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It seems Gray represents old school DC. A lot of long time residents seem to want to go back to the good ol' days.
That is exactly my point, Terrence. I know I was VERY blunt and VERY harsh in my reply (the whole expecting people to "bow" to you as a victim gets old as someone who used to feel victimized and eventually found a way to squeeze lemonade from lemons himself). However, this is just something very idiotic to me. Vote for Gray for all the RIGHT reasons---not the "wrong" ones of wanting to return DC to the cess pool it used to be. The "good 'ol days" of DC were replete with violence, poverty, neglect, and strife. Why would you want to perpetuate that? How could you not want better for your posterity? African-Americans are still the majority in DC, and although they are expected to no longer comprise over 50% of the population soon as gentrification continues, they'll still be the single largest dominant group.
Yes, we're both Virginians; however, the Potomac doesn't function as barrier. It is very important that those of us in NoVA (as well as MD) keep tabs on this election, too, because the better (or worse) the District does, so do its suburbs. Look at Detroit. Economically the city is nearly a lost cause overall, and it doesn't matter how posh the 'burbs may be because if the host city is plagued with despair, then who wants to live in proximity to that? If people are rooting for Gray to return DC to the Marion Berry era, then Lord help the entire metro area!
I support Fenty but some of you guys make me wonder if I am making the right decision sometimes.
How so? I'm just tired of hearing all of this nonsense of the blacks wanting to "take back their city..." Nobody has declared "war" on them. Stop! Here in Northern Virginia we're extremely racially and culturally diverse, and we're nearly a perfect melting pot (despite the horrible classism). I love and treasure all my friends equally, regardless of race. I've even dated/hooked-up with three guys from outside of my race since moving here. To think that one of them would resent me due simply to my own race irks me. That's my major bone of contention because since moving here all I've done is hear about how "horrible" it is that people east of the Anacostia are being "forgotten" or "neglected." God helps those who help themselves. Interpret that as you wish. I am NOT supportive of constantly watching as my tax dollars are squandered to support people who don't want to make an effort to work, and while that is most certainly NOT the case with ALL people east of the Anacostia, don't dare try to tell me that there aren't many people there who have been feeding off "the system" for generations.
Guess what? One of my best friends, who is black, grew up in Newark, NJ and recently moved back there after a 2-year stint in NoVA. She's amazingly intelligent, confident, beautiful, and didn't let the "I'm a black girl from Newark..." stigma serve as a crutch to impede or hinder her potential future success. Now she's a role model to me and many others. If she can come from Newark and do this with her life, then what's the excuse for these "forgotten" parts of DC? I'm a liberal myself, but my bleeding heart does have its limitations.
Whites would rather have non-black people in power and blacks would rather have more black people in power.
where on earth did you come up with this? Fenty's not white, and neither was Mayor Williams.
Quote:
Originally Posted by coldbliss
What makes you think Wards 7 and 8 residents are lazy?
there is a segment of the population in this city, many of whom live there, who think the city owes it to them to put them on the DC payroll, regardless if they have any skills, this is a legacy of the Barry patronage days
where on earth did you come up with this? Fenty's not white, and neither was Mayor Williams.
Agreed. I'm white, and I vote for a candidate based upon his/her platform, not based upon his/her gender, race, sexual orientation, party affiliation, etc. I voted for President Obama, and if he ran against a Hispanic lesbian or an Atheist vegan of Puerto Rican descent ALL would be fair game for my vote. If anyone in DC has made "race" an issue within the mayoral election it's not Caucasians.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheseGoTo11
there is a segment of the population in this city, many of whom live there, who think the city owes it to them to put them on the DC payroll, regardless if they have any skills, this is a legacy of the Barry patronage days
Here is an article in the Washington Post today that may explain the concern for the poorer parts of the city. I don't live in DC but I have done some study on the socio-economic ills of the inner city.
Coldbliss - You've made several arguments on here over the months that would be categorized as extremely socialistic, so it's not a surprise you back Gray. However, the race card you're trying to play in this thread has gotta go back in the deck.
It's absurd to accuse us of not wanting black people in power when we support Fenty, a black man! I want anyone who can keep DC moving forward, be they black (Fenty), Asian (Rhee), or white (Klein). If having a black face smiling at you is your criteria for leadership, then that's bigotry and counters everything King fought for: content of character.
If Gray can keep Fenty's momentum and provide more opportunities for the poor to improve their skills and ability to get or create jobs, that'd be great. But handouts and guaranteed payrolls have never ended povery and they never will. This voting block has a bad history of believing it does and we're all afraid the Marion Barry machine is going to get its hands back in the cookie jar we all created.
Yes, I plan on leaving my friends, family and school because of this election.
Gray seems like a fine candidate, and while I like Fenty and what he's done for the city, I assume Gray won't be a throwback to the Barry days so whatever. Now, if I'm wrong and suddenly things start getting worse, hell yes I'll move out of the area or at least the city.
This is the first I've heard that anyone was planning such a drastic move. It seems a little overmuch, to me.
I don't see Fenty and Gray as all that different from each other, and I think voting for either of them is really voting for 'least of the worst.'
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I'm a liberal myself, but my bleeding heart does have its limitations.
