Sunday, September 6, 2009

Never cease to marvel at the objectivity of academicians

****As a retired academic, Yoda does not fail to notice the prevalent objectivity of professors in matters of politics and society. As a Jedi, Yoda cannot but remark the blatant appeal to the "Dark Side."Even politicians are higher creatures.****
Too Busy to Hate Atlanta's politicians shun race-baiting. Atlanta is in the midst of a mayoral campaign, and one of the leading candidates, City Councilwoman Mary Norwood, is white. That is noteworthy because Atlanta is a majority black city and has had black mayors continuously since Maynard Jackson took office in 1974—and because some Atlantans have tried to make Ms. Norwood's race an issue. What is heartening is that these divisive tactics have met with complete rejection from her opponents.
Last week an anonymous email began circulating from a loose-knit group calling itself the Black Leadership Forum, which advocates a "black agenda." The memo—whose authors were later identified as a pair of professors at Clark Atlanta University—endorsed City Council President Lisa Borders and urged three other black candidates to withdraw. "In order to defeat a Norwood (white) mayoral candidacy," the professors wrote, "we have to get out now and work in a manner to defeat her without a runoff, and the key is a significant Black turnout."
Ms. Borders said no thanks, calling the memo's racial appeal "absolutely wrong," and adding, "We have had two Atlantas for far too long." Ms. Norwood simply said, "Race does not play a role." Shirley Franklin, the term-limited incumbent, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "I think it was bigoted."
Kasim Reed, a state senator who is running third in the polls, echoed Atlanta native Martin Luther King: "This campaign should be based on the merits of each candidate, not the color of someone's skin." Whoever wins in November, the candidates' unanimity on that point surely is a sign of racial progress.****But not in the Academy.****

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