Hi Brian,

Ooooeeee...this is a real hot button of mine...so I probably shouldn't even get started!! However, I think the whole issue is one of control. Some folks who don't have much reason to be proud of themselves watch for any excuse to try to bring someone else down, especially if that person is normally held in high esteem. I guess they figure that if they are powerful enough to bring (or help bring) some big shot down..then THEY must be even bigger!! It is pathological in this country IMO.

Last fall, I was thrilled when the city I work for asked me to coordinate our upcoming bicentennial events (no extra pay, mind you...just a LOT of extra work). City Council appointed a group of folks to become the Bicentennial Committee...to work with me to generate ideas for Signature Events and Legacy Projects that the Council would vote on to determine how we will celebrate. Because I love history and am the "finder of the funding" for such stuff, I was excited about the potential. However, I was TOTALLY taken aback when three little old ladies (I call them the Little Biddy Committee) took it upon themselves to try to derail the whole planning process. One element I thought would be a given was honoring our Native American heritage. A dear friend of mine (and former Miss Tennessee) was/is the NA representative to the committee. The LBC gals began attacking the whole concept of recognizing the Native Americans, stating flatly that "Native Americans were not here", making mocking and demeaning hand gestures, and demanding "proof of their ancestry" before any Native Americans could claim to have been residents of our county. One gal said in a taped meeting..."we can't let THEM develop their own curriculum materials...Lord knows WHAT they'd come up with!!"

These "ladies" went further to threaten the jobs of various folks including myself if we supported recognizing Native Americans in any manner.

They threatened to expose as an utter fraud a gentleman I had met with to gather information from (turned out he was appointed by the Governor to head up the state's Council on Indian Affairs and is an ordained minister, a college professor, etc).

Needless to say, I was stunned to discover that such vitriolic and misguided bigotry still existed. These women are all 65-85 and have a lot of money. As one told me in no uncertain terms..."we own this town".

They almost got away with it...but fortunately, after private discussions with several Council members, they voted to disband the committee and let me work with whomever I need to on the various specific projects. But the whole scenario made me realize that evil still lurks even in unexpected places. It got real ugly...got in the local newspaper and almost on 60 Minutes!!

What should have been a time of real joy and celebration is certainly dimmed. As one guy said to me at a Council meeting..."that woman could spoil a one car funeral procession!" No one has yet been able to explain to me the basis for WHY they feel so strongly about this. I just think it is pathetic that ANYONE would feel the need to hold any other individual or group of individuals down based on their race, color, ethnic origin, gender, sex, whatever.

Life is too short. We need to be helping each other not deliberately trying to stand in someone else's way!!! After all..."we're all in this together!"

Ok...I will vacate the soapbox now.

Hugs,
Bobbie

They'll tell you success in the music biz is all about who you know...but the truth is...it's about who knows you.

Gallup 'n Dawg Music