Herenton Running for Mayor Again! (Memphis, Knoxville: tax, fence, stores)

[Tigertate]

Originally Posted by thenuegeye

It's ironic how you use the phrase "free thinkers". You're probably supporting him for the same reason everyone else is. Which, by the way, no one can state. I know you want to believe your rationale is progressive thinking but really it isn't. It's socially acceptable. If that works for you, fine. But going along with the crowd so you won't offend people isn't necessarily the "right" thing to do. I have valid reasons for not supporting Wharton. This city needs a quick jolt. It needs to be catapulted ahead. We are behind other cities we shouldn't be. We don't need anymore leaders playing it safe. I haven't heard a progressive idea come out of Wharton's mouth since he's been in office.

I have been busy all day so I am just now getting a chance to address your points. First of all, I am black too, and I think any black person who uses the term "Uncle Tom" to degrade another black person is ignorant. It is just as bad as saying that someone who is intelligent, studious, and well spoken is trying to act white. Pure lunacy. You can take that how ever you want to. Being black is not about your state of mind it is who you are. Just because one is black and happens to not view the world the way some other black people do does not make them any less black. The "Uncle Tom" thing is a time tested method used to shut some people up. "Ohh he doesn't agree with me, he must be an uncle tom, and think he is white". That crap is so lame. I support Wharton because I know him and I know that he is a good, honest, hard working person who can lead this city with dignity. He will be a mayor who will not try to divide Memphis along racial lines and he will never tell white citizens, who are just as valuable to this city as black citizens, to "get out if they do not like it".

And what the heck is wrong with being socially acceptable? Is that a bad thing? If you do not support Wharton, that is fine, I am not asking you to agree with me. I just feel that out of all the candidates he is the best choice right now. Most of the people in this race have no business being on the ballot. And the quick jolt you are wanting will never come as long as it is business as usual in Memphis, with politicians trying to divide the city along racial lines. The cities you describe as moving past us have done so because they got past the racial crap years ago and focused on progressively advancing the city through economic development.

Please explain further your thoughts on Pres. Obama? Since he is half white he can not be an "Uncle Tom" in your opinion? What exactly makes one and Uncle Tom in your opinion?

[thenuegeye]

You made a ton of generalizations in your first paragraph.

"...saying that someone who is intelligent, studious, and well spoken is trying to act white..."

Never said that. I've never heard Wharton use any big words either. None of those words (intelligent, studious, and well spoken) come to mind when he speaks. Docile is what I think of. Hey, I think I'm all those things you mentioned. But black people question my blackness all day long because they say I don't "act like a black person". Uncle Toms are black people. They are just spineless blacks.

"Pure lunacy"

Touche'!!

"Being black is not about your state of mind it is who you are."

It's actually both.

"I support Wharton because I know him and I know that he is a good, honest, hard working person who can lead this city with dignity."

That's fine and all. But where will this dignified leader take us?? You don't have to answer. The question is rhetorical.

"I just feel that out of all the candidates he is the best choice right now."

None are good choices. Not now, not when they were elected, not in the future,...never!! That includes Herenton.

"The cities you describe as moving past us have done so because they got past the racial crap years ago and focused on progressively advancing the city through economic development. "

Don't know what part of Memphis you live in. But this city hasn't moved past racial anything. We're too afraid to even mention someone's race. That's not progress or diversity. That's denial.

"Please explain further your thoughts on Pres. Obama? Since he is half white he can not be an "Uncle Tom" in your opinion? "

Come on. The guy is just as much white as he is black. No black person can claim him as being a "brother", so to speak. Not unless you mean in the mankind brotherly way. He has the luxury of being on whatever side he chooses. What's funny about Obama is I heard them mention on the news how his support in the black community has slipped by about 10%. I'm not sure what black people were expecting from a man who is supposed to represent an entire nation. I don't believe him to be an "Uncle Tom" but I'm sure some black people do. He didn't promise black people anything. In fact, this black person didn't vote for him. He lost my support way before he was elected. That's because he back-peddled on his stance about the Iraq war.

You've made general comments towards me. So I will make an observation based on your comments. You seem like the type of African American who believes getting a college degree makes you progressive and somehow elevates your status past other "common" blacks. If so, you could not be more wrong. Blacks with that mindset, along with the real "ignorant" ghetto blacks in this town are the true cause of dysfunction in the black community. One side makes excuses and the other side is way too pretentious to be of any help.

"And what the heck is wrong with being socially acceptable? Is that a bad thing?"

Yes, it can be very bad. Especially if the status quo is detrimental to this city's progression. You tried making some valid points. But you're making assumptions and not fully grasping the scope of my comments. I'm not an angry, young black male by any stretch. I'm just fed up with this town's mediocrity when I know it's capable of much more. But hey, maybe it isn't.

[mzloolue]

Personally, I think that Herenton acts like he has had a stroke or something and has become brain damaged.

His actions show that he is apparently not thinking clearly.

He has always seemed power hungry, but now he just seems off.
His reasoning ability seems to be seriously compromised.

He wants to run the city schools.
He wants to run for congress.
Oh wait, now he wants to be mayor again.
Hunh?

[thenuegeye]

Did anyone else see Herenton on channel 5 news?! It was painful to watch. They old guy has indeed lost it. He made silly claims he could not back up. Joe Birch did an excellent job,..even though it seemed like he crossed the line a little by letting his personal feelings get in the way of journalism.

[Tunky]

An election costs a lot of money. So he quits, causing the need for an election...if he wins and nothing essentially changes...there's about a million bucks down the drain.

[Tigertate]

To thenuegeye

"Never said that. I've never heard Wharton use any big words either. None of those words (intelligent, studious, and well spoken) come to mind when he speaks. Docile is what I think of. Hey, I think I'm all those things you mentioned. But black people question my blackness all day long because they say I don't "act like a black person". Uncle Toms are black people. They are just spineless blacks."

I didn't say you said that. I was making the point that calling someone an "Uncle Tom” is just as bad.


"It's actually both."

Not really. No matter how you think or feel you are always going to be black. How you view the world doesn't change that.



"That's fine and all. But where will this dignified leader take us?? You don't have to answer. The question is rhetorical. "


Where has the former undignified leader taken us? Having a consensus builder rather than a divider will do wonders for this community. Nobody knows what the next mayor will do, but Wharton scares me the least.


"Don't know what part of Memphis you live in. But this city hasn't moved past racial anything. We're too afraid to even mention someone's race. That's not progress or diversity. That's denial."


I think you misread my post. I was talking about other cities, not Memphis.


"You've made general comments towards me. So I will make an observation based on your comments. You seem like the type of African American who believes getting a college degree makes you progressive and somehow elevates your status past other "common" blacks. If so, you could not be more wrong. Blacks with that mindset, along with the real "ignorant" ghetto blacks in this town are the true cause of dysfunction in the black community. One side makes excuses and the other side is way too pretentious to be of any help."


Yes, I do have a couple degrees, but I do not think I am better than anyone else. I just view the world for what it is and do not make excuses for myself or other black people. I refuse to dwell on the same racial garbage. It’s 2009 for crying out loud. Most of the problems we have in our community can not be blamed on anyone but us. We need to stare that truth right in the face and deal with it. And before you accuse me of generalizing again, I am not talking about you specifically. I have no problem with you and I am sure you are a great guy. I just have a problem with the "Uncle Tom" term you used. I think it needs to go away. That is just my opinion, if you disagree, we can just agree to disagree.

[jabogitlu]

Why don't you guys agree then? Or else take it to a PM. Nobody else gives a ****/is reading your interchange.

[Senor Boogie Woogie]

If this has not been mentioned, there is no election runoff. The one who gets the most votes win. So someone can get less than 10% of the vote and get elected. That's a joke and a symbol of Third Worldism. This is a court order that supposedly protected blacks somehow giving them a level playing field.

Why have an election? Why not just have Lowrey be the MAYOR (not this pro-tem garbage) until the next regularly scheduled election? As in the same as when a President dies or resigns. Herenton hates Lowrey for some reason. (probably because Lowrey is honest and more than likely cares about Memphis.) AC Wharton is basically a Herenton puppet who hides the strings well.

White people need to allign themselves behind one (white) candidate. If nothing else, the blacks will scream about it and get a runoff back, which is as it should be. Carol Chumney, Jerry Lawler, Jack Sammons, whoever, get behind a white candidate.

I realize that in the 21st Century that people are totally afraid to talk up race, but people in Memphis, whites and blacks are realists and are not afraid to get it out in the open. Memphis is majority black and minority white. Herenton has made it clear that he does not like whites and has basically told them (the tax base) that if they don't like it, they can leave. What do you think the reaction would be if a white mayor in a majority white city told the blacks to shove off if they didn't like it.

The tax base did move, to Mississippi, Germantown/Collierville, Tipton County, and even farrrrr away Fayette County Tennessee. Memphis crime has gotten to the point where it is spilling out into these suburbs, and the tax base is having to move and move and move again to be safe. State Line Road in Southhaven is probably some 38th Parallel against the hordes of Ghetto freaks from north of the line, with Herenton as some jive Kim Jong Il figure, poking the White Devil in the arse for his own personal pleasure.

Memphis only has to foot about half of this election while TENNESSEE pays for the other half. So you, taxpayers in Knoxville, Nashville, Johnson City, Jackson, Chattanooga and all the towns in between, you are paying about $500,000 dollars, which must be wonderful in a poor state with over 10% unemployment. The Tennessee state government is corrupt and wont change the system.

I have to laugh that Willie wants to be mayor again. I am from Memphis, but moved away about eight years ago. The city has seemed to gone to hell in a handbasket since then. I am afraid that if Herenton runs for Congress, he'll beat Steve Cohen, basically because Herenton is black. Steve Cohen to me is somewhat of a knuckleheaded liberal snipe, but like Lowrey, also cares about forwarding Memphis. (To politicians, you can have power and still care for your constituency). PEOPLE, VOTE COHEN!

Memphis is becoming the next Detroit, and is mostly there. Memphis sucks and I am ashamed of it being my hometown. I wouldn't have said that 20 years ago. Do now. Memphis should just be cut out of the state into its own entity with nothing but gangs, crack, liquor stores on every corner, gun shots, ho's, Pentecostal churches and bbq joints. Move Elvis' corpse to Tupelo.

[thenuegeye]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

Why don't you guys agree then? Or else take it to a PM. Nobody else gives a ****/is reading your interchange.

Hey, what do the asterisks mean??

[UofMGrad92]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

Why don't you guys agree then? Or else take it to a PM. Nobody else gives a ****/is reading your interchange.

Speak for yourself.

Other than some offensive language used by thenuegeye that weakened his argument by distracting from the points he was trying to make, I have very much enjoyed this exchange and hope it continues. Men like thenuegeye and tigertate (and women in their situation as well) will have a huge impact on the future of Memphis, the Memphis Metro Area, and the United States. I'm very much enjoying reading their opinions and their views of the best way to move forward.