Marion Barry has passed away

[Anonymous]

According to CNN.

[Anonymous]

Yes, he did. Just read it at the Wash Post website. He was 78.

RIP.

[Anonymous]

Did he get caught up on his back income taxes? If not, will his estate remain responsible?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Did he get caught up on his back income taxes? If not, will his estate remain responsible?

Please try to be respectful at this time. Barry meant a great deal to many in this city and they deserve to grieve in peace.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did he get caught up on his back income taxes? If not, will his estate remain responsible?

Please try to be respectful at this time. Barry meant a great deal to many in this city and they deserve to grieve in peace.

+1. Very classy of you, Jeff.

[Anonymous]

I'm really saddened by this. As a 33 year old DC native, I will say he did a good deed for this city regardless of his personal matters.

[Anonymous]

Marion Barry loved his city. And the world will be far less interesting without him.

[Anonymous]

Just watching the news, and I had no idea that Marion Berry was enrolled in doctoral chemistry studies at the University of Tennessee and was the only black student in his class. There were many sides to this interesting man that should be remembered also.

[Anonymous]

If the only thing you know about Marion Barry has the initials BSMU, please DVR and watch Channel 26's series on Washington in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s on Wednesday afternoon. He really led an incredibly interesting life.

[Anonymous]

Are you going to censor me again Jeff?

You did not censor people who said horrible things here when Margaret Thatcher died. And only I chided those who seem to be attached to the disreputable among us (not my exact words but i said nothing foul of offensive). For at the end of the day Marion Barry was a public figure and and deserves public scrutiny. Yet during his life time to offer scrutiny was to risk being libeled a racist by many who post here. And now in death you won't even allow the discussion. I won't play the hagiography game but if you censor this its far worse than hagiography you are playing at. This is the Political Discussion Forum Jeff, please allow the discourse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the only thing you know about Marion Barry has the initials BSMU, please DVR and watch Channel 26's series on Washington in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s on Wednesday afternoon. He really led an incredibly interesting life.

I just googled and read that while in his doctoral program, Barry was not allowed to tutor white children and his then wife couldn't work at UTennessee. Because of this, he left to do civil rights work.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to censor me again Jeff?

You did not censor people who said horrible things here when Margaret Thatcher died. And only I chided those who seem to be attached to the disreputable among us (not my exact words but i said nothing foul of offensive). For at the end of the day Marion Barry was a public figure and and deserves public scrutiny. Yet during his life time to offer scrutiny was to risk being libeled a racist by many who post here. And now in death you won't even allow the discussion. I won't play the hagiography game but if you censor this its far worse than hagiography you are playing at. This is the Political Discussion Forum Jeff, please allow the discourse.

There will be plenty of time in the future for discussion of all aspects of Barry's life. Today is a day for those who grieve. Those who don't can go to the Expectant Moms forum and discuss baby names.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to censor me again Jeff?

You did not censor people who said horrible things here when Margaret Thatcher died. And only I chided those who seem to be attached to the disreputable among us (not my exact words but i said nothing foul of offensive). For at the end of the day Marion Barry was a public figure and and deserves public scrutiny. Yet during his life time to offer scrutiny was to risk being libeled a racist by many who post here. And now in death you won't even allow the discussion. I won't play the hagiography game but if you censor this its far worse than hagiography you are playing at. This is the Political Discussion Forum Jeff, please allow the discourse.

I agree wholeheartedly with Jeff. You will eventually have your 15-minutes for vehemence but this is a day of mourning for the people who did care about Barry and your desire to vilify him at this moment says more about your character than Barry's.

[Anonymous]

Those big buildings you see lining Pennsylvania Ave are attributable to Marion Barry. In many ways, there could not have been an Anthony Williams had there not first been a Marion Barry.

It has always been sad to me that the second half of his life will overshadow the first. A cautionary tale about the dangers of believing your own press and surrounding yourself with yes men.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those big buildings you see lining Pennsylvania Ave are attributable to Marion Barry. In many ways, there could not have been an Anthony Williams had there not first been a Marion Barry.

It has always been sad to me that the second half of his life will overshadow the first. A cautionary tale about the dangers of believing your own press and surrounding yourself with yes men.

+1. Well stated.