Julian Bond was a smart, articulate, handsome leader of the American Civil Rights movement at a crucial juncture in our history. I was saddened today to learn of his passing. He served his country well.
Not all heroes are military ones.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Julian Bond: 1940-2015
Topic Tags:
civil rights,
government,
history
Friday, August 14, 2015
Cuba: 1955 - 2015
Watching the news this evening reminded me of the first time I saw Cuba. It was 1955, I was aboard USS Iowa (BB-61) for a training cruise - it was early August, and we were sailing along the southern coast on the way to Guantanamo Bay.
We could see smoke from campfires in the Sierra Maestra mountains, which we were told was home to a guerrilla uprising. Nervous about the welfare of the midshipmen, Naval authorities didn't allow us off of the naval base at Guantanamo. Over the 60 years since then, I was to visit Gtmo about half a dozen times, but never set foot off the base.
Now that we have established diplomatic relations, I hope to visit Cuba someday soon.
We could see smoke from campfires in the Sierra Maestra mountains, which we were told was home to a guerrilla uprising. Nervous about the welfare of the midshipmen, Naval authorities didn't allow us off of the naval base at Guantanamo. Over the 60 years since then, I was to visit Gtmo about half a dozen times, but never set foot off the base.
Now that we have established diplomatic relations, I hope to visit Cuba someday soon.
Topic Tags:
history,
international,
navy
An Old Saying About Deception Comes To Mind
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Topic Tags:
town government
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Is It Just Me? Or Is It Something I Said?
In recent posts, I have raised the problem of missing records of closed sessions of the Town Board relating to South Avenue and Avenue A.
I knew that sounded familiar, and mentioned that I thought the same thing happened before.
It did.
As I reviewed old blog posts, I find that the LAST time I requested closed session records concerning South Avenue (Town of Oriental v. Henry), the binder of closed session records went missing. That was in 2009, 6 years ago, before that year's municipal elections.
The rule seems to be, that every time I ask for closed records concerning South Avenue, the records disappear.
After the 2009 election was over, the closed session minutes mysteriously reappeared.
Here is my blog entry concerning the prodigal documents.
I knew that sounded familiar, and mentioned that I thought the same thing happened before.
It did.
As I reviewed old blog posts, I find that the LAST time I requested closed session records concerning South Avenue (Town of Oriental v. Henry), the binder of closed session records went missing. That was in 2009, 6 years ago, before that year's municipal elections.
The rule seems to be, that every time I ask for closed records concerning South Avenue, the records disappear.
After the 2009 election was over, the closed session minutes mysteriously reappeared.
Here is my blog entry concerning the prodigal documents.
Topic Tags:
town government
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Town Of Oriental Releases (Some) Records Of South Avenue Closed Meetings
Last night, a special meeting of the Town of Oriental Board of Commissioners voted to release some of the records of closed meetings concerning South Avenue that I requested in June and July.
There appear to be some anomalies. I will probably have more to say about them later. One anomaly was mentioned last night by Town Dock.
At least two of the records I requested have not been provided: 1) the record of the closed meeting of January 13, 2012, which was the first Board action revealing the idea of "sale or exchange" of real property; and 2) the closed meeting of July 9, 2012, which has never been explained. Not only that, the Town of Oriental web site does not include any minutes of the open portion of the special meeting held that date, recording the motion to go into closed session and the reasons therefore.
My own blog entries for July 9, 2012 record the only information ever provided to the public about that meeting, which lasted for an hour and a half. I do know that at the August meeting of the Board the Board approved minutes for the July 3 public hearing on South Avenue that falsify what went on at that meeting. I have the Town's own audio recording of the July 3 meeting.
http://mile181.blogspot.com/2012/07/south-avenue-special-meeting-july-9.html
http://mile181.blogspot.com/2012/07/thoughts-on-todays-south-avenue-meeting.html
There appear to be some anomalies. I will probably have more to say about them later. One anomaly was mentioned last night by Town Dock.
At least two of the records I requested have not been provided: 1) the record of the closed meeting of January 13, 2012, which was the first Board action revealing the idea of "sale or exchange" of real property; and 2) the closed meeting of July 9, 2012, which has never been explained. Not only that, the Town of Oriental web site does not include any minutes of the open portion of the special meeting held that date, recording the motion to go into closed session and the reasons therefore.
My own blog entries for July 9, 2012 record the only information ever provided to the public about that meeting, which lasted for an hour and a half. I do know that at the August meeting of the Board the Board approved minutes for the July 3 public hearing on South Avenue that falsify what went on at that meeting. I have the Town's own audio recording of the July 3 meeting.
http://mile181.blogspot.com/2012/07/south-avenue-special-meeting-july-9.html
http://mile181.blogspot.com/2012/07/thoughts-on-todays-south-avenue-meeting.html
Topic Tags:
town government
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Town Of Oriental Can't Produce Requested Documents
Interesting Town Board Meeting tonight. Raised more questions than it answered.
1. Why was the Board in such a hurry that they appointed Warren Johnson as mayor during last Thursday's Agenda meeting rather than at today's monthly Town Board meeting where such business is normally conducted? Especially as Warren wasn't at tonight's meeting due to a previously planned vacation? Was it an effort to keep something from happening? I don't know.I certainly have no objection to Warren's appointment, but it might have made more sense to appoint Sally Belangia, who is running unopposed for the office in November.
2. Why is the Town unable or unwilling to provide the records of closed session meetings that I requested over the past two months? Unable in some cases because the requested records have mysteriously disappeared. Is this a case of deja vu all over again? Some may recall records mysteriously disappearing when Randy Cahoon was Town Manager a few years ago, apparently removed by someone with access to the manager's office. As I recall, the disappearances ceased after Randy changed the locks. Thoday's Board was unwilling to provide some records that are not missing, even though there is no apparent legal justification for continuing to withhold them. What is the Board trying to cover up? I seem to recall the previously missing records reappeared after that year's elections.
Here is what I asked for:
June 2, 2015:
July 16, 2015:
Article 33C.
1. Why was the Board in such a hurry that they appointed Warren Johnson as mayor during last Thursday's Agenda meeting rather than at today's monthly Town Board meeting where such business is normally conducted? Especially as Warren wasn't at tonight's meeting due to a previously planned vacation? Was it an effort to keep something from happening? I don't know.I certainly have no objection to Warren's appointment, but it might have made more sense to appoint Sally Belangia, who is running unopposed for the office in November.
2. Why is the Town unable or unwilling to provide the records of closed session meetings that I requested over the past two months? Unable in some cases because the requested records have mysteriously disappeared. Is this a case of deja vu all over again? Some may recall records mysteriously disappearing when Randy Cahoon was Town Manager a few years ago, apparently removed by someone with access to the manager's office. As I recall, the disappearances ceased after Randy changed the locks. Thoday's Board was unwilling to provide some records that are not missing, even though there is no apparent legal justification for continuing to withhold them. What is the Board trying to cover up? I seem to recall the previously missing records reappeared after that year's elections.
Here is what I asked for:
June 2, 2015:
Request for Records of Closed Meetings of Oriental Town Board-member
To: Town Manager
From: David R. Cox, 409 Academy Street, Oriental, NC 252 646 5543,
cox.d.r@att.net
I hereby request copies of the minutes of all closed sessions in
which the Town's agreement with Chris Fulcher or my suits against the
Town of Oriental were discussed, as well as all “general account[s]
of the closed session so that a person not in attendance would have a
reasonable understanding of what transpired. Such accounts may be a
written narrative. Or video or audio recording.” NCGS
143-318.10(e). Such minutes and accounts are public records under GS
132-1, provided that they may be withheld from public inspection so
long as public inspection would frustrate the purpose of a closed
session.
Attached is a copy of a Merorandum (sic) to me from Mayor Sage
denying a previous request of mine for records of closed meetings. I
note that his assertion that records of closed sessions “are to be
kept sealed” until the Town Board of Commissioners votes to open
them to the public is not supported by the plain language of the
statute. There is no provision giving the Town Board discretionary
authority to keep the records sealed.
My request includes but is not limited to the following closed
sessions:
1. January 13, 2012
2. February 7, 2012
3. February 10, 2012
4. July 9, 2012
5. September 4, 2012
I am continuing to review the Town's published minutes to compile an
additional list of closed sessions for which I want the records.
Sincerely,
David Cox
July 16, 2015:
Article 33C.
Meetings of Public Bodies.
§ 143-318.9. Public policy.
Whereas the public
bodies that administer the legislative, policy-making,
quasi-judicial, administrative, and advisory functions of North
Carolina and its political subdivisions exist solely to conduct the
people's business, it is the public policy of North Carolina that the
hearings, deliberations, and actions of these bodies be conducted
openly. (1979, c. 655, s. 1.)
§ 143-318.10. All official meetings of
public bodies open to the public.
(a)
Except as provided in G.S. 143-318.11, 143-318.14A, and 143-318.18,
each official meeting of a public body shall be open to the public,
and any person is entitled to attend such a meeting.
§ 143-318.11. Closed sessions.
(a)
Permitted Purposes. - It is the policy of this State that closed
sessions shall be held only when required to permit a public body to
act in the public interest as permitted in this section. A public
body may hold a closed session and exclude the public only when a
closed session is required:
(1) To
prevent the disclosure of information that is privileged or
confidential pursuant to the law of this State or of the United
States, or not considered a public record within the meaning of
Chapter 132 of the General Statutes.
(2) To
prevent the premature disclosure of an honorary degree, scholarship,
prize, or similar award.
(3) To
consult with an attorney employed or retained by the public body in
order to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the attorney
and the public body, which privilege is hereby acknowledged. General
policy matters may not be discussed in a closed session and nothing
herein shall be construed to permit a public body to close a meeting
that otherwise would be open merely because an attorney employed or
retained by the public body is a participant. The public body may
consider and give instructions to an attorney concerning the handling
or settlement of a claim, judicial action, mediation, arbitration, or
administrative procedure. If the public body has approved or
considered a settlement, other than a malpractice settlement by or on
behalf of a hospital, in closed session, the terms of that settlement
shall be reported to the public body and entered into its minutes as
soon as possible within a reasonable time after the settlement is
concluded.
(4) To
discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of industries
or other businesses in the area served by the public body, including
agreement on a tentative list of economic development incentives that
may be offered by the public body in negotiations, or to discuss
matters relating to military installation closure or realignment. Any
action approving the signing of an economic development contract or
commitment, or the action authorizing the payment of economic
development expenditures, shall be taken in an open session.
(5) To
establish, or to instruct the public body's staff or negotiating
agents concerning the position to be taken by or on behalf of the
public body in negotiating (i) the price and other material terms of
a contract or proposed contract for the acquisition of real property
by purchase, option, exchange, or lease; or (ii) the amount of
compensation and other material terms of an employment contract or
proposed employment contract.
(6) To
consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character,
fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial
employment of an individual public officer or employee or prospective
public officer or employee; or to hear or investigate a complaint,
charge, or grievance by or against an individual public officer or
employee. General personnel policy issues may not be considered in a
closed session. A public body may not consider the qualifications,
competence, performance, character, fitness, appointment, or removal
of a member of the public body or another body and may not consider
or fill a vacancy among its own membership except in an open meeting.
Final action making an appointment or discharge or removal by a
public body having final authority for the appointment or discharge
or removal shall be taken in an open meeting.
(7) To
plan, conduct, or hear reports concerning investigations of alleged
criminal misconduct.
(8) To
formulate plans by a local board of education relating to emergency
response to incidents of school violence or to formulate and adopt
the school safety components of school improvement plans by a local
board of education or a school improvement team.
(9) To
discuss and take action regarding plans to protect public safety as
it relates to existing or potential terrorist activity and to receive
briefings by staff members, legal counsel, or law enforcement or
emergency service officials concerning actions taken or to be taken
to respond to such activity.
(b)
Repealed by Session Laws 1991, c. 694, s. 4.
(c)
Calling a Closed Session. - A public body may hold a closed session
only upon a motion duly made and adopted at an open meeting. Every
motion to close a meeting shall cite one or more of the permissible
purposes listed in subsection (a) of this section. A motion based
on subdivision (a)(1) of this section shall also state the name or
citation of the law that renders the information to be discussed
privileged or confidential. A motion based on subdivision (a)(3)
of this section shall identify the parties in each existing lawsuit
concerning which the public body expects to receive advice during the
closed session.
§
143-318.10. All official meetings of public bodies open to the
public.
(e)
Every public body shall keep full and accurate minutes of all
official meetings, including any closed sessions held pursuant to
G.S. 143-318.11. Such minutes may be in written form or, at the
option of the public body, may be in the form of sound or video and
sound recordings. When a public body meets in closed session, it
shall keep a general account of the closed session so that a person
not in attendance would have a reasonable understanding of what
transpired. Such accounts may be a written narrative, or video or
audio recordings. Such minutes and accounts shall be public records
within the meaning of the Public Records Law, G.S. 132-1 et seq.;
provided, however, that minutes or an account of a closed session
conducted in compliance with G.S. 143-318.11 may be withheld from
public inspection so long as public inspection would frustrate the
purpose of a closed session. (1979, c. 655, s. 1; 1985
(Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 932, s. 4; 1991, c. 694, ss. 1, 2; 1993 (Reg.
Sess., 1994), c. 570, s. 1; 1995, c. 509, s. 135.2(p); 1997-290, s.
1; 1997-456, s. 27; 2011-326, s. 8.)
In
accordance with the above provisions on North Carolina General
Statutes, I hereby request the following public records:
A.
The minutes and any general account of the following closed sessions
of the Town of Oriental Town Board pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11,
including both written records and accounts and any video or audio
records such that a person not in attendance would have a reasonable
understanding of what transpired. These records are required to be
kept in compliance with NCGS 143-318.10(e).
The
requested records relate to closed sessions concerning two complaints
filed by me in the Pamlico County Superior Court against the Town. In
view of the fact that these complaints have been settled, the
withholding of these public records would no longer frustrate any
purpose of the closed sessions in question. The request includes but
is not necessarily limited to records of the following closed
sessions:
1.
February 20, 2013;
2.
July 18, 2013;
3.
August 6, 2013;
4.
September 2, 2013;
5.
December 2, 2014;
6.
March 3, 2014.
7.
In addition, I request a copy of the minutes of the Town Board of
Commissioners to which the terms of the settlement have been entered
as required by NCGS 143-318.10(3).
Topic Tags:
law,
town government
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Republicans On Pamlico County Board Of Elections Abolish Three Voting Precincts
Yesterday at the monthly meeting of Pamlico County's Board of Elections, the two Republican members of the Board voted to abolish three voting precincts in Pamlico County: Alliance, Mesic and Stonewall. The only Democratic member of the Board voted against the measure. Since the vote was not unanimous, the resolution does not go into effect until the State Board of Elections, also with a Republican majority, approves it.
Members of the public opposed to closing the three precincts filled the room for the meeting and spoke against it, as was the case at the last previous Board meeting. At the previous meeting, then Republican Board member Gene Lupton, made a motion to table the proposal, which was adopted, against the wishes of the Board Chair. Since that meeting, the Republican party appointed a new member to the board, Russ Richards. At yesterday's meeting, Russ Richards voted with the Chair.
Jennifer Roe, Chair of the Board, explained that the purpose of doing away with the three precincts was to save money when purchasing new voting equipment as mandated by the Republican state legislature, but provided no figures for how much money, if any, would be saved. Democratic Board member Delcine Gibbs, explained that taking this measure now will save no money for this year's municipal elections, and no money for the 2016 statewide elections. In fact, she pointed out, the State Board has not yet certified any new equipment for purchase, and it is unlikely any will be certified before 2017.
This appears to be another Republican solution looking for a problem. In December 2009, long before the legislature mandated any change in voting equipment, newly appointed Republican Board member Judy Smith pressed for reduction in the number of precincts in the County. We don't know where the effort originated, but doing away with precincts, including Pamlico County's only African American precinct, has been on the Republican Party wish list for a long time.
Members of the public opposed to closing the three precincts filled the room for the meeting and spoke against it, as was the case at the last previous Board meeting. At the previous meeting, then Republican Board member Gene Lupton, made a motion to table the proposal, which was adopted, against the wishes of the Board Chair. Since that meeting, the Republican party appointed a new member to the board, Russ Richards. At yesterday's meeting, Russ Richards voted with the Chair.
Jennifer Roe, Chair of the Board, explained that the purpose of doing away with the three precincts was to save money when purchasing new voting equipment as mandated by the Republican state legislature, but provided no figures for how much money, if any, would be saved. Democratic Board member Delcine Gibbs, explained that taking this measure now will save no money for this year's municipal elections, and no money for the 2016 statewide elections. In fact, she pointed out, the State Board has not yet certified any new equipment for purchase, and it is unlikely any will be certified before 2017.
This appears to be another Republican solution looking for a problem. In December 2009, long before the legislature mandated any change in voting equipment, newly appointed Republican Board member Judy Smith pressed for reduction in the number of precincts in the County. We don't know where the effort originated, but doing away with precincts, including Pamlico County's only African American precinct, has been on the Republican Party wish list for a long time.
Topic Tags:
county government,
elections
Monday, July 13, 2015
The German Question
It is becoming pretty clear that the most urgent question facing today's Europe is the German question.
Paul Krugman sees Germany as killing the European project: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/12/killing-the-european-project/ I agree, and have been commenting on the looming disaster for about three years now. The biggest surprise to me is how patient the long-suffering public has been. I hope Greece uses whatever time they have gained by this weekend's deal to print bales of new drachma and prepare to exit the Euro. Spain and Italy should do so as well.
Roger Cohen of the New York Times claims we thought we had solved the problem of Germany in 1945. I take issue with that, though I think we did believe we had solved it by embracing Germany within the stifling arms of NATO and the Western European Union. As NATO's first Secretary General explained, the purpose of NATO was to keep the Germans down, the Russians out, and the Americans here. To Europe, NATO was at least as much about Germany as it was about the Soviet Union. From 1945 for more than four decades, NATO publicly blamed the Soviet Union for a divided Germany and privately hoped the division would continue. It was Germany under Willy Brandt whose "Ostpolitik" began chipping away at the barriers between East and West for the purpose of making German reunification possible. In the United States, we studied what might happen after Tito died, but never examined the implications of a reunited Germany. Everyone knew that could never happen. Everyone was wrong.
The late George Kennan had some thoughts on Germany, which we should have considered, but of course no one did: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/1998/dec/03/a-letter-on-germany/
More recently, the economic historian Brad Delong had some interesting thoughts in response to Simon Wren-Lewis' ruminations on the Euro: "And we are seriously considering, after reading him, whether the Euro project needs to be blown up--indeed, whether the fundamental flaw was in U.S. occupation authorities allowing the formation of the Bundesrepublik, because a European Union that now had five members named "Brandenburg", "Saxony", "Bavaria", "Rhineland", and "Hanover" would be likely to have a much healthier politics and economics than our current one, with one member named "Germany":"
That's a thought worth retrospective consideration. It is a much more creative idea than the quickly-abandoned "Morgenthau plan."
It's very hard to get toothpaste back in the tube.
Did we waste a whole war?
Paul Krugman sees Germany as killing the European project: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/12/killing-the-european-project/ I agree, and have been commenting on the looming disaster for about three years now. The biggest surprise to me is how patient the long-suffering public has been. I hope Greece uses whatever time they have gained by this weekend's deal to print bales of new drachma and prepare to exit the Euro. Spain and Italy should do so as well.
Roger Cohen of the New York Times claims we thought we had solved the problem of Germany in 1945. I take issue with that, though I think we did believe we had solved it by embracing Germany within the stifling arms of NATO and the Western European Union. As NATO's first Secretary General explained, the purpose of NATO was to keep the Germans down, the Russians out, and the Americans here. To Europe, NATO was at least as much about Germany as it was about the Soviet Union. From 1945 for more than four decades, NATO publicly blamed the Soviet Union for a divided Germany and privately hoped the division would continue. It was Germany under Willy Brandt whose "Ostpolitik" began chipping away at the barriers between East and West for the purpose of making German reunification possible. In the United States, we studied what might happen after Tito died, but never examined the implications of a reunited Germany. Everyone knew that could never happen. Everyone was wrong.
The late George Kennan had some thoughts on Germany, which we should have considered, but of course no one did: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/1998/dec/03/a-letter-on-germany/
More recently, the economic historian Brad Delong had some interesting thoughts in response to Simon Wren-Lewis' ruminations on the Euro: "And we are seriously considering, after reading him, whether the Euro project needs to be blown up--indeed, whether the fundamental flaw was in U.S. occupation authorities allowing the formation of the Bundesrepublik, because a European Union that now had five members named "Brandenburg", "Saxony", "Bavaria", "Rhineland", and "Hanover" would be likely to have a much healthier politics and economics than our current one, with one member named "Germany":"
That's a thought worth retrospective consideration. It is a much more creative idea than the quickly-abandoned "Morgenthau plan."
It's very hard to get toothpaste back in the tube.
Did we waste a whole war?
Topic Tags:
democracy,
diplomatic,
economic development,
economics,
Europe,
history
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Iran Nuclear Negotiations
I hear a lot of hysterical hyperbole coming out about negotiations with Iran.
I am glad the negotiations are going on. The opponents seem to want war with Iran. Bad idea.
Most of the opponents are right wing neocons, who seem to be afraid of everything and everyone.
I want to share a link to an article by a retired Navy commander and Naval War College professor on the subject. I don't know Commander Dolan, but I think he is pretty close to the mark. There is more that could be said about Munich, but the main point is to analyze the events in the real historical context.
Here is Commander Dolan's article.
I am glad the negotiations are going on. The opponents seem to want war with Iran. Bad idea.
Most of the opponents are right wing neocons, who seem to be afraid of everything and everyone.
I want to share a link to an article by a retired Navy commander and Naval War College professor on the subject. I don't know Commander Dolan, but I think he is pretty close to the mark. There is more that could be said about Munich, but the main point is to analyze the events in the real historical context.
Here is Commander Dolan's article.
Topic Tags:
diplomatic,
history,
international
Cox v. Town Of Oriental: The Real Story
A lot of nonsense has been promulgated by Oriental Town Government about why I filed suit against the Town over closing of Avenue A and South Avenue.
It was about taking away public rights, but it was very much about defending private property rights.
I call it a swindle. It can also be called theft. Constitutionally, it was a "taking." Takings can be lawful, if taken for a public purpose. But this was neither an exercise of eminent domain nor an exercise of the state's "police power." The only other circumstance in which a street closing is clearly authorized by case law is if all the property owners in a subdivision agree to it.
The Town's attorney Clark Wright knows this. Mayor Bill Sage knows this. But they wanted to do what they did, and they didn't even want to protect public access to the "donated property" by a public dedication, a deed restriction, or any other measure that would protect the public in the future.
It changed the face of the Town forever, and since I have now withdrawn my suit, it can't be undone by the courts, even if it is unlawful.
It isn't really complicated, but the Town Board and its attorneys spent (they say) $80,000 to protect the deal by keeping it from the Court of Appeals.
Here's my story: http://compassnews360.com/former-commissioner-explains-why-he-sued-oriental-town-board/
It was about taking away public rights, but it was very much about defending private property rights.
I call it a swindle. It can also be called theft. Constitutionally, it was a "taking." Takings can be lawful, if taken for a public purpose. But this was neither an exercise of eminent domain nor an exercise of the state's "police power." The only other circumstance in which a street closing is clearly authorized by case law is if all the property owners in a subdivision agree to it.
The Town's attorney Clark Wright knows this. Mayor Bill Sage knows this. But they wanted to do what they did, and they didn't even want to protect public access to the "donated property" by a public dedication, a deed restriction, or any other measure that would protect the public in the future.
It changed the face of the Town forever, and since I have now withdrawn my suit, it can't be undone by the courts, even if it is unlawful.
It isn't really complicated, but the Town Board and its attorneys spent (they say) $80,000 to protect the deal by keeping it from the Court of Appeals.
Here's my story: http://compassnews360.com/former-commissioner-explains-why-he-sued-oriental-town-board/
Topic Tags:
community,
democracy,
elections,
history,
law,
politics,
town government,
water access
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Me And Joe Willy 1942
Here is a picture of me and my playmate Joe Willy taken at my grandparents' place about four miles East of Cruger MS (Holmes County) in about 1942.
Joe Willy was the son of my grandmother's maid, Evelyn. His father worked for my grandfather, who was a county road district superintendent.
I envied Joe Willy because he was allowed to chop wood with an axe and I wasn't.
My grandmother called Joe Willy "Sambo," as a term of affection. Joe Willy never complained, but I could tell he didn't like it.
I learned a lot from Joe Willy and from my visits to Cruger.
I learned, for example, that white people almost never did any actual work. If a white person needed something done, he got a black person to do it. I never saw any actual money change hands in return for work.
White people "supervised." So far as I could tell from watching my grandfather's road crews at work, they didn't need any actual supervising.
Monday, June 22, 2015
Tradition, Confederate Battle Flag, And Nonsense
Hotty Totty, goshamighty, who in the hell are we?
Hey! flim flam, bim bam, Ole Miss, by damn!
Does this make any sense?
It's tradition.
When I arrived at the University of Mississippi as a (barely) seventeen year old freshman in 1954, we had to learn many traditions.Hotty Totty was one of them.
Another was at half time in football games when a group of students carried an enormous Confederate battle flag held horizontally like a tent over the heads of the marching band. Somewhere in my memorabilia is a photograph of the scene. Students, alumni and cheerleaders all waved the Confederate battle flag.
Until Robert Khayat, a former star placekicker for Ole Miss and for the Washington Redskins became Chancellor of the University. (He had previously served for many years as Dean of the Law School).
Bob Khayat was handsome, athletic and smart. He sometimes attended our Methodist Church in company with a young woman who was attractive, intelligent and talented - Mary Ann Mobley, who eventually became Miss America and a professional actress.
By the time Bob Khayat became Chancellor, enrollment was falling, and coaches were having trouble recruiting athletes.
Bob decided to find out why. Here's the story.
Before long, the University discarded its mascot, "Col Rebel" and the Confederate Battle Flag.
Probably only a historic football hero could have pulled it off.
Now the Republican governor of South Carolina has called for the battle flag to be removed from the grounds of the state capitol.
I wish her well.
Hey! flim flam, bim bam, Ole Miss, by damn!
Does this make any sense?
It's tradition.
When I arrived at the University of Mississippi as a (barely) seventeen year old freshman in 1954, we had to learn many traditions.Hotty Totty was one of them.
Another was at half time in football games when a group of students carried an enormous Confederate battle flag held horizontally like a tent over the heads of the marching band. Somewhere in my memorabilia is a photograph of the scene. Students, alumni and cheerleaders all waved the Confederate battle flag.
Until Robert Khayat, a former star placekicker for Ole Miss and for the Washington Redskins became Chancellor of the University. (He had previously served for many years as Dean of the Law School).
Bob Khayat was handsome, athletic and smart. He sometimes attended our Methodist Church in company with a young woman who was attractive, intelligent and talented - Mary Ann Mobley, who eventually became Miss America and a professional actress.
By the time Bob Khayat became Chancellor, enrollment was falling, and coaches were having trouble recruiting athletes.
Bob decided to find out why. Here's the story.
Before long, the University discarded its mascot, "Col Rebel" and the Confederate Battle Flag.
Probably only a historic football hero could have pulled it off.
Now the Republican governor of South Carolina has called for the battle flag to be removed from the grounds of the state capitol.
I wish her well.
Topic Tags:
history
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Mass Killing In Historic Black Church In Charleston SC
I was dismayed to learn this morning of the mass shooting in a historic black church in downtown Charleston, SC.
The suspect, a 21 year old white man from Lexington County named Dylann Storm Roof, reportedly entered the church and sat in wait for about an hour before standing up and shooting his victims. At least nine victims, including a state senator, have died. http://www.abcnews4.com/story/29347455/charleston-police-responding-to-shooting-on-calhoun-street
The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime.
Duh!
The suspect, a 21 year old white man from Lexington County named Dylann Storm Roof, reportedly entered the church and sat in wait for about an hour before standing up and shooting his victims. At least nine victims, including a state senator, have died. http://www.abcnews4.com/story/29347455/charleston-police-responding-to-shooting-on-calhoun-street
The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime.
Duh!
Topic Tags:
race
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
US Heavy Weapons In Eastern Europe
Today's New York Times reports the US is planning to preposition heavy weapons in new NATO countries in Eastern Europe: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/world/europe/us-poised-to-put-heavy-weaponry-in-east-europe.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
The purpose is to send a message to our new allies and to Russia's Putin that the US is prepared to quickly come to the assistance of those countries closest to Russia. a half century ago, we would have called this an act of deterrence.
Deterrence was a much simpler concept when we thought we were living in a bipolar world. If we were talking about nuclear deterrence, we called it "mutual assured destruction." But we no longer live in a bipolar world, if ever we did.
So how do we compel other states to do our bidding? Defense intellectuals spend their lives examining such questions. The answers aren't obvious. Failure is more common than success.
The situation can be very perilous when a stable system of international order falls apart, at least until a new system emerges. We have been in such a period since the late 1980's. It isn't over yet.
I'll have a few thoughts over the next few weeks about the period's challenges and the historical setting. It isn't just about Russia. It is also about Germany.
The purpose is to send a message to our new allies and to Russia's Putin that the US is prepared to quickly come to the assistance of those countries closest to Russia. a half century ago, we would have called this an act of deterrence.
Deterrence was a much simpler concept when we thought we were living in a bipolar world. If we were talking about nuclear deterrence, we called it "mutual assured destruction." But we no longer live in a bipolar world, if ever we did.
So how do we compel other states to do our bidding? Defense intellectuals spend their lives examining such questions. The answers aren't obvious. Failure is more common than success.
The situation can be very perilous when a stable system of international order falls apart, at least until a new system emerges. We have been in such a period since the late 1980's. It isn't over yet.
I'll have a few thoughts over the next few weeks about the period's challenges and the historical setting. It isn't just about Russia. It is also about Germany.
Topic Tags:
government,
history,
war
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Do ItYourself Legal Proceedings
I don't know, but I've been told that it was Mayor Bill Sage who wrote the Town of Oriental "Press Release" printed on the front page of the Pamlico News last March 17.
Mayor Sage did not explain, though he knows full well that the Court of Appeals decided that I could not be a "person aggrieved" in the case of Avenue A only because I did not claim personal injury. That's all. It was a rookie mistake in my brief. He also knows full well that the Court of Appeals explicitly explained (twice) that its decision on Avenue A does not apply to South Avenue. He also knows that my complaint concerning South Avenue does claim personal injury, thereby meeting the Court's criteria for being a "person aggrieved" and therefore having standing to bring the case and have it heard on its merits. To anyone paying attention, it could not have been "unimaginable" that I filed the second suit. In fact, Judge Nobles shook his finger at the Town's attorney and admonished him that "it is your fault that Mr.Cox had to file a second suit." That's a matter for a separate discussion.
In his diatribe, the mayor seemed specially annoyed that I represented myself pro se. He mentioned it twice. I do want to address that.
It is true that I am not an attorney. It is also true that I couldn't afford to retain an attorney. But I am not a complete stranger to legal proceedings. Or to legal standards concerning public officials. I am a naval officer. Law is a part of my profession.
I was seventeen years old learning to be a naval officer when it was impressed on me that public officials (including ship captains and admirals) have only those powers granted to them by law and regulation. My very first course in naval matters introduced me to US Navy Regulations 1948, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the Judge Advocate General's Manual and the Manual for Courts Martial. This body of knowledge was expanded over the next four years to include International Law and Law of the Sea.
When I was commissioned in 1958, all of the Navy's routine legal matters were handled by seagoing officers. We had no specialized corps of lawyers until 1967. I was assigned to USS Cabildo (LSD-16) as navigator, but I was also the ship's legal officer, administrative officer and personnel officer. Those three collateral duties all involved dealing with law and regulation. In Court Martial proceedings, I normally was trial counsel, but also occasionally was asked to serve as a sailor's defense counsel.
Later in my career I served as president of courts-martial, acted as investigating officer in JAG investigations and was awarded advanced degrees in international law and diplomacy. As a specialist in politico-military policy, I worked closely over the years with military and civilian attorneys in the Office of The Chief of Naval Operations, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Department of State and the Judge Advocate General.s Office of International Law.
After I retired from the Navy and was a founder of an information technology company, I represented the company in a GAO bid protest hearing where the other party was represented by the biggest government contract law firm in DC. I prevailed.
I mention these things not to claim that I have skills as good as those of a licensed attorney, but only to suggest I am not a complete novice in legal affairs. My advice to the Town Board should not have been rejected out of hand.
Had I been able to afford to retain counsel, my case would still be going forward.
Mayor Sage did not explain, though he knows full well that the Court of Appeals decided that I could not be a "person aggrieved" in the case of Avenue A only because I did not claim personal injury. That's all. It was a rookie mistake in my brief. He also knows full well that the Court of Appeals explicitly explained (twice) that its decision on Avenue A does not apply to South Avenue. He also knows that my complaint concerning South Avenue does claim personal injury, thereby meeting the Court's criteria for being a "person aggrieved" and therefore having standing to bring the case and have it heard on its merits. To anyone paying attention, it could not have been "unimaginable" that I filed the second suit. In fact, Judge Nobles shook his finger at the Town's attorney and admonished him that "it is your fault that Mr.Cox had to file a second suit." That's a matter for a separate discussion.
In his diatribe, the mayor seemed specially annoyed that I represented myself pro se. He mentioned it twice. I do want to address that.
It is true that I am not an attorney. It is also true that I couldn't afford to retain an attorney. But I am not a complete stranger to legal proceedings. Or to legal standards concerning public officials. I am a naval officer. Law is a part of my profession.
I was seventeen years old learning to be a naval officer when it was impressed on me that public officials (including ship captains and admirals) have only those powers granted to them by law and regulation. My very first course in naval matters introduced me to US Navy Regulations 1948, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the Judge Advocate General's Manual and the Manual for Courts Martial. This body of knowledge was expanded over the next four years to include International Law and Law of the Sea.
When I was commissioned in 1958, all of the Navy's routine legal matters were handled by seagoing officers. We had no specialized corps of lawyers until 1967. I was assigned to USS Cabildo (LSD-16) as navigator, but I was also the ship's legal officer, administrative officer and personnel officer. Those three collateral duties all involved dealing with law and regulation. In Court Martial proceedings, I normally was trial counsel, but also occasionally was asked to serve as a sailor's defense counsel.
Later in my career I served as president of courts-martial, acted as investigating officer in JAG investigations and was awarded advanced degrees in international law and diplomacy. As a specialist in politico-military policy, I worked closely over the years with military and civilian attorneys in the Office of The Chief of Naval Operations, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Department of State and the Judge Advocate General.s Office of International Law.
After I retired from the Navy and was a founder of an information technology company, I represented the company in a GAO bid protest hearing where the other party was represented by the biggest government contract law firm in DC. I prevailed.
I mention these things not to claim that I have skills as good as those of a licensed attorney, but only to suggest I am not a complete novice in legal affairs. My advice to the Town Board should not have been rejected out of hand.
Had I been able to afford to retain counsel, my case would still be going forward.
Topic Tags:
law,
town government
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Proposed Voting Rules
The NC State Board Of Elections is holding a series of hearings on their proposed election rules. The draft rules are as follows:
ftp://alt.ncsbe.gov/Rulemaking/public_comment_notice_rr.pdf#page=1&zoom=auto,-99,798
These proposed rules are very important. Please look them over and either attend one of the hearings or submit comments to the State Board of Elections.
ftp://alt.ncsbe.gov/Rulemaking/public_comment_notice_rr.pdf#page=1&zoom=auto,-99,798
These proposed rules are very important. Please look them over and either attend one of the hearings or submit comments to the State Board of Elections.
Topic Tags:
elections
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Paying Respects To Deceased Soldiers
From time to time I hear Americans complain about our ungrateful allies (usually the French) not paying sufficient respect to the Americans who saved them in the two world wars.
I have lived in France and Belgium and traveled widely in Holland and elsewhere in Europe. This image of ingratitude is just not true. I could give many examples. In fact, tributes to our soldiers who died in Europe put our own observances to shame.
To make the point,I want to share the following post forwarded by a former shipmate.
I have lived in France and Belgium and traveled widely in Holland and elsewhere in Europe. This image of ingratitude is just not true. I could give many examples. In fact, tributes to our soldiers who died in Europe put our own observances to shame.
To make the point,I want to share the following post forwarded by a former shipmate.
>
> 'IL SILENZIO ' ...BEAUTIFUL & HAUNTING
>
> About six miles from Maastricht, in the Netherlands, lie buried 8,301 American soldiers who died in "Operation Market Garden" in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall/winter of 1944.
> Every one of the men buried in the cemetery, as well as those in the Canadian and British military cemeteries, has been adopted by a Dutch family who mind the grave, decorate it, and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted. It is even the custom to keep a portrait of "their" American soldier in a place of honor in their home.
>
> Annually, on "Liberation Day," memorial services are held for "the men who died to liberate Holland." The day concludes with a concert. The final piece is always "Il Silenzio," a memorial piece commissioned by the Dutch and first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of Holland' s liberation. It has been the concluding piece of the memorial concert ever since.
>
> This year the soloist was a 13-year-old Dutch girl, Melissa Venema, backed by André Rieu and his orchestra (the Royal Orchestra of the Netherlands ). This beautiful concert piece is based upon the original version of taps and was composed by Italian composer Nino Rossi.
>
> http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema.htm
>
>
>
> After you watch the above web site, check out the below.
>
> Our war heroes in alphabetical order:
> 1. The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne , France ... A total of 2289
> 2. The American Cemetery at Ardennes , Belgium ... A total of 5329
> 3. The American Cemetery at Brittany, France ... A total of 4410
> 4. Brookwood , England - American Cemetery ... A total of 468
> 5. Cambridge , England ... A total of 3812
> 6. Epinal , France - American Cemetery ... A total of 5525
> 7. Flanders Field , Belgium ... A total of 368
> 8. Florence , Italy ... A total of 4402
> 9. Henri-Chapelle , Belgium ... A total of 7992
> 10. Lorraine , France ... A total of 10,489
> 11. Luxembourg , Luxembourg ... A total of 5076
> 12. Meuse-Argonne... A total of 14,246
> 13. Netherlands , Netherlands ... A total of 8301
> 14. Normandy , France ... A total of 9387
> 15. Oise-Aisne , France ... A total of 6012
> 16. Rhone , France ... A total of 861
> 17. Sicily , Italy ... A total of 7861
> 'IL SILENZIO ' ...BEAUTIFUL & HAUNTING
>
> About six miles from Maastricht, in the Netherlands, lie buried 8,301 American soldiers who died in "Operation Market Garden" in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall/winter of 1944.
> Every one of the men buried in the cemetery, as well as those in the Canadian and British military cemeteries, has been adopted by a Dutch family who mind the grave, decorate it, and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted. It is even the custom to keep a portrait of "their" American soldier in a place of honor in their home.
>
> Annually, on "Liberation Day," memorial services are held for "the men who died to liberate Holland." The day concludes with a concert. The final piece is always "Il Silenzio," a memorial piece commissioned by the Dutch and first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of Holland' s liberation. It has been the concluding piece of the memorial concert ever since.
>
> This year the soloist was a 13-year-old Dutch girl, Melissa Venema, backed by André Rieu and his orchestra (the Royal Orchestra of the Netherlands ). This beautiful concert piece is based upon the original version of taps and was composed by Italian composer Nino Rossi.
>
> http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema.htm
>
>
>
> After you watch the above web site, check out the below.
>
> Our war heroes in alphabetical order:
> 1. The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne , France ... A total of 2289
> 2. The American Cemetery at Ardennes , Belgium ... A total of 5329
> 3. The American Cemetery at Brittany, France ... A total of 4410
> 4. Brookwood , England - American Cemetery ... A total of 468
> 5. Cambridge , England ... A total of 3812
> 6. Epinal , France - American Cemetery ... A total of 5525
> 7. Flanders Field , Belgium ... A total of 368
> 8. Florence , Italy ... A total of 4402
> 9. Henri-Chapelle , Belgium ... A total of 7992
> 10. Lorraine , France ... A total of 10,489
> 11. Luxembourg , Luxembourg ... A total of 5076
> 12. Meuse-Argonne... A total of 14,246
> 13. Netherlands , Netherlands ... A total of 8301
> 14. Normandy , France ... A total of 9387
> 15. Oise-Aisne , France ... A total of 6012
> 16. Rhone , France ... A total of 861
> 17. Sicily , Italy ... A total of 7861
Then stop and think about the Frenchmen who died in America fighting for our independence. More than two thousand of them. Where are they buried and how do we Americans remember them?
Topic Tags:
international,
war
Monday, May 25, 2015
Responsibility
“Responsibility is a unique concept... You may share it with
others, but your portion is not diminished. You may delegate it, but it
is still with you... If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion,
or ignorance or passing the blame can shift the burden to someone else.
Unless you can point your finger at the man who is responsible when
something goes wrong, then you have never had anyone really
responsible.”
― Hyman G. Rickover
― Hyman G. Rickover
Topic Tags:
leadership,
management
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