I received the following email from a person who has been a long-time CitySquare donor. I found it amazing and thoroughly disappointing. Here's what he said along with my reply and his final word:
Larry,
Trayvon Martin's killing brought on a lot of debate, some healthy and constructive, some unhealthy and destructive. Gerald Britt's article in this morning's paper is the most hate-filled, irrational article I have seen from either side of the issue. Take me off of your lists. I can't support an organization that is actively promoting hate in our community.
Signed his name
____________________________________________
Thank you for contacting me with your opinion about Rev. Britt’s editorial.
Frankly, your reaction is surprising to me. I can’t find the hatred to which you refer anywhere in the article. It would be helpful to me if you could elucidate more specifically to what you are referring. I would love to talk to you by phone or face-to-face, as I am sure Gerald would as well.
As I have considered the entire case, my question is why didn’t young Trayvon Martin fall under the protection of the “stand your ground” law in Florida? He was pursued by an armed stranger. If he “stood his ground” in his own defense, how could he be blamed and how could an armed assailant be declared “not guilty.”
Again, please direct me to the hatred or to the irrationality of Gerald’s article. I really need your help on this one.
Best regards,
Larry
___________________________________________
Thanks Larry, That's all I needed to
know. If that article speaks for City Square, we're done.
Signed his name
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I'm trying folks, really, I am. But, I can't see or hear the "hatred."
Can you?
The fact that we can't have a sensible conversation is a huge tip off that we have a major problem about race and culture in this nation.
Sad.
I'm done too.
ReplyDeleteregrettable, indeed, Anon 6:58! Why?
ReplyDeleteThe American Legislative Exchange Counci(ALEC)is a conservative think tank to promote limited government and other conservative causes designed to save our nation from decades of liberalism that is bringing our country to its knees. (think Detroit) In that city one can buy a house for $1.00 and yet cannot sell them because ithe city is a literal cesspool.
ReplyDeleteLiberals in general and Mr. Britt in particular, are fighting against this organization. In fact the Occupy movements are planning a giant protest against ALEC in Chicago in August. This is one example of hate.
Larry - I read the Britt article and I am at a complete loss to find any anger or hatred reflected in his words. Nor is he irrational... just the opposite, he seems completely rational in his article.
ReplyDeleteOne might disagree with him, but why a person would come to the conclusion that he promotes or inspires hate is beyond me.
japierpont:
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I cannot find any irrational words or tone in the article. Saying it is hateful is just baffling. Looking at Anon 8:14's comment, I think it is just that some people will call anything they disagree with "irrational" or "hateful," just trying to label it in a way that means it deserves no consideration.
ALEC, in open concert with the NRA, pushed for "stand your ground" laws under whcih people can provoke a fight, then say they feel threatened, and shoot the person they provoked (a la Zimmerman). It is just part of the guns-are-not-the-problem, guns-are-the-answer NRA agenda. A key Florida legislator who pushed the bill in Florida has said the results he is seeing are not what he intended. Exactly how is suggesting such laws are ill considered and should be repealed "irrational" or hateful"? It seems only sensible and caring to me.
ReplyDeleteIt is strange when a call for political activism through the electoral process to try to change public policy is equated with hate. Isn't that what Americans have been doing for over 200 years?
ReplyDeleteIt was Zhimmerman who was physically attacked first.
ReplyDeleteZimmerman was on his way back to his car when Martin jumped him. In fear for his life because of the pounding he was taking, Zimmerman used his firearm. It's clear cut self defense to me.
ReplyDeleteIts another case of stirring the racial hatred caldron and is the "race baiting dejour"
Obama is on the road trying to stir up racial strife. I don't think it will work. Sooner or later prople will wake up and realize this phony man who pretends he's a President is trying to bring the country down.
ReplyDeleteLarry, when I read Mr. Britt's article my first thought was, "Why can this man only ever see one side?" I was repulsed with his comparison with Emit Till and Trayvon Martin. Till was a 14 year old black child from Chicago who in 1955 made comments to a young white woman and was brutally beaten and murdered in cold blood. He did nothing but think he could talk in Mississippi like he could in Chicago. Martin should have not died that night, and he would not have if not for the beating he gave Zimmerman. The two events just do not match. As so many people have said. Young black men have much more to fear from other young black men than any other group. To be totally honest if I were from the Dallas area and supported CitySquare that article would have ended my support. When I read Britt I feel like I am reading what Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton would say. I promise you Larry that there are many respectable fine loving individuals who would take great offense to that article. Expect to loose more support, and that is a shame because of all the good that is done by City Square
ReplyDeleteThat should have been "Emmett Till." I would encourage people to read the comments on Rev. Britts article. You will learn a great deal. I imagine that over the course of the evening there will be a number of other posts, and I assume that most will be from people in the Dallas area. We have a writer for the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Wendi Thomas, that sadly reminds me of Rev. Britt. One last impression I had after reading his article. There was nothing in the article that could possibly bring about any progress in the growing racial division we are seeing in our country. Again, this is just my honest opinion.
ReplyDeleteI don't care what you think about Gerald's politics ... we should be applauding the fact that Larry is one of the very few nonprofit leaders who is willing to stand on his principles and not pander to donors.
ReplyDeleteEven if you disagree with him, at least the man has integrity. That should make you think twice about whether the author is the one filled with hate... or the reader.
RCorum:
ReplyDeleteI am very surprised by what you say. You have always seemed reasonable, but I really do not see how someone without a rigid ideological bent could find Gerald's article so offensive. You speak as if what happened that night was a known quantity. Clearly, no one really knows. One is dead. The other refused to testify, and his earlier statements were often contradictory. The bottom line is Zimmerman began the confrontation and now a 17 year old kid is dead. You can read that any number of ways, but any way you look at it it's not good. Even if you disagree with his perspective, what is so offensive about Gerald's article that you would withdraw support over? I still don't get it.
The real truth did not come out about Travon Martin because the mainstream media did not want it out. Check out: Afterburner, Bill Whittle, Lynching
ReplyDeletesometimes Gerald needs to keep his big mouth shut.
ReplyDeleteAnon 3:55, I appreciate your tone very much. Larry asked for reactions and I simply gave my honest reaction. I could be wrong, but that was my honest reaction. I perhaps should have said that the last of Rev. Britt's article was fine, but I felt like the first half was way off base. Recall that the defense was not allowed to to enter into testimony facts about Trayvon's very recent past. I agree with that decision, but there were a number of troubling things about his past that would lead me to believe that he very well could have jumped Zimmerman. To say the least he was a young man headed in the wrong direction. You are right that we don't know what happened, but I believe that the jury did all they could do according to the law. I was once on a jury trying a second degree murder case. As we deliberated I was furious that in our case the only charge we could consider was second degree murder and the State had clearly not proven it's case.
ReplyDeleteI have the upmost respect for Larry, but I really get frustrated with Mr. Britt. I regularly read his blog and yet there is no opportunity to respond because he has comments disabled. The bottom line for me is that Britt's comments (the first half) sound so much like people like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton, two men that in my mind do nothing but make a living off of racial strife. I also am still bothered with the comparison between the death of Emmett Till and Travon Martin. I just don't see how the two can be compared. Till was killed in raciest cold blood while it is likely that Zimmerman motives had nothing to do with race and he was defending himself. Thanks again for not personally attacking me. I can take it, but still appreciate it when someone refrains even though they strongly disagree with my statements.
I believe that it is appropriate to label Britt's Martin/Zimmerman comparison with Till/Martin A RED HERRING..Britt often uses such devices to inflame his readership, and yet because he cannot handle opinion contrary to his own, he disallows comments. BTW, what kind of Public Relations for City 52 irutioSquare does he perform to warrant his outrageous salary from the organization?
ReplyDeleteyes citysquare also has more vice Presidents than some small banks...
ReplyDeleteSuch as a vice president of human resources , when the entire HR dept has 2 people including the VP...
THE DIRECTION OF THE AGENCY HAS CHANGED A BUNCH..
Time to put our money somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteWe greatly appreciate the support, prayers, advice, involvement and commitment of all who have, continue to and will make our work possible. Differences of opinion will always exist. And, my blog will continue to invite conversation and debate.
ReplyDeleteThat said, we will also always attempt to "keep our eye on the ball" which is our part in an unrelenting battle vs poverty and the affects it has on individuals, families, children and communities. Thanks to all who join us, and best regards to those who don't.