Just call him Ichabod January 30, 2008
Posted by Paul Edwards in Detroit Text Scandal, Kwame Kilpatrick.trackback
Detroit’s mayor used his church (and his wife) tonight as props for an “apology” to the City of Detroit. If you listen carefully to what he said, he never apologized for his affair or for lying about it under oath. He apoligized “[F]or the embarrassment and the disappointment, the events of the past few days have caused you…” In other words, he didn’t apologize for his behavior, he apologized for the fact that the media had made it front page news.
The mayor’s speech was staged perfectly to make it appear that this is a personal matter that the media has overblown. The mayor’s philandering is certainly between him, his wife, and his family. However, lying under oath to cover it up is a public matter, and even more importantly, a legal matter. When a public official costs the tax payers in excess of $9 million dollars to settle a lawsuit stemming from his bad judgment, it is a public matter.
But alas, the city council of Detroit, the mayor’s pastor, and I fear even the prosecutor who is considering charges against the mayor lack the will to hold the man accountable for his actions.
One news report characterized the mayor as “humbled.” Was I watching the same speech? Tonight’s speech was over the top with arrogance, quickly diverging from “apology mode” to “I am in charge of the city,” followed by a litany of “successes” he has brought to the city since becoming mayor in 2002. He actually reassured the city he wasn’t going anywhere, as if his potential resignation was what has put the city on edge for the last ten days!
This city is in the grips of a crisis of spiritual authority characterized first by the moral failure of the mayor, second by the mayor’s pastor refusing to hold him spiritually accountable, and finally by elected public officials acting as accomplices by allowing this moral degenerate to continue to drag the city down with him.
ICHABOD! 1 Samuel 4:21
Not much difference from when I was around Detroit in the Coleman
Young days. Thats way back when we fellowshipped Paul.
The actual speech was only surpassed in absurdity by the reaction of those in the city of Detroit. Sympathy for Kwame and his family seemed to be by far the greatest response, but no anger for lying under oath, no angst over tax money being spent on the affair, no concern over the fact that $9,000,000 of the city’s money may have been used in an attempt to cover this up????
WAKE UP DETROIT. Seriously, wake up. I can understand having sympathy for the family and the situation they find themselves in, but that shouldn’t for one second override Kwame’s complete and utter failures as a leader. The city, and its residents continue to get what they seemingly are asking for, a mayor who cares only about living the Hip Hop life, instead of one of sound moral leadership which the city so desperately needs.
Sad to this this happening to this once grand city. I’m old enough to recall the Downtown Shopping Days when there were still stores along Woodard Ave being anchored by the granddaddy JL Hudson. Walking across a safe street and snacking at a “soda fountain” with grandmother. Back then “Northland Shopping center” was the first of its kind. To illustrate how far we have come, when clothing on the mannequins were changed at JL Hudson’s there were curtains that were drawn so as the public would not be in view of a naked image. Check out the mannequins today. This might shock some of you; In those days preachers, ministers, and most all clergy taught that wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. (that was free)
BTW, does anyone know where a fella can get a bag of “squirrels” any more?
Party on!
Don,
If you are in a REALLY nostalgic mood you could probably by Northland for a bag of “squirrels.”
It’s for sale now:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/BIZ/802010337
Might be a great location for the next “Mega Edwards Worship Center”.
Think about the parking available!
I use to ride my Schwinn to this shopping center from our home at Ten mile and Inkster Rd.
BTW, does Jesus reside in Detroit any more? In those days he was often seen at the corner of 14th and Marquette, then again off Grand River Ave, and then he moved to W. Chicago and Telegraph.
My friend, I don’t even know if you are a “pre” boy any more,
but the trump cannot come soon enough for this boy.
Whats up BO-camp (sic)?” Sure do miss seeing Mr Humphreys at the microphone as I select some choice text.
Reminisce? You got it son.
Love ya
Regarding the Mayor and his problems. It is not that Detroiters aren’t concerned about the actions of our Mayor, but we are still reeling from the reality that our young black men (and others) are being mistreated on a daily basis. We realize that we have to be supportive of our current leadership and continue to raise leadership with higher moral standards at the same time. The double standards of life are still prevalent. We can not afford to forget that or otherwise all of our youth will be in danger of becoming extinct. Today is like yesterday. We have to teach our young ones the standards of God and realize that history has shaped us (them) in such a way that reaching those standards incurs overcoming many obstacles present and past.
My prayers are with the mayor.