did...succesfully...got them what they wanted...that could not have happened without those things like leadership, patience..blah blah blah..in the meanime i started score...tore down southgate...helped create a better ordinance for safer asbestos removal...possibly saved some day labor men from getting cancer...showed council how it was bad for stores to sell crack pipes...so...i used a lot of leadeship and collaboration during those times sean...currently...i am working on two streets in winston and the phillips ave area...i am just to tired to blog about it much...so...even though u think i am done doing stuff and daily talk of massage palrors...u r wrong...and judgemental...

[Joekillian@gmail.com]

I've don't really mind hearing - over and over - about all the wonderful things Ben's done.

My point was just that it seems just about anybody who's trying to do anything positive - not simply the gtrc, which many people did find valuable, even if he didn't - they get heckled because it isn't as important as the things he's done -- the list of which he will provide for you without your asking. There's a twinge of "I don't get enough credit" about it, sure - but mostly I just don't understand the tearing down of other people trying to do other things in other ways. There's room for all sorts of contributions, no?

[ben holder]

and I am asking Joe again and again and again...what did gtrc contribute?

My point was just that it seems just about anybody who's trying to do anything positive - not simply the gtrc, which many people did find valuable, even if he didn't - they get heckled because it isn't as important as the things he's done --

name another besides the GTRC..Skip Alston? who might u be refering to...the N&R? dont know?

what other way is more effective than simply holding leaders accountable? Show me a group that has been more cost effective and difference making? i will applaud it...

as for... "I don't get enough credit"....ummmm..I dont..I get kicked for doing it..all i have done would not ever have been mentioned if I did not first bring it up...point is..there is a way to make changes that are good immediately w little to no cost...I have seen it and yes Joe...done it...before you respond..please tell me...what good has the gtrc contributed?

[sean coon]

ben, i *know* you've done a ton of good and *continue* to do a ton of good; we all know it. i'm only being judgmental in the way that you go off on other people. so fine, i'm guilty as charged.

when you trash other efforts in the community, calling people stupid, etc., you're not hurting anyone's feelings, you're simply ostracizing yourself from people within the community.

if you want to be a one-man wrecking crew, well, congratulations. you've created that persona and this community will feel your presence. my only point was that if you want to lead by example, and actually get other people involved with your tireless efforts (making a larger push for change) you might want to try to be a bit more inclusive.

feel free to trash away at will.

[ben holder]

sean,

I liked the idea about what u said...meeting,...organizing..that kind of thing...why dont you meet me friday or next monday in gso...any place...later in the day though...and we can plan about speaking at council the next tuesday...the agenda is phillips ave..I will have all the stats soon..the reason i picked it is cuz it is bad...and the city owns a piece of property there...so...it is a place...in a crack area..that people can go and hold events...it is city property....anyway...just thought i would follow up

[Ed Cone]

Coordinated citizen action against blight, with blogs (including tools like video) serving as a communications center for both reporting the issues and organizing the group? Me like.

[Roch101]

Progress: Much more civil than the invitation to a boxing match offered to me.

[sean coon]

sounds good, ben. shoot me an email (found on my blog) with your phone number and i'll give you a shout to coordinate.

thanks.

[Joe Killian]

Ben:
I really can't explain its virtues to you any better or more clearly than the mayor and Ed already have. If that doesn't do it for you, nothing will.
All the same, I agree with Sean that it would be better to work with people than criticize anyone who isn't doing exactly what you're doing, then complain you don't get any credit for what you're doing.
Sean seems like a nice guy. Hope you guys hit it off.

[Cara Michele]

My two cents: I'm glad to hear that Sean and Ben are finally going to meet. They're probably more alike than they realize. They're both smart, concerned, passionate, committed, and they both get fired up about injustice. So if those two start working together... watch out, Greensboro! In a good way. ;)

[Ed Cone]

I think that there are real possibilities for a web-supported citizen action group, and I think Sean and Ben could be very effective in leading it.

[ben holder]

Joe,

when I want your opinion I will give it to you. Nobody has made a concrete statement of the the GTRC's contributions...cuz there aint none...duh... I dont complain, but simply tell u how the real word is. I have gotten shit done. Real shit, testified in court, watched issues all the way thru..something nobody at your job does. Take that how u want to...It is just a fact. Bottom line is results and what the cost was to get them. The GTRC is about $600,000 in the hole. How in the hell do u think you can explain anything to me? What is your track record? You got folks titles correct yet? U learned the difference between city council and county commissioners? Boy, your air is cleaner because of me. All you should do is thank me for making your city better and work to break a story...should I go over the stories I have broken?

[Samuel Spagnola]

I agree with you on the T&R, Ben, but enough already. We get it. You're good at getting scoops and have done a lot for people in Greensboro. It's great that you are such a vigilant watchdog. But you're sounding more like a broken record on this than Ed and I did on the Mel Gibson thing.

[drno]

coordinated citizen action to get Ben fitted for a muzzle and a straitjacket = good.

[ben holder]

drno is a bitch

[drno]

You're $1 million in the hole, pussy.

[Joe Killian]

This may be a good example of that lack of civility people have been blogging about lately.

I'd like to believe Ben would be more civil in person.

[sean coon]

well, we had a great conversation last night.

[Joe Killian]

I'm really glad to hear that.

[Luke McIntyre]

People actually use the phrase "when I want your opinion I will give it to you" outside of bad drill sergeant impersonations?

[ben holder]

meblogin,

"I wonder if the termination of our police chief..."

wray resigned. Nobody has been terminated.