Edify Not Vilify The City Over Greenwood Development
Tulsa as represented by the Tulsa Development Authority (TDA) moves almost blindly toward selling the last of stolen land? They could be drug out into the street like the town bigot; however the best action to take is to educate them in inescapable ways. Negative reinforcement to emotionless bureaucracies is rarely successful. You simply can’t elicit remorse out of bureaucrats. To be sure, this is not the exclusive providence of Tulsa bureaucrats. Tulsa governments have a long history of pretending the horror of the 1921 Race Massacre never occurred. However, educating the monolith known better as TDA with cold hard facts will have better results.
Education is a form of sharing. In that vein, it could be surmised that TDA is acting callously has more to do with a lack of information and not evil intent. Time to stop waiting to get on the agenda, and instead meet together and share knowledge. Move forward with passion and the cold hard facts. The truth is on our side. If you work through the bureaucracy, then the decision is on their side.
You can’t expect a robot or computer to digest the emotions attached to the devastation and theft of Greenwood. Perhaps you could input the data that arrives at a logical conclusion that says it is wrong to sell land stolen from the inhabitants in front of the world as Tulsa steams to the 100 Year Anniversary of the deadliest race event in United States history. It would be immoral to sell what was taken from defenseless citizens and given to University Center of Tulsa (UCT) and then backtrack on that deal to sell it now that it has value.
So, education is the honey of the direction Greenwood and TDA should take in arriving at a peaceful resolution. Truth is the education for oppressors and bureaucrats in moving toward justice. TDA and city leaders need to remember just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.
In a just world the land would be returned to Greenwood in a gesture of reason and kindness. Greenwood could oversee deciding how the land would be developed. Like real tourism stops that will serve as a destination., a place or learning and reconciliation. Perhaps that reconciliation can start with TDA.
Marines Move To Remove Racist Symbols From Bases
From the very top of the Marine Corps comes the order to remove Confederate
-themed symbols from all Marine bases. Commandant Gen. Davide Berger announced the changes along with others to change the culture that is reportedly getting more racially intolerant. The head Marine said racial hatred has no place in today’s corps.
Berger is also is changing the parental leave policy to include same-sex couples, considering the possibility of a maternity for up to a year for female Marines. He is also looking to include more female Marines into combat roles. There is no timetable for the changes, but these are important changes. Dealing with the racist symbolism is top of the list for the Marines.
While the Marines say racism isn’t a large problem, the reported increase is disturbing. The Military Times released a poll that shows 36 percent of troops who took part said they have personally seen examples of white nationalism or ideological-driven racism in Marine facilities this year. The increase is a big jump from last year when 22 percent said they witnessed the same racism imagery on Marine Corps bases. It’s not just bigoted words, but use of swastikas on Marines cars, and tattoos related to white supremacist groups. The Ku Klux Klan and Nazi style salutes between peers were also reported. Skinheads and their imagery also found their way in the Marine Corps along with their hateful messages.
It will be interesting to see how the changes will be received by President Donald J. Trump who has in the past defended Confederate symbolism when rebel statues were removed by local governments. Trump has held up the tired old response that the statues were part of history. True they are some of the most hateful periods of history in America that certainly does not deserve honor in anyway.
The Marine Corps are universally held up for their bravery and attention to honor; this bold move is a step in the right direction in removing the hidden prejudice that exists on too many bases. Marines are the Few and Brave and hopefully tolerant in the future.
Slow Process Of The Search For Possible Graves Moves Forward At A Snail’s Pace
Mayor G.T. Bynum is finding that large ideas often come with huge obstacles and diminishing outcomes. And Tulsa North isn’t impressed at this point. Access and the slow nature of scientific methodology mean little to the children of Greenwood hungry for the truth. Where are the murdered? In the end that is the only question.
Monday night’s meeting of the oversight committee was not the dutiful update of a long process to possibly recover murdered Greenwood residents. Of course, anything that appears to be slow and deliberate looks too much like stonewalling. The response was unfortunate as it appears any criticism of the city’s effort is seen as radically disruptive.
The city is a bit prickly over criticism as few of their efforts north of downtown seems to be popular or transparent. At some point the city should learn that the residents in Tulsa North are capable of hearing the truth and making many of the decisions themselves. Today, that is so far away from being the status quo. By comparison, just think if Tulsa started taking and selling off land in south Tulsa. There would be outrage and demonstrations of wealthy residents at city hall. If black Tulsans raise the same issue, they are radical and hindering progress. “Troublemakers” would be their cutting reply from the seats of power as people have the nerve to demand action.
To be sure, the city is meeting resistance from landowners and that has to be worked out in the name of justice and fairness. The fever will drop once the heat is removed from the problem.
