jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Non-DCer here. Seriously, how is this guy still in office?

Because he's an elected official, and can't simply be fired. He either has to resign, which he's not going to do, or be removed from office, which isn't easily accomplished.

Did I really need to explain that?

Non-DCer here. No, you don’t. That said, if a white politician suggested a photo depicting african-Americans picking cotton demonstrates happy, rural life, there’d be a million people on the mall demanding his/her ouster. Just wondering why the rules seem different here ...

Not necessarily true. Take this recent example of a less-than-astute public official:

http://www.wbbjtv.com/2018/04/18/investigators-look-racial-slurs-spray-painted-familys-home/http://www.wbbjtv.com/2018/04/18/investigators-look-racial-slurs-spray-painted-familys-home/

After experiencing many acts of discrimination culminating in racial slurs being painted on their house, a family moved out. They town mayor's reaction?

"That’s a pretty building, and it’s right on the corner there in the downtown area, and I was just more concerned with getting the paint off the building than I was anything else," said Mayor Casey Burnett of Friendship.

Mayor Burnett says he was one of the first people to see the graffiti, but he says he doesn’t consider it to be a hate crime.

"It did have a little bit of a racial slur to it, but we’re not a racial community at all," said the mayor...

I haven't been down to the Mall today, but I haven't heard any reports of a million people gathering there. So, I think your analysis is a bit off.

So what's your point? That there are stupid, insensitive local officials in small towns and other places? Of course, there are. But we don't live in Bumblestuck, TN, but rather the Nation's Capital, one of the largest, most diverse cities in the U.S. where I think we have the right to expect more and better from our officials than in Bumblestuck. I'd rather that DC aspire to be like Portland rather than Bumblestuck or Bamaville.

Anonymous wrote:To Jeff's post above: Two wrongs don't make a right. As someone belonging to a minority community, I am appalled at White's behavior, when you fight for rights and equality you are fighting for all minorities not just some cherry picked ones. The message he is sending is that racism is okay if it's done by black people but the other way around is unacceptable. Can you get more hypocritical than that?

The message he THINKS he's sending is, "I am not beholden to anyone but my own" but the message he's actually sending is, "I'm a f>>king idiot".
Either way...not good.

To Jeff's post above: Two wrongs don't make a right. As someone belonging to a minority community, I am appalled at White's behavior, when you fight for rights and equality you are fighting for all minorities not just some cherry picked ones. The message he is sending is that racism is okay if it's done by black people but the other way around is unacceptable. Can you get more hypocritical than that?

I've followed this story from the onset. It began terribly, but I was encouraged by what appeared to be Mr. White's immediate show of contrition and his determination to educate himself on his hurtful and ignorant remarks. His colleagues on the Council generally gave him the benefit of the doubt, as did most everyone else. He made haste seeking the shelter and guidance of leaders in the Jewish community and this all looked like it might end well.

Then he visits the Museum and leaves part way through the guided tour and makes/asks insensitive comments and questions. To me, Mr. White's actions not only speak to his ignorance (which is substantial), it says quite a bit about his character, or decency as a human being. Admittedly, I'm speculating on what caused his early departure from the tour, but I wonder if he became conflicted in comparing the American slavery experience with the Holocaust. When I visited the Museum with my son, I couldn't help but draw on comparisons with slavery in America. I assume such comparisons are both natural and essential to helping us begin to understand and try to prevent recurring events of man's inhumanity to man. Yes, African Americans experienced untold suffering being brought here against our will. And yes, we are still suffering from the vestiges of that brutal system of oppression, which in many ways has now been institutionalized. But other groups of people have suffered mightily over the course of time, as well. In my mind, it's critical to understand the similarities and differences of the context in which these events unfolded and how we might prevent them from ever happening again.

Anonymous wrote:This guy is just as bad as the anti-semites in the Trump camp. He is embarrassing and should resign.

+1 he needs to resign. Yesterday.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Non-DCer here. Seriously, how is this guy still in office?

Because he's an elected official, and can't simply be fired. He either has to resign, which he's not going to do, or be removed from office, which isn't easily accomplished.

Did I really need to explain that?

Non-DCer here. No, you don’t. That said, if a white politician suggested a photo depicting african-Americans picking cotton demonstrates happy, rural life, there’d be a million people on the mall demanding his/her ouster. Just wondering why the rules seem different here ...

Not necessarily true. Take this recent example of a less-than-astute public official:

http://www.wbbjtv.com/2018/04/18/investigators-look-racial-slurs-spray-painted-familys-home/http://www.wbbjtv.com/2018/04/18/investigators-look-racial-slurs-spray-painted-familys-home/

After experiencing many acts of discrimination culminating in racial slurs being painted on their house, a family moved out. They town mayor's reaction?

"That’s a pretty building, and it’s right on the corner there in the downtown area, and I was just more concerned with getting the paint off the building than I was anything else," said Mayor Casey Burnett of Friendship.

Mayor Burnett says he was one of the first people to see the graffiti, but he says he doesn’t consider it to be a hate crime.

"It did have a little bit of a racial slur to it, but we’re not a racial community at all," said the mayor...

I haven't been down to the Mall today, but I haven't heard any reports of a million people gathering there. So, I think your analysis is a bit off.

This guy is just as bad as the anti-semites in the Trump camp. He is embarrassing and should resign.

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Non-DCer here. Seriously, how is this guy still in office?

Because he's an elected official, and can't simply be fired. He either has to resign, which he's not going to do, or be removed from office, which isn't easily accomplished.

Did I really need to explain that?

Also, this is DC, where constituents are all too pleased to elect corrupt, law-flouting politicians to DC Council and keep some of them in office even when there is blatant evidence of wrongdoing on their or their associates' behalf (see: Marion Barry, Kwame Brown, Harry Thomas Jr., Vince Gray...).

Yeah, only DC has ever had a corrupt official. From your list, Gray was never charged with anything and of those charged, only Barry was ever re-elected to anything. There are corrupt public officials everywhere and there are stupid public officials everywhere. Suggesting DC is somehow special in this regard ignores reality.

The U.S. has or has had its share of corrupt and/or stupid local officials. But DC is definitely in a special category.

PP, I would like to introduce you to the great states of Louisiana and Illinois.

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Non-DCer here. Seriously, how is this guy still in office?

Because he's an elected official, and can't simply be fired. He either has to resign, which he's not going to do, or be removed from office, which isn't easily accomplished.

Did I really need to explain that?

Also, this is DC, where constituents are all too pleased to elect corrupt, law-flouting politicians to DC Council and keep some of them in office even when there is blatant evidence of wrongdoing on their or their associates' behalf (see: Marion Barry, Kwame Brown, Harry Thomas Jr., Vince Gray...).

Yeah, only DC has ever had a corrupt official. From your list, Gray was never charged with anything and of those charged, only Barry was ever re-elected to anything. There are corrupt public officials everywhere and there are stupid public officials everywhere. Suggesting DC is somehow special in this regard ignores reality.

The U.S. has or has had its share of corrupt and/or stupid local officials. But DC is definitely in a special category.

Fine, whatever you say, congratulations your assessment wins - pick up your kool aid points on the way out and enjoy your weekend.

Anonymous wrote:At least some of White's staff stayed, but they don't seem to be the sharpest pencils in the drawer, either -- asking if the Warsaw Ghetto was like a "gated community"??!!

I know, I couldn't believe that comment! They must be products of some of the lower rated DC schools...

At least some of White's staff stayed, but they don't seem to be the sharpest pencils in the drawer, either -- asking if the Warsaw Ghetto was like a "gated community"??!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of you know anything about Ward 8. If you did, you'd know Trayon has been a community activist and organizer for almost 20 years.

That's why he was elected, that's why he'll be reelected, and that's why he deserves to be a councilman. Because he's been busting his hump for his neighbors to try and make Ward 8 a better place for the people who live there since he was 20.


I've been familiar with and watched Trayon White from a modest distance for my entire career as a journalist in DC. There are very few people his age who have given more of themselves to DC. He reminds me very much of the young, idealistic Marion Barry of the late 70's.

The fact that he doesn't conform to your white-biased standards of opinion, manner and conduct with regards to topics relevant to white people, is meaningless.

So what if he's less than informed about or even casually indifferent to the Holocaust? That's not his struggle. Black people endured their own holocaust, and some still are enduring it in many ways. That's what Trayon White cares about.

Seeking your approval is pointless to him. As it should be.

You know his theories about jews is the exact reason a bunch of white supremacists marched on Charlottesville, right? With his views he’s supporting the same groups of people who want to see people like him lynched. Shame.

Bingo. +1

Double Bingo.

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Non-DCer here. Seriously, how is this guy still in office?

Because he's an elected official, and can't simply be fired. He either has to resign, which he's not going to do, or be removed from office, which isn't easily accomplished.

Did I really need to explain that?

Also, this is DC, where constituents are all too pleased to elect corrupt, law-flouting politicians to DC Council and keep some of them in office even when there is blatant evidence of wrongdoing on their or their associates' behalf (see: Marion Barry, Kwame Brown, Harry Thomas Jr., Vince Gray...).

Yeah, only DC has ever had a corrupt official. From your list, Gray was never charged with anything and of those charged, only Barry was ever re-elected to anything. There are corrupt public officials everywhere and there are stupid public officials everywhere. Suggesting DC is somehow special in this regard ignores reality.

The U.S. has or has had its share of corrupt and/or stupid local officials. But DC is definitely in a special category.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Non-DCer here. Seriously, how is this guy still in office?

Because he's an elected official, and can't simply be fired. He either has to resign, which he's not going to do, or be removed from office, which isn't easily accomplished.

Did I really need to explain that?

Non-DCer here. No, you don’t. That said, if a white politician suggested a photo depicting african-Americans picking cotton demonstrates happy, rural life, there’d be a million people on the mall demanding his/her ouster. Just wondering why the rules seem different here ...

Because (i) in the grand scheme of things, an ill-informed anti-Semitic councilmember in Ward 8 is pretty inconsequential, and has a very small impact on the lives of the people he insulted, and (ii) the people who would be doing the protesting in this situation have bigger things to worry about/protest. When your brakes fail and your car is barreling toward a cliff, you don't spend a lot of time worrying that your check engine light is on.

The most charitable interpretation of his odd/untimely departure is that he was overwhelmed - but that's being extremely generous.