Marion Barry has passed away

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

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.

Well that's kind of a silly thing to say, especially from the Moderator… Someone else posted this string is akin to a funeral for DC residents. Well if that's the case why not post it on the 'Other' forum vice the Political Discussion forum? Instead you choose to snark at your guests offering they rummage in the expectant mothers forum? Sophomoric man...

So, you got tired of the Expectant Mom's baby naming and decided to return? There are other forums for you to haunt.

Then again, you may have been patiently waiting for the mourning period to end, dripping fangs and all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Very well said. We have to look at the man in the whole. Unfortunately I only became political aware during the time period of MB's cocaine escapades so that sits stronger in my head than his prior work. But its important we look at the whole. Frankly the drug issues and the the conceit of power of those later years must be remembered with the good the man did. We must always be aware of the potential for abuse that comes with power. When we do not, when we censure debate, we end up with college kids wearing Che Guevara T-shrits wholly unaware the man was responsible for the rape and murder of thousands.

I in no way am comparing the Mayor to Che… They Mayor had personal demons but I believe was a good man. I just wanted to further the cautionary tale point; it not only applies to those in power but to political forums which decide what is to be discussed and what is not.

(That said all discourse should be provided in respectable and decent manner, slinging expletives and insults should not be tolerated, not tolerated towards fellow debaters or the subjects of this forum)

Rest in Peace Mr. Mayor.

I'm not sure how many times posters and the moderator need to reiterate that discussion is not being censored but curtailed temporarily in respect for the mayor AND those who are mourning for him NOW. Additionally, numerous posters have mentioned the Mayor's shortcomings but also acknowledged his past successes.

No one disputes Barry's personal difficulties and freedom of speech is one of America's proudest attributes, but why anyone would even need to say to allow those mourning Barry a short respite (even for a few hours) is beyond me.

LOL, 'curtailed temporarily' is censored. This is like a page out of animal farm… All animals are equal, except some are more equal than others.

There will be no discussion during periods of mourning. There will be no periods other than mourning.

Even Mayor Barry would use a funeral to make a point if he felt it necessary, its childish to not think a politician's death is not an opportunity to advance the great debate. especially one who died of old age after a long and uniquely illustrious and controversial career. If he was perhaps assassinated young, while in office perhaps you may have a point but come now. This is a Political Discussion forum, not a mourners blog… mourners should be mourning and not surfing the web. MB would never be so thin skinned, why are you?

You sure like to lay it on thick. Opportunity to advance the great debate.

I'll be looking for signs of thoughtful reflection from you.

[Anonymous]

Nothing is quite so amusing as one who employs a superior education to effect the persona of the polite in an effort to deliver the message of a total douchebag.

[Anonymous]

Ok, its the next day. MB one of the worst things that ever happened to DC. RIP, and may his like never come again. "Bitch set me up !!"

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, its the next day. MB one of the worst things that ever happened to DC. RIP, and may his like never come again. "Bitch set me up !!"

Do you feel better now? Are you happy that you have demonstrated your lack of class?

My concern about this thread has never been about Marion Barry. He's dead. My concern is for the great number of Washingtonians -- some of who read this site -- that are understandably upset by his passing. Why would you want to kick them when they are down? They are your neighbors and the people with whom you will need to work if you want to improve this city. Do you think that demonstrating your complete and utter lack of class will have any positive impact whatsoever?

[Anonymous]

When it comes to a complete and utter lack of class, no one beats Marion Barry. He is a public figure. He is dead.

[Anonymous]

Barry came to national prominence as mayor of the national capital, the first prominent civil-rights activist to become chief executive of a major American city;[2] he gave the presidential nomination speech for Jesse Jackson at the 1984 Democratic National Convention. His celebrity transformed into international notoriety in January 1990, when he was videotaped smoking crack cocaine and arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials on drug charges. The arrest and subsequent trial precluded Barry seeking re-election, and he served six months in a federal prison. After his release, however, he was elected to the Council of the District of Columbia in 1992 and ultimately returned to the mayoralty in 1994, serving from 1995 to 1999.

Here's our hero: Marion Barry

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:When it comes to a complete and utter lack of class, no one beats Marion Barry. He is a public figure. He is dead.

As you said, he's dead. Nothing you can say will change him. You can only affect the living. On days like this you have the opportunity to make choices: do you want to add to the anger and hatred in this city or do you want to add to the compasion and understanding. Remember, if you are a DC resident, you get to live with the results of your own actions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Barry came to national prominence as mayor of the national capital, the first prominent civil-rights activist to become chief executive of a major American city;[2] he gave the presidential nomination speech for Jesse Jackson at the 1984 Democratic National Convention. His celebrity transformed into international notoriety in January 1990, when he was videotaped smoking crack cocaine and arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials on drug charges. The arrest and subsequent trial precluded Barry seeking re-election, and he served six months in a federal prison. After his release, however, he was elected to the Council of the District of Columbia in 1992 and ultimately returned to the mayoralty in 1994, serving from 1995 to 1999.

Here's our hero: Marion Barry

Indeed. America loves nothing more than a great comeback. Just call him the Prodigal Mayor: that would, after all, be the Christian thing to do.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When it comes to a complete and utter lack of class, no one beats Marion Barry. He is a public figure. He is dead.

As you said, he's dead. Nothing you can say will change him. You can only affect the living. On days like this you have the opportunity to make choices: do you want to add to the anger and hatred in this city or do you want to add to the compasion and understanding. Remember, if you are a DC resident, you get to live with the results of your own actions.

So sanctimonious. He was a low life felon. If you want to change that you have a LOT of editing to do. no need to elevate him -- he is what he is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When it comes to a complete and utter lack of class, no one beats Marion Barry. He is a public figure. He is dead.

As you said, he's dead. Nothing you can say will change him. You can only affect the living. On days like this you have the opportunity to make choices: do you want to add to the anger and hatred in this city or do you want to add to the compasion and understanding. Remember, if you are a DC resident, you get to live with the results of your own actions.

So sanctimonious. He was a low life felon. If you want to change that you have a LOT of editing to do. no need to elevate him -- he is what he is.

Do you use that mouth to pray on Sundays?

[Anonymous]

Another hosanna for Marion:
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/23/marion-barry-washington-dc-mayor-jail-drugs-dies-78

Barry’s third term was marred by open talk of his womanising, drinking and drug abuse and he became a punchline for comedians and a target of disdain for the media. Several of his top aides were convicted of corruption. Barry responded to criticism with denials and claims that he was the victim of a racist media.

awwww

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Another hosanna for Marion:
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/23/marion-barry-washington-dc-mayor-jail-drugs-dies-78

Barry’s third term was marred by open talk of his womanising, drinking and drug abuse and he became a punchline for comedians and a target of disdain for the media. Several of his top aides were convicted of corruption. Barry responded to criticism with denials and claims that he was the victim of a racist media.

awwww

Since you are apparently on a one-person crusade, I think it is important that our readers know that it is one-person and that DCUM is not full of classless haters. I'm going to call out everyone of your posts. So, keep posting. Let's see just how big of an asshole you are.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:Let me give a few of my own thoughts on the passing of Marion Barry. When I was a student at Georgetown University, Barry introduced Ronald Reagan who had come to the University to launch its bicentennial celebration. It was a beautiful day with lots of sun and a moderate temperature. Noting the weather, Barry asked, "will you give me credit for the sun? I know you all blame me for the snow." That was in reference to DC being buried under nearly 2 ft. of snow while Barry was in southern California attending the Super Bowl.

Barry was correct that his critics often focused on the negative while seeing the positive as natural or inevitable. He was quickly blamed for anything that went wrong, but credit for successes was frequently placed elsewhere. At the same time, to both Barry and his defenders, his successes were of such a magnitude that they excused any failures. Barry knew that those in the crowd at Georgetown did not blame him for the snow. We blamed him for his administration's failure to remove the snow. We saw Barry as a source of incompetence and corruption. Politics, especially local politics, is very much a situation of "what have you done for me lately?" and, lately, Barry hadn't done much good for us at all.

But, for others, Barry had done a lot. He had done life-changing things. However, there was no way that someone like me -- a young university student in only my second year of living in DC -- could understand the importance of those things. Frankly, I didn't even know about them. I would learn later that Barry had started a summer job program for youth. In the environment in which I grew up, youth had no problem finding summer employment. I couldn't understand why such a program was important. Then, I would start hearing a phrase that would become almost synonymous with "native Washingtonian" and that was "Marion Barry got me my first job". I think it is very important -- especially after decades of black people being associated with welfare -- that Barry was a proponent of work. He didn't ask for handouts, he asked for -- demanded, in fact -- jobs. Barry didn't create Washington, DC's middle class. But, he sure as hell helped create it and his efforts were -- as I said -- life-changing for many people. When someone has changed your life for the better, it is natural and understandable that you will forgive them their faults. Not surprisingly, therefore, there is another phrase I've heard frequently over the past few years, "That's our Barry". Warts and all, Barry made the kind of positive impact on others of which few can ever dream.

A lot more can be said about Barry, both good and bad. But, on this day, I am glad that I came to understand that a first job and a better lot in life is a much more important than a few days of snowed-in streets. So, on this day, Mr. Mayor, I am giving you credit for the sun.

As with so many things about Barry's life, the jobs he created are a complicated issue. First off, Jeff, you're conflating the summer jobs program with the integration of DC municipal jobs and the creation of the black middle class. The summer jobs program, which I believe still exists today, didn't create anything - it was a payoff to give teenagers something to do in the summer time, and a way to buy their parents' (and the teen' future) votes. Calling it a jobs program is even a bit of a stretch, since not a lot of work got done. That didn't create any middle class.

As for the municipal jobs that did create the black middle class, he deserves a huge amount of credit for making those jobs available to all. But he then turned the DC government into a jobs program (that, coincidently, also served as a campaign tool). While that may have helped some people in the short term (and secured his reelection, and mayor for life status) it wasn't a sustainable long-term goal.

Barry was an extraordinary civil rights figure who saw the ways in which the existing power structure oppressed poor minorities, and decided to use the same tactics to further his cause (and his career). But, he overreached, and became that which he was fighting against. It is sad that he will be remembered for his personal shortcomings rather than his (complicated, and not unblemished) political career.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another hosanna for Marion:
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/23/marion-barry-washington-dc-mayor-jail-drugs-dies-78

Barry’s third term was marred by open talk of his womanising, drinking and drug abuse and he became a punchline for comedians and a target of disdain for the media. Several of his top aides were convicted of corruption. Barry responded to criticism with denials and claims that he was the victim of a racist media.

awwww

Since you are apparently on a one-person crusade, I think it is important that our readers know that it is one-person and that DCUM is not full of classless haters. I'm going to call out everyone of your posts. So, keep posting. Let's see just how big of an asshole you are.

I am on a one person campaign and the media Wikipedia and other news outlets are all in it with me. And I am an "asshole" You use that mouth for what?