Several questions were presented by the editorial team in The Augusta Chronicle's editorial "Why is this so hard?" (Oct. 21, about naming Augusta's new judicial center for attorney and judge John H. Ruffin). Due to space constraints, I will have to be brief with something that likely, for most today, would take volumes to get them to the point of understanding.
- It is not inconsequential to name locations -- whether buildings, streets or parks. In today's political landscape -- and especially for medium to large urban areas -- group politics is so pervasive and divisive that all of these actions of naming have symbolic value for all parties concerned (some positive, some negative).
- The selection of Ruffin, although deserving in his legacy and actions as an individual, was based first and foremost on the fact that he was African-American, and whatever he did historically was a secondary consideration. This makes the selection of Ruffin symbolically divisive and the actions of the black commissioners, who were united in getting the judicial center named after Ruffin, racist.
- Those commissioners that wanted to name the center using the name "Augusta" were actually being less divisive and striking the proper tone in naming the center because only the most unreasonable would find the name of "Augusta" as symbolically divisive or offensive.
The editorial team asked the question, "Why was it so hard?" Why didn't the other commissioners just easily relent and basically say, "If you want this so bad then we're glad to do it"? I respond: If the other commissioners wanted to name it "Augusta," why didn't the black commissioners who were united in the effort to name it after Ruffin just relent and say, "If you want it so bad, we're glad to do it"?
That is the conundrum, isn't it? The problem is that our communities are experiencing a weakened collective state. In other words, we are, as a community, sick. We are diseased with group politics and have a lack of community politics.
Every time a decision is made on a basis of race first -- like the Ruffin naming, but to include many decisions that are made by governments spread across the span of this nation -- within the group-politics landscape, symbolic divisiveness, intolerance and diminishment of solidarity intolerance is spread.
This leads to most large urban communities not getting anything done, and the general morale of the people goes negative as well. No decisions ever should be made with race in mind first, or it is a divisive decision that is being made that always will cause more harm than good for the community and individual, group relations.
In the current group political landscape, we should support only neutral changes that most obviously are not racially motivated -- in any way. If our communities continue down this road, there will be tit-for-tat race, sex and class wars as far as the eye can see, and no community sense of kinship will be found.
William J. Tinney Jr.
Aiken, S.C.
(The writer is a sociologist who has taught at the University of South Carolina.)
Comments
You're actually right, William. In fact, it's taking place right now. Unfortunately, our current leaderless city/county administration continues to be unable to address the situation and our politically correct education system continues to misaddress the situation. Things will continue as they are.
Races are very different. That is not why they don't always get along. That is caused by sin. Christians of all races always can get along because they can love each other through the love of Christ. It is not racist to not like what another race likes. It is not racist to prefer the company of your own race. People are draw together by common interest. Diversity does not gives strength only freedom does that. Diversity can accomplishment nothing without freedom. The only level ground is at the foot of the cross and Christ is the only solution for any problem and race problems are included. No government program or law can make people love each other. If you think any other other approach will fix it you believe a lie from the devil. I don't know any Christian of any color that doesn't get along well with other Christians. When you know you answer to a higher authority than man's law you always treat your fellow man good. For all of man's complex problems God gives the same simple answer; "love God and each other". That is as complex as it gets.
The problem is in using names that really have absolutely no meaning to the general population. I don't know who ruffin was, never met him, never read about him and don't know anyone who has. In fact if I were to ask 100 people on the street, black and caucasian, who he was before this controversy, I doubt if 5 percent would have known. So, now who did we name the center for? Was it becaus Ruffin was trully a historic person, revered by a huge chunk of the populace, or was it just a few folks insisting he was? Ask yourself how much you knew or thought about this man before the controversy.
"I don't know any Christian of any color that doesn't get along well with other Christians." Like those fine Christian members of the KKK that got along so well with the Christian blacks?
Interesting that a species as intelligent and as advanced as the human animal that is 99% compatible focuses so much on the 1% that is different -- he who lives by the sword dies by the sword.
corgimom I said "Christian" not religious people or perfect people. Lots of folks go to church but the spirit of Christ does not live in them. Christ's love flowing through them is the key and it controls their actions. Their relationships are based on Him and not them.
Y"all seem to forget that hussein has declared the U.S.as NO longer a Christian nation and is now the largest muslim nation in the world.
see it for yourself-http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tcaffmswszy#t=28
Justus, in your "democracy", the majority has more votes and sets the policy. That's not racial or political, it's just mathematics. More people cast more votes for what they want. Soldout is correct that people tend to want and vote for others like themselves. Not defending that, but it's just human nature. This year, interestingly, the majority of Americans of all races elected an AA president. That should prove that racists, like yourself, are a dying breed (thankfully). The LTE is correct. We have to stop looking at skin color, and focus on reality and truth. MLK had it right; character is the issue, not race. Problem is that we still have local dinosaurs like Betty Beard and William Fennoy that play the race card because they have little substance to their views.
Isn't Jim Crow dead? Why not name it after him? I know as little about Mr Crow as I do about Mr Ruffin. I do know he can sing.
Justus, As for me, I prefer what is right but I know what is right to me is not right to you. Do away with affirmative action-it puts others at an advantage, do away with welfare-it makes people lazy and pentalizes the producers, do away with SSI-it takes from the social security into which all workers have paid. Make people stand on their own two feet with no preferential treatment. Smart up the schools instead of dumb down to increase the ability of our children to compete in this world ecomomy and job market. What do you think about my opinion?
Jim Crow (his nickname) runs Southern Siding. Run Justus run, no rebuttle.
I have noticed that when we err, we seek mercy, but when others err we seek justice. The writer of the LTE seems to think that it is racist for disparate groups of the community to desire that members of their particular group receive the honor of their name upon a building. He also makes the argument that although Judge Ruffin may be worthy (in his opinion) of such because the primary criteria was based upon race that makes the choice a racist one. Others here have posted that they agree and some have even stated that they don't even recognize who Judge Ruffin was or what his accomplishments were. This is most unfortunate. As I look around the Augusta community, I see many different names upon different buildings: Charlie Norwood VA Hospitatl, MLK Blvd.' Essie McIntyre and Swanne Quintet, Jimmie Dyess Pkwy, Bobby Jones Expwy, James Brown Blvd, Thomas Allgood Interchange, Lucy C. Laney & Ursula Collins schools. I don't find that seeking inclusion by affixing a name to a building and being able to look with pride to those members of the community that have made significant contributions to be racist in the least. But ignorance should never be a reason to deny such honors.
Why is it that when I describe a situation about blacks you have Ispy, RCR, The Deerhunter go crazy and post all over the place that I'm a terrible racist. Then you have Justus who can say anything he pleases about whites and you here nothing from the above mentioned idiots. Double standard like it always is!!!!
How about the Justus waste water treatment facility?!?
Does it really matter WHO the building is named after? Really? NO REALLY! It could be the Bubba n Leroy judicial center for all that I, and most everyone else cares!
WW1949 - I go along with your ideas.
Why is it that blacks can say what they please about whites, can call them any names they please, but if a white should call a black a N-- , a name they call each other, the white is the one who is racist? Why is it that there can be BET, Black History Month, NAACP, Black Ms America Pagent, etc but if there were a White Entertainment Channel, or a white college fund, or NAAWP it would be called racist? Why is it there are over 60 proclaimed black colleges in the US, but if a college stated it was a white college, it would be called racist? I would really like to know the answers to these questions. Why does this happen? Are whites like Christians? It is pc to say what you will about them? Doesn't make much sense and only causes more problems.
As a student of Sociology, I must say that some of the observations that you are making Roeschen are quite common even across cultures. The minority group, (that is usually the group with less population, power, and political influence) for the most part uses such language as a means to empower, resist, and unify their group. This has been demonstrated by those seeking equality for women as well. As for colleges and organizations uses of the descriptor "black" etc., these institutions were founded with the purpose of providing opportunities for minority groups when majority group institutions and organizations were closed to their participation or involvement. For example, after the integration of the public schools by court order, locally, many private preparatory, academies and day schools were chartered in protest. These schools were not named "white" as such, but the student population at that time indicated that it's student enrollment was limited to such. Other's wanting their students to have religious educations formed church or "Christian" schools. And one would agree that there are words used by members within a subgroup but not by those outside and vice-versa.
great post anotherlook
Roeschen, we have to pay for what a few of past generations did to the blacks. That is what Justus4 supports. They forget that the emancipator was white. The questions you ask are good and valid, but there will never be a good answer. By the way, I am white.
I was going to say that institutions such as the naacp were not just founded by blacks. One of the founders was a german-born white man named Oswald Garrison. The first president of the NAACP, Mr. Moorfield Storey was also white. Paine college was co founded by some white churches. At one time all paine professors were WHITE (kinda hard being a black professor during those times).
and as for me. I went to private schools most of my life (augustaprep augustachristian, and did the last three years of high school at greenbrier). While i attended APDS, i was usually the only black in the classroom, surrounded by asians and whites, and we were all friends. I think my generation will end this racial nonsense that seems to be a drag on in this city, and across america.
Deerhunter - I hope you are right. However, you will need to rid the world of folks like Barbara Gordon, justus4, RCR, concernednative, johnrandolfhardisoncain and others of their ilk who are determined to continue to promote racial strife and maintain the separation of races that Dr King gave his life to wipe out.
You are a very wise person WW1949 and I agree with you 100%. This country went down hill when the government started providing handouts. The people just gave up and held out their hand. It is okay to get a hand up but let it be from the churches, neighbors, organizations that are not government run. Everything the government runs turns to crap and we the tax payers pay for all its crap. Lets bring back pride and honor in our communities and learn to take care of our selves and when we do need a little help, we can go to our community, churches, organizations etc.
jojo55, that's the most racist post I've ever seen. (dem perspective)
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