the Watercooler: Post-Electoral Fallout Shelter

Post-election thoughts

I didn’t know ANYTHING about the constitutional proposals for forest preservation through property tax reduction (passed with 68%), school districts using money for community development (barely passed with 51.5%), and the creation of special Infrastructure Development Districts for underserved areas (barely failed with 48.4%). Since you can’t research these things in the voting booth, you have to go on the wording, which is why I imagine the forest thing passed (“tax reduction”) and infrastructure development districts failed (“underserved areas”). It’s a bummer because I imagine there were millions who made their vote that way, or worse. Second place for Most Discouraging/Disgusting goes to the fact we had several major officials who ran unopposed. Of the 56 districts up for election in the Georgia State Senate, only 19 of them were contested—two by write-in candidates.

Let gay people marry

In solidarity with protests in 50 other states, gays and straights came out Saturday afternoon for a rally on the steps of City Hall. It’s a shame they had to. It’s hard to believe that this country continues to blindly stumble down a path of civil rights mistakes (e.g. – treating blacks, women and gays like they aren’t as human as white men, etc) but I suppose as long as we can find a scapegoat for our disappointments, we’ll keep it up. As weird as it is, I can’t think of a more compelling argument than that posed by a former Sportscenter anchor. If you missed Keith Olbermann’s comments on his MSNBC show, just go to YouTube, especially if you support the ban.

Honky paranoia

Well, “the blacks” didn’t riot. But, wasn’t Cecil Staton staffer/provocateur Zach Johnson just trying to be pro-active? Maybe but he was buying into paranoia and fear, not reality. One conservative blogger, a Johnson defender, wrote: “We all know half of America will burn if Obama loses, see e.g. O.J. Simpson verdict, Rodney King verdict, major sports team wins throughout America, etc.” Half the country?! That’s clever but false logic. For starters, referencing damage after the Ellis election, Johnson’s email reflected concern that the riots would come in victory or defeat. Secondly, the context for the Rodney King verdict is totally different. Oh and there were no riots after the OJ Simpson verdict.

No one was worried that McCain’s supporters would riot if he lost, though during his boo-laden concession speech, it certainly seemed like a possibility. Look at Denver, CO. In the late 90s, the city erupted after their sports teams brought home four championships in football and hockey. Their population is 70% white and 5% black. Black people, like all people, have more than one reaction to major news, good or bad. I mention it now because I’m hoping hindsight teaches us something.

Krok Floats

While I’m banging on conservative commentators… I received an email about a video of 940AM’s vocal yokel Chris Krok at a pro-immigration candle vigil. In the video, Krok makes an ass of himself squirting candles with a super soaker yelling something about his water being justice. He is, not counting the cops there to keep him from a beating, alone in the video.

Progress…

We’ve had proposals for curfews and requests for the National Guard. The Mayor has convened with the pastors of black churches, with law enforcement officials, with anyone who has a stake in the community and half an idea about solving the violent crime problem facing Macon. And we’re still having a couple shootings a week, coupled by home invasions and carjackings. Now, the City of Macon is partnering with Campus Clubs and Upward Unlimited for a basketball program. As “an athletic outlet” and “a safe and secure environment”, this is the first promising move I’ve seen thus far.

Lighter notes

• According to the Telegraph, because the Cherry Blossom Festival doesn’t send me press releases, the 2009 CBF Queen is Rachel Cozart, a Westside High senior. Liz Fabian writes, “Cozart will reign for the next year with her court of four princesses who were named as runners-up in the contest that judges the girls on the basis of poise, beauty, interview skills and knowledge of the festival and local community.”
• Did you know that there’s a Georgia Commission on the Holocaust? Well, there is and this is the 14^th year that they’ve held a statewide art and writing contest called “What are the Lessons of the Holocaust?” It’s open until March 19, 2009.
• Not only has the Mercer basketball team upset the University of Alabama, but the Mercer student body has a “more engaged educational experience than students at its peer institutions and at Georgia’s public universities” according to the results of the National Survey of Student Engagement. No word yet on where local colleges rank (or totally don’t rank) on Playboy’s list of party schools.

And…

On Tuesday, November 11th...

Al Tillman was elected as the next Macon-Bibb NAACP President.

1st Vice President: Gwen Westbrook

2nd Vice President: John Thomas

3rd Vice President: David Booker

Secretary: Linda Flagg

Treasurer: Gloria King