Comment Archives: stories: Voices: Abdul
Re: “Bobby and me”
Newton was right and I admire and respect him.
If you follow the law, you have a chance as a US citizen.
If you break the law, you are playing the cops game.
Romans 13
Re: “Bobby and me”
It's sad that Nuvo publishes this shortsighted, poorly researched work.
With all respect, if you bothered to do the slightest research on the founding of the BPP, you would quickly discover that Newton was a law student who went to great lengths to insure the organization's activities were legal.
There's so much here to pick apart... you speak of the "whining class who complain about the numbers of blacks who were... in jail." I guess the bundles of statistics reporting disproportionate incarceration rates for African-American offenders collected over decades should be ignored...
I thought Nuvo was the "alternative voice?" A shame to see this published on MLK day.
Re: “Bobby and me”
Does it make you wonder how many other stories you've missed that might have possibly impacted your conservative views?
Because the moral of this story is that you ASSUMED they were "THOSE" black men. And by your own admission, all this time you were wrong.
Re: “Bobby and me”
Abdul my friend I think the last 2 paragraphs hit it on the head. Individual responsibility is where all issues should be placed not "I've dun sumpt'n wrong now the government has to take care of me." or "I culdn't get it with my income so I took it." mentalities make me sick.
Enough said as I have heard you many times in the past "that's, just me."
Re: “The Last King of IPS”
"Natives"?? Is that all you can say about Ugandans is to call them by the pejorative term, "natives"? Would you use that word to describe people from, say, Wisconsin or England? Of course not. Eugene White is not the only person needing to enter the 21st century.
Re: “Put the Marriage Amendment on Hold”
Could have sworn Hoosiers were not into Big Government telling them what can and cannot be done.
So, what's with the State Legistlature>
Re: “Dems Redistricting: Who drew this map?”
Redistricting 101. Spreading out the African-American vote to more districts helps Democrats, it doesn't hurt them. It allows them to use a solid Democratic voting bloc more efficiently. Republicans prefer the creation of more majority African-American districts because it results in packing a higher percentage of Democrats in fewer districts. Virtually every redistricting you see an alliance between Republicans and black Democrats . Black Democrats want to see more majority-minority districts created and Republicans are all for that. You end up with more African-American legislators but you end up with fewer Democrats overall.
And the Democrats didn't say the map Mayor Ballard signed into law on 1/1/2012 was illegal. They said, quite correctly that the law requires the council to redistrict in 2012. No one argued that the law prevents a 2011 redistricting. It was just a waste of time because the law mandates redistricting in 2012.
Re: “Making the Case for Mass Transit”
Hear, hear, Melissa! We should all start rehearsing this statement for next fall so we can convince the Republicans: "The best social program is gainful employment. The best social program is gainful employment. The best social program is gainful employment...."
Re: “Making the Case for Mass Transit”
Great piece and very on point. Part of our problem is population density or lack of it. We missed the bus 50 years ago to have regional planning which would have concentrated development and made it easier for mass transit.
Now, certainly rail lines to Franklin and Noblesville certainly make sense. Light rail probably does as well up College Avenue to 62nd and Keystone. Ditto an airport line.
Something overlooked is Ottawa's answer which is bus rapid transit on dedicated roadways. You can get all over the Canadian Capital easily and cheaply. We need vision on this not the usual Hoosier myopia.
Re: “Making the Case for Mass Transit”
I would love to ride the bus to and from work everyday. So tired of the traffic! But this lovely state just is set in it's ways and people have a hard time giving up their cars, even if it means better for the environment and their mental state. I do support BETTER mass transit in this city,
Re: “Saving the Symphony is not city business”
The arts bring $386 million to Indianapolis every year. That's more than the Pacers. More than the Super Bowl. Not sure how it indexes against the Colts. The city gave $1 million to the arts (of which I believe the symphony received $175,000). That's a far cry from the $10 million we give to the Pacers, the $750 million we gave for a stadium we didn't need and the $25+ million (estimated) we give the Colts. So a little help wouldn't be a bad thing. Beyond that, there is enough money in the Symphony endowment for it to operate for at least another 6 years at current levels. Why isn't a stop-gap, one year deal being worked out that would allow the symphony to get management in place (at present, there is no CEO, no marketing director and no development (aka fundraising) director on staff)? How can the musicians be expected to take terminal cuts in the season and in their pay - long term - when they don't even know short term who is running the railroad? By the way, it was bad investments and bad management and bad marketing that CAUSED all of this in the first place. Something doesn't add up - and I'm thinking that the void is between the ears of the small faction of board members who are driving this whole thing and the failed water company executive, the college cheerleaders and the administrative assistants that are currently being charged to negotiate a new long term deal in an area in which they have NO experience or understanding. There can't be a long term deal until there is long-term management in place. And the city, sponsors, patrons and donors could have a big say in making that happen.
Re: “Saving the Symphony is not city business”
I agree the city should not be in the habit of bailing out anything because as you said it becomes a precedent that we may not want continued. But this is the same argument that people use when they say, cut arts and physical education from our schools. There isn't enough money to be had in these so there for there is no value to these endeavors. I am not suggesting you do not see value, however it should be a concern for the city. This city should care, whether it is financial or assisting in resolving the situation (not taking a side just assisting). As another NUVO contributor noted that in '72 then Mayor Lugar saw the need to resolve this issue for a great institution in the city. Don't think for a moment that the ISO is not a draw for talent, visitors, and development. Having a world class Symphony can only help. I would hate to see the ISO go through what the Detroit Symphony did.
Re: “A Failed Project?”
If you do the math on the propaganda put forth by the school it represents 10 percent of the students. That means that 90 percent of the students are doing much worse than the woeful numbers already indicate.
Re: “A Failed Project?”
My child is a child of color. In the morning, after she wakes up, I have to tell her that some very powerful people she once respected really have succeeded in closing her school. Do you want to come and help me? Where do you think I should send her to school on Monday? She will want to know.
Re: “A Failed Project?”
The only thing failing is an education reform system that believes that a multiple choice test is the answer for intelligence and education. One test that everyone has to answer to. One test to dumb America down. Those that believe the test is good and does no harm, fail the children of today and put them in a worse position than any previous generation, being taught in for profit corporations by under-qualified teachers. You will not find any research out there that states the tests are good or supply any meaningful data. You stop failing our children.
Re: “A Failed Project?”
What a well thought out, well-articulated and intelligent response, Shabazz. A grown up equivalent to a childhood playground taunt. I can't believe they actually pay you for this.
Re: “A Failed Project?”
These comments are nice, but none of it changes the fact your school is still failing.
Top Commenters
Re: “Bobby and me”
Kyle,
If you aren't out breaking the law, odds are you won't end up in jail!