OUT OF TOUCH

…and a little child will lead them Isaiah 11:6

This past Sunday I realized I have become who I worked fifteen years as a YMCA Director warning young people to watch out for; adults who judge
them because they are different, adults who are stuck on tradition, Adults who have become complacent, Adults who think old. Adults who give them no credit for what they might know, Adults who judge them by what they see instead of who they are.

On pages 11, 13 and 14 of this edition of the Courier/Eco Latino newspaper are some of the
comments of a conversation I had with Amber, Marquese, Mark, Slyde, Najah and J Styles whose ages range between 19 and 27. In our next issue we will share the entire story.

Their comments were insightful, intelligent, frank and heartwarming. As we talked and shared our views on the church, this community and the current crime wave in the city it became apparent to me that I have lost touch with our youth and I should know better. These young people shared with me how they would solve the current problems that exist in this city and their
solutions make perfect sense. It’s time for us to give our young people a little more credit than we do.

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GHOSTS OF RACIAL PREJUDICE PAST AND PRESENT

By Brother Love
Special to The Courier

In 2008 the IMA president went before council in support of the proposed Local Options Sales Tax. The Columbus Ledger Enquirer described him as representing 60 black churches. In 2010 IMA President Harry McCall goes before council with concerns and
the Columbus Ledger- Enquirer describes it as 16
black ministers. They never even mention the president
of the Muscogee County Clergy Association stood
with the IMA ministers. Why would the local newspaper not report that a predominately black ministerial group and a predominately white ministerial group joined forces to publicly express a concern that the community was on the verge of greater racial division if something was not done?

The newspaper is determined to sell it as black versus white, but it reports the story in a manner to bring about greater racial division and to convince readers that the ministers are really stoking the fires of racial division and are far from
the concerned clergy they present themselves to be. Dusty Nix is worried about CPD and Chief Ricky Boren’s feelings if GBI is called in, but he is
simply critical and indifferent about community
concerns of fellow citizens who happen to be African American.

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