tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post2994099551738365242..comments2024-01-03T21:18:04.198-08:00Comments on In Your Neighborhood: WHERE IS THE BROTHERHigh School Confidentialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17350238752693393750noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-3096115707283972162008-06-23T11:08:00.000-07:002008-06-23T11:08:00.000-07:00The Drain List:1. AIDS epidemicThe country was sl...The Drain List:<BR/><BR/>1. AIDS epidemic<BR/>The country was slow to take action due to the far right agenda of homophobia (God's will codswallop) and lack of honest sex education. We've made some great strides against it and continue to do so. Did you know the numbers for Lyme disease in North America are larger than the AIDS numbers? Just giving a little perspective here.<BR/>2.Corruption in Congress<BR/>Hmmmm...who seems to have profited at our expense...who seems to be the ones caught with hand in cookie jar? Mostly older, rich, right-wing white males...hmmmmm.<BR/>3.Corruption on Wall St.<BR/>See above.<BR/>4.Failing Schools<BR/>Lack of funding...the "No Child Left A Dime" approach. Lack of the Arts.<BR/>5.Abortion Rights<BR/>Women's bodies and difficult choices are none of your business sir. Perhaps if there was decent and honest sex education...and boys were properly taught about their role in birth control, women wouldn't so often be placed in the lifelong trauma of this decision.<BR/>6.Rampant sexuality among kids<BR/>Ever has it been so...especially when desire is forbidden instead of explained.<BR/>7.Failing Economy<BR/>Well...we were doing just fine before this last administration. Ask yourself, are <B>they</B> all better off now than eight years ago? Hell yes! And us...?<BR/>8.Healthcare crisis<BR/>You're right, Mr. Pirkle, there is definitely a healthcare crisis, since medicine became big business and doctors became micro-managed. We're ready to change that and stop people's lives from going down the drain. This is a cause for celebrating change.<BR/>9.Involvement in a religious war<BR/>No matter what the religion, the responsibility for "crusades" lies squarely on the doorsteps of those who do not walk the core truth of their religion. There is no honour in taking up God's, Yaweh's, Allah's, Khuda's, (etc.) banner and soiling it with another's blood. America could be a shining beacon in its example of tolerance and the separation of church and state. We're trying to get there.<BR/>10.An idiot culture<BR/>This is just a meaningless phrase in the beautiful "tossed salad" of cultures we enjoy in this country.<BR/><BR/>No matter if someone tries to spin us clockwise in the northern hemisphere...or counter-clockwise in the southern hemisphere...we ain't going down the drain. We're (as Joseph said) growing up!<BR/><BR/>Interesting that Mr. Pirkle would feel attacked as a minority...and leave. Peace be with you sir.Lorraine Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01116210981761633646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-53187831199757255242008-06-23T10:04:00.000-07:002008-06-23T10:04:00.000-07:00We've read more of Mr. Pirkle's writings, which al...We've read more of Mr. Pirkle's writings, which also have no stats to back them up...and lots of letters from respected members of the Federal Way community that excellently refute his words. It seems Mr. Pirkle is well-known in his community, though not quite as the respected leader he would have us believe. Sir, I gave you every respect in my comments...and, if you wish to speak with me again, my name is Ms. Hart.<BR/><BR/>Today (Monday, June 23rd) there is a brilliant column in the TNT by Leonard Pitts, addressing this very subject. I would suggest we all, especially Mr. Pirkle, sit down for a good read.Lorraine Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01116210981761633646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-19054482856856102182008-06-22T23:11:00.000-07:002008-06-22T23:11:00.000-07:00Thanks everyone...Thanks everyone...JosephMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13059894814761761857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-51801703041300103242008-06-22T20:48:00.000-07:002008-06-22T20:48:00.000-07:00I believe we would like to know where Mr. Pirkle g...I believe we would like to know where Mr. Pirkle got his information. Certainly, many of his issues are genuine, but attempting to keep the Federal Way School Board white and undiversified does not address any of those issues.Stephanie Friezehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317117338063884811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-44761005638782144782008-06-22T20:11:00.000-07:002008-06-22T20:11:00.000-07:00Well so far I have been called lonely, unhappy and...Well so far I have been called lonely, unhappy and have no credentials to even have an opinion on civil rights.<BR/><BR/>I am quite happy being retired on two pensions. My son is grown, makes a 6 figure salary and I have 2 grand daughters. Things are fine with me. I have full medical coverage and my home is paid for.<BR/><BR/>It has been my experience that when one talks to liberals and make an irefuttable point, the response is to attack me personally. This seems to be the rule here as well.<BR/><BR/>So I won't be posting again and I wish you all the best of luck in making the world better.<BR/><BR/>What I am doing to make the world better is that I sponsor a little girl in Honduras through the Christian Children's Fund CCF.<BR/><BR/>I send them $24 for her schooling and medical care and I send her and her family $25 each month - a fortune down there. It's a month's wages for her grand father. I get letters and pictures and I am watching her grow up. She is six now.<BR/><BR/>I choose a girl over a boy because I think that anything I do to help her will make her a better mother and my money will last for generations.<BR/><BR/>Since I am leaving I will post the url of my personal website where you can find out everything about me, listen to my piano concerto, read my poetry, listen to my pop songs and download a free copy of my software that composes classical music. Enjoy.<BR/><BR/>BIll Pirkle, happy camper<BR/><BR/>http://www.bpirkle.combill pirklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02692011321429788340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-46958865207397987002008-06-22T17:36:00.000-07:002008-06-22T17:36:00.000-07:00Mr. Pirkle, I see that you've offered no proof or ...Mr. Pirkle, I see that you've offered no proof or sources for your accusations or even evidence of your lack of racism. From where do you get your information? Your only point that has ANY validity is that we are fighting a religious war. There are things which I would like to see changed about the United States, but making sure that every citizen is honored, regardless of race, creed or gender is paramount. Only by learning about each other do we have hope of true equality.<BR/><BR/>Another reader commented that she believed that you are a lonely man. I replied that I believe you to be very unhappy. Unhappy people usually look to outside elements as the source of their unhappiness. Certaily if you actually believe your assertions to be true it is no wonder that you are miserable.Stephanie Friezehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317117338063884811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-85441877818161534642008-06-22T16:45:00.000-07:002008-06-22T16:45:00.000-07:00I am not a racist. But let me play the role of a r...I am not a racist. But let me play the role of a racist.<BR/> I am giving a speech to the American Association of White Racists (AAWR)<BR/><BR/>Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I have a progress report for you on the Black Problem. I can report that things are going according to plan.<BR/><BR/>The Blacks are locked up in ghettos and hooked on crack. Few are finishing school so in a couple of more generations they will not be able to read just like in the days of slavery.<BR/><BR/>The family unit has fallen apart as fathers leave. Most children are born out of wedlock and there are many abortions.<BR/><BR/>Black on Black crime is way up but so what, let them kill each other.<BR/><BR/>We must pump billions of dollars into the ghetto but we have the money and this is just the cost of doing business.<BR/><BR/>Soon there will not be a Black problem. Thank you and good night.bill pirklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02692011321429788340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-48089017513115103512008-06-22T15:02:00.000-07:002008-06-22T15:02:00.000-07:00lorraine, yes there is some leadership in the blac...lorraine,<BR/> yes there is some leadership in the black community but it's fractured. Bill Cosby was critized for speaking out about black fathers abandoning their children.<BR/><BR/>There are a lot of people making a lot of money off of black plight and they do not want the problem to go away. civil rights is an industry now producing jobs and creating wealth on the backs of blacks.<BR/><BR/>my leadership roles?<BR/>I was an officier in the Navy<BR/><BR/>I started the federal way fencing club and taught kids to fence for free. My best student was black.<BR/><BR/>I write about education in our local paper.<BR/><BR/>I attend school board meetings.<BR/><BR/>I work on local political campaigns<BR/><BR/>That's a lot more than most people do.bill pirklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02692011321429788340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-56197726440253167592008-06-22T14:52:00.000-07:002008-06-22T14:52:00.000-07:00country going down the drain ...1. aids epidemic2....country going down the drain ...<BR/>1. aids epidemic<BR/>2. corruption in congress<BR/>3. corruption on wall street<BR/>4. failing schools<BR/>5. motherrs killing their children (abortion)<BR/>6. rampant sexuality among kids<BR/>7. failing economy<BR/>8. healthcare crisis<BR/>9. involvment in a religious war<BR/>10. an idiot culture<BR/><BR/>that's enough for nowbill pirklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02692011321429788340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-3352476329815592442008-06-22T06:14:00.000-07:002008-06-22T06:14:00.000-07:00Mr. Pirkle, I disagree that this country is going ...Mr. Pirkle, I disagree that this country is going down the drain...it's just not going the way you'd like it.<BR/><BR/>On what authority do you claim to know there is no black leadership? When did you experience living in the "ghetto" to have the knowledge you state? Where is your proof of what you have to say? Have you read the TNT lately? I've read about many great examples of those who benefitted from the Civil Rights Movement and have reached down (as Tim Russert was fond of saying) to lift others up.<BR/><BR/>Your essay's point seems to be a woeful tale of discrimination against white males, with no hard facts and figures to back your statements up. What are your sources in your research into this discrimination? Show me the statistics that illustrate African Americans have it easier in achieving higher education and better jobs than Caucasian Americans. If you're going to make statements as large as the one you've made, you better have the facts, figures and sources to back your words up. <BR/><BR/>What speaks loudly, in your writing, is your fear...and for that, you have my compassion...but not my agreement. May I also ask, what leadership roles you take on in your community, state and country?Lorraine Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01116210981761633646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-83283464086204165232008-06-21T23:00:00.000-07:002008-06-21T23:00:00.000-07:00Welcome aboard, Bill!I read your comment that you ...Welcome aboard, Bill!<BR/><BR/>I read your comment that you do not like to see your country going down the drain. None of us want to see that, but it almost certainly means different things to different people. <BR/><BR/>What are your thoughts and views about that? What is your definition of the 'country going down the drain'?Jaynie Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030744076443715894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-12658979199950465762008-06-21T17:00:00.000-07:002008-06-21T17:00:00.000-07:00I am an unhappy sort Stephanie. I do not like watc...I am an unhappy sort Stephanie. I do not like watching my country going down the drain.bill pirklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02692011321429788340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-91229512870167853712008-06-21T16:58:00.000-07:002008-06-21T16:58:00.000-07:00This is Mr. Pirkle (Mr Prickle, funny, but let's t...This is Mr. Pirkle (Mr Prickle, funny, but let's try to be serious given the probelms we face.<BR/><BR/>The problem in the ghettos is due to the lack of Black leadership. The Blacks who benefitted from civil rights have good jobs and have moved on, turning their backs on their own people.<BR/><BR/>We Whites cannot do anything about this.bill pirklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02692011321429788340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-22890299474548538792008-06-21T14:50:00.000-07:002008-06-21T14:50:00.000-07:00Jaynie: thank you... and here's an SOS for you and...Jaynie: thank you... and here's an SOS for you and other members of the blog squad...<BR/>Tomorrow evening I shall be posting an article on Black students who have succeeded in completed their high school education...<BR/> And this is what I learned...<BR/>YouTube... the videos on Black Students deserve a failing mark...<BR/>either focused on rap, dirty dancing, or fights...<BR/> The news articles point out that, percentage wise, Black students are having a terrible time graduating from high school...<BR/> I think there is a need that three truths be told... 1. poverty is the root cause for the failure of the schools to support students of all races in graduating successfully; 2. positive images of all teenage groups needs to be hightlighted... and young women of color need to be presented in ways that emphasize their strengths...<BR/>3. programs and individuals who are supporting the efforts of the public schools to be successful need to be written about CONSTANTLY<BR/><BR/>LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWNJosephMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13059894814761761857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-5300572883157698632008-06-21T14:11:00.000-07:002008-06-21T14:11:00.000-07:00Way to go, Joseph!Way to go, Joseph!Jaynie Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030744076443715894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-64899828565465243472008-06-21T06:13:00.000-07:002008-06-21T06:13:00.000-07:00Mr. Pirkle has contacted me. I have invited him to...Mr. Pirkle has contacted me. I have invited him to share his concerns with you.JosephMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13059894814761761857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-41472164914399911992008-06-20T18:03:00.000-07:002008-06-20T18:03:00.000-07:00How right you are Joseph...we need each other. Th...How right you are Joseph...we need each other. The human diversity provides the actual threads of this country, woven by history/herstory, into a fabric unique and beautiful.<BR/><BR/>There isn't a soul alive who hasn't made snap judgements, who hasn't slapped unwarranted labels on another human being in some moment of their lives.<BR/><BR/>Behavior Modification 101: "The only behavior we have the ability to change is our own."<BR/><BR/>Let's lay down our burdens and lift up our responsibilities. Let's teach the Mr. and Ms. Pirkles by the intent of honour, respect, humility and love in our own actions every day. There's a new revolution of Love in the offing...and I'm soooooo ready to move forward with it. Let this country be a shimmering exotic fabric, strong in its weave and amazing in its colours. I don't want anyone to be blind to that.Lorraine Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01116210981761633646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-38776757882654670002008-06-19T21:08:00.000-07:002008-06-19T21:08:00.000-07:00Thanks Mizu, for getting me moving on this one... ...Thanks Mizu, for getting me moving on this one... your brother,JosephMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13059894814761761857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-76746297707313926082008-06-19T21:07:00.000-07:002008-06-19T21:07:00.000-07:00Thanks, Stephanie... it is our say... the conversa...Thanks, Stephanie... it is our say... the conversation in the neighborhood... the great friends like yourself I have come close to, <BR/>the demands of honest writing... the soul searching, the elation of seeing thoughts coming out in an orderly, beautiful way...<BR/>the people who touch me... in Marriage Encounter, at the hospitals, and to my delight, more and more I am recognizing the value of having people spend time with me and share their sorrows and joys with me...<BR/> the demands of our times... because I think there is no more time left for us to sit back in our corners and wait for someone to save us (president, governor, mayor, minister, our spouse, our closest friends... no one can save us)<BR/> We need each other... <BR/> So, this is not my say... it's our say, and I humbly thank each one of the bloggers of In Your Neighborhood (that includes Mark B too) for being there for meJosephMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13059894814761761857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-56801866381624671342008-06-19T20:31:00.000-07:002008-06-19T20:31:00.000-07:00Congratulations, Joseph, on getting your say!Congratulations, Joseph, on getting your say!Stephanie Friezehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317117338063884811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-11240741460065268012008-06-19T20:07:00.000-07:002008-06-19T20:07:00.000-07:00Let me step up to the plate... there have been man...Let me step up to the plate... there have been many, many times over the long, frightening, confusing years when I have made general statements about White People, while I enjoyed the company of some fabulous individuals, activists, teachers, mentors...<BR/> I got a little older and I began to realize my hypocrisy... I couldn't have it both ways, dogging a group and loving a few,<BR/> Dogging was just the occasion for my becoming a brute... cynical, resentful, bitter... but my friends stuck with me, I got zapped by people who loved God a few times (both Black, White, Brown, and Red people) and I started appreciating the power of loving and being loved.<BR/> So I'm not going to get in labelling anybody anything...I am going to do the best I can to keep listening, learning, and loving...<BR/> And news... the editor passed my letter on to Mr. Pirkle and the editor asked if he could publish it in the Letters to the Editors...<BR/> If I can stay real (humble and open to honest loving), then I am delighted... <BR/> When I start finger pointing, sisters and brothers, tell me to back off...<BR/> I would like to grow up somedayJosephMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13059894814761761857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-52394199038643874872008-06-19T17:17:00.000-07:002008-06-19T17:17:00.000-07:00When I looked at the article online, at the bottom...When I looked at the article online, at the bottom of the article, you see an icon for "Letter To Editor." When you click on this, you go to an area that has a form ready to go with your letter addressed to Mr. Hobbs along with an automatically generated title of the article you are responding too. I suspect that this article will get a good deal of response.Kim Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05256817929710524024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-39204562779078833192008-06-19T16:39:00.000-07:002008-06-19T16:39:00.000-07:00In the final analysis, even grumpy bigots are prot...In the final analysis, even grumpy bigots are protected under the First Amendment. While we might want him to have am epiphany and mend his ways, we would be unhappy if he hadn't a right to his opinion.Stephanie Friezehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317117338063884811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-10015242097759524752008-06-19T16:27:00.000-07:002008-06-19T16:27:00.000-07:00I am glad to learn that he's not being paid to wri...I am glad to learn that he's not being paid to write such rubbish.Stephanie Friezehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317117338063884811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456617944315372118.post-1015486226540502912008-06-19T16:20:00.000-07:002008-06-19T16:20:00.000-07:00Spoke with Mr. Hobbs, the editor of the Mirror... ...Spoke with Mr. Hobbs, the editor of the Mirror... he thought it was strange that my email had not gone to Mr. Pirkle as they communicate by email all the time... Mr. Pirkle is not employed by the Mirror, he is a volunteer...<BR/><BR/>Mr. Hobbs is the editor... his email address is editor@fedwaymirror.comJosephMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13059894814761761857noreply@blogger.com