Portsmouth Mayor should step down for racist comment
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Published July 23rd, 2008
I’m sick and tired of two sets of rules when it comes to racism.
The city needs a hotel that targets blacks, he said. “It’s got my black picture in the lobby, but it’s a white hotel,” (Mayor James) Holley said of the Renaissance.(Virginian-Pilot)
If a white mayor said his city needed a white hotel, he’d be out of office quicker than I could post. If any white public figure used the word Jesse Jackson used this month, there’d be marches in the streets to oust him, probably led by Jackson.
Folks, it’s time we hold everyone to the same standard when it comes to racist comments. And that means Holley should step aside.
I was going to write that I agree that we should all be held to the same standard, but upon reflection on this subject, the correct path would be to take age, context, audience, race and gender into consideration.
A man of Dr. Holley’s advanced age (82) has not absorbed the past twenty years of political correctness indoctrination that has spewed forth from the media and our public schools, so he and others who are over fifty, are probably less afraid to refer to race or other pseudo-banned subjects or words.
We should reject the cookie-cutter one size fits all, “we are all the same”, mantra that was foisted upon us by the worshipers of political correctness back during the Clinton era.
This is a new century and we should steer our social evolution into the direction of acknowledging differences among our people, valuing those differences and practicing tolerance when the views of others conflict with our own.
Charles Murray’s, The Bell Curve, was exactly on target by advocating that we use our knowledge of race and gender differences to our collective advantage, for the betterment of our entire society.
We should not, as you did, be shy about reporting that Jesse Jackson said of Obama, that Jackson would, “like to cut that nigger’s nuts off, for talking down to Blacks.” That is what Jackson supposedly said and there is no logic supporting self censorship of those reporting the story. Sometimes people use racially charged words. We do not ban words in America, so we should simply truthfully report what is said. If someone uses coarse language that irritates, we should consider the context, the source and the audience, but truthfully report the story.
Showing tolerance MUST work both ways, however. Dr. Holley has been very active as a Black advocate for most of his adult life and has been a vocal critic of groups who want to celebrate Southern or Confederate heritage and icons. He should show tolerance towards those from other cultural groups just as others should not feign shock simply because Dr. Holley referred to his own race with regard to a hotel’s target market.
In the Twenty-First century, all factions should be united to end this era of political correctness; this culture of the perpetually offended, that Clinton and his cronies insisted was the social norm.
Some might say that Jesse Jackson should be forgiven for referring to Obama as a nigger, and that Mayor Holley should be forgiven for thinking aloud that it would be nice for a hotel to actually cater to the Negro/Black/African-American community. The Twenty-First century American approach would be to acknowledge that in America, these men, as well as all citizens, are endowed with the inalienable right to express their thoughts as they see fit and they need no one’s permission or forgiveness.
It would be a step forward for men like Dr. Holley and Jackson to affirm their support for free speech and tolerance of others who express ideas, and who use words, that they might find disagreeable.
Tolerance must work both ways.
J., In other circles, your comments would be called “enabling”
BK - Now, if he called someone “macaca” then he would incur the wrath of the Pilot and the WaPo. Otherwise, he’s black so he gets a free pass.
I am not a fan of political correctness at all. So while I agree with Brian that there should not be two standards, I am not ready to give in to the mob mentality that says people have to be punished for making insensitive, stupid, inane, insulting, racially charged, (insert your adjective of choice) comments.
To do as you suggest, Brian, is giving into the politically correct crowd and racial power brokers. Voters should weigh in at the ballot box, and radio listeners, movie goers, television watchers should vote with their choice. When we give in partway or the whole way to those setting up their own standard (which is what libs do when the say someone must lose his job because they did not like what he said), we cede the war.
People, being sheep, will often make the wrong choice and punish some while ignoring the comments of others. Our job as rational human beings is to point out the inequities, not to give in to irrationalities and punish everyone the same.
Let people say whatever they want and let the “market” punish and reward.
Racist people have one standard for themselves and their friends and another standard for those they do not like. To impose their own standard on them is vengeful. Rejecting their standard and reminding others of their hypocrisy, while tiring, is the right thing to do.
Besides the libs are always moving the goal posts. One day the N-word is forbidden. The next day, it is “nappy headed,” and tomorrow it will be a different word or phrase. That’s what happens when the liberals place themselves in charge of judging another person’s heart. And if you try to judge them, like the unrepentant alcoholic, they scream “Judge not that ye not be judged.”
As imperfect as the system may be, I would rather have the jury—the people—not the judge—a centralized authority or arbitrary standard—judging individuals. So be a lawyer and present the double standards to the jury.
And one day we will all answer to a higher authority.
Duck, the best way to get to the goal you cite is to take the path I suggest.
Once the gander has to live by the same rules as the goose, the rules will change.
I’m confused…do black people not like pillows, beds, and HBO?? Is it the WiFi access that turns them away from “white hotels”?
What was this guy really trying to say?
That is so true if a White polititician said we need a “white” hotel then he would be out. I am sick of double standards like that. Obama and his campaign is full of them (typical white person comment and so on….) please check out my blog The road to serfdom: Obama Watch I have some simular opions and articles.
Brian,
As I was typing my response, I considered just what you replied. I don’t think we are so far apart. In fact, I think we both know the gander will never agree to live by the same rules.
But one day someone is going to come back when a non-liberal says something controversial and say that you, Brian, think that person should lose his job. That same person will dismiss your comments as partisan when you call for the same thing from a liberal.
You just can’t nail some people down.
That’s because liberals know their heart is pure.
Liberals aren’t about heart. Liberals are about power. They want you to need them, their programs, their approval, and their permission to keep your job.
I’m more than happy to shout as loudly as I can that they must live under the standards they have for others.
They can either (a) not do so, and look like hypocrites, further degenerating their standing to make further statements, or (b) live by the rules they set, or (c) agree that the rules are extreme.
I don’t care which they do, because any of them are better than the current state, which is that whites are racist and blacks can never be.
And you may have noticed, I don’t worry much what people call me.
Thats the problem with republicans. You guys believe one size fits all. It does not. Different standards apply differently to different people. Holley should not resign because saying the city needs a “black hotel” is not racist.
How in heaven’s name is a “black hotel” not racist?
He wasn’t talking about the decor.
“Different standards apply differently to different people”? And the problem is with Republicans. That has got to be the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard.
Some people can get away with (for example) sexually abusing their daughter while others can’t why??
If racism, segregation, and/or catering to one race at the expense of the other is wrong for one race, it is wrong for another race period.
And Brian you know I don’t believe liberals are about heart, but that is the track they often take to power.
From your examples a. is the most likely thing to happen. Mr. Greenhouse Gas Gore is not going to limit his carbon emissions (or his consumption of hydrogenated fat for that matter), but he will try to limit yours. Across the spectrum of issues that is true for liberals. You have to send your child to a failing public school system, but they send their children to exclusive private schools.
All cos “Different standards apply differently to different people.”
Now, Brian, shut up you ignorant, cold-hearted, insurrectionist partisan pig!!
We used to have “different standards for different people.” It was called segregation, and it was wrong. James Holley is calling for segregation by race.
[...] called for Mayor James Holley of Portsmouth to resign yesterday for his reckless, racially-inflammatory and bigoted public comments. We make no progress [...]
Duck, molesting a child is on the same morally wrong level. There is no variation. Calling for a city to have a black owned hotel is not close to being in the same boat. The way Holley said it was wrong. But his premise is right. And that is to have an example of high-level Black entrepreneurship in a black city as an example. Nothing wrong with that.
Whether you think the Mayor should lose his office or not, his statement was purely ignorant and uncalled for.
Yes… he’s old and was subject to a life that many of us didn’t live, but as a leader of a community of many races he has the responsability to speak for everyone… not just the black community.
How long do we have to swing the pendulum before it settles in the middle? This man is setting an entire city back 40 years.
A “black city”??????
I can’t believe someone would use that term!
According to the last census, Portsmouth is barely 50% African American. I’m sure the other 50% will be happy to know Ian thinks they don’t belong there.
Once again, Brian Kirwin performs his fabled mind reading.
It was a quick read.
Good one. But kidding aside, save your fake indignation for something that matters.
Being in an interracial marriage gives me a certain perspective on this than most of you have. From what I’ve gathered in my eleven years of marriage is that everyone uses whatever means available for their own gain. I’m sick of this garbage, period. And I agree with Brian in this case.
My brother fought in the Iraq war, but he doesn’t hate middle easterners. My Dad was raised in Alabama, but he is far from racist. This guy was trying to pander to what he believes will get people on his side.
This guy’s comments make no sense whatsoever.
Age is no excuse for racist statements made by public officals and anyone who thinks as holley does doesn’t belong in any office representing the public.Blacks called for Imus’s head for saying less. If black civic leaders really wish to abolish racism why are they not in uproar over these racist comment.