The stupidity continues.
From the Free Press this morning.
L. Brooks Patterson is Oakland County Executive and he's like a politician with a blog who says whatever slips out of his mouth.
Yesterday he said a couple of things which made me laugh (from the Free Press again).
"The people on this council belong in the zoo, not deciding the fate of the zoo."
Of course this comment has the city raging back calling Patterson a racist. Which isn't surprising since expecting the deeply in debt city to turn over operations to the state is called 'racist'.
Never mind that Patterson also said, "If they close the zoo," he said, "we've always got the Warren City Council." Ha! Warren is a predominantly white community so please give me an everloving break.
Council president replied today, "When Detroit is doing good, like the Super Bowl, everybody was rah, rah, rah. The minute that something happened that you don't agree with ... you want to put us in the zoo like monkeys. Well, we're not monkeys.""
Two things: Funny, the council was happy to accept whatever aid from whatever sources for the Superbowl and they never felt they were 'living on a plantation'.
L. Brooks Patterson said you belonged in the zoo, I'm not thinking like monkeys. I'm thinking more like stubborn mules. Do they have mules at the zoo? I propose we get them.
The race game continues to prevent the city and suburbs from cooperating. It's definitely an easy way out of actually dealing with issues.
Don't forget to sign the petition to keep the zoo open, you racist pigs. (You do realize if you question the city council's decisions or spending or anything at all you are a racist suburbanite.)
Tags: Detroit Zoo
I love city politics when they are functional, but dysfunctional politics are the worst! I hope things get better somehow. Have fun on your trip by the way.
Posted by: ChristyD | 2006.02.22 at 12:27 PM
T: I've not published your comment because it was awfully attacking. If you'd like to have a discussion via email, feel free to contact me. Privately.
Posted by: Melissa Summers | 2006.02.22 at 05:17 PM
Ugh. Sounds like a typical city dialogue to me: when you've effed up, shoot out a smokescreen using the hot-button issues of the day to keep people preoccupied... while you scuttle out the back door blame-free.
Ah, politics. Race has nothing to do with this, and I'd bet my butt that all of the disputants in this case know it, too.
Posted by: MelanieinOrygun | 2006.02.22 at 07:21 PM
I signed the petition! I see that zoo everyday and have never once been. I will be so sad if they close it before I get the chance to go. Your doing a good thing Melissa!
Posted by: gigi | 2006.02.22 at 08:17 PM
Have you seen the movie "Crash"? So full of rascist stuff, I found it mind-boggling. Just like the stuff about the Detroit Zoo. I wish I lived in your area so I could sign the petition. What a shame.
Leave all this behind and have a great time in Amsterdam!
Posted by: Linder | 2006.02.23 at 01:18 PM
Look, I'm not "white" and I'm overly sensitive to racist comments, but even I didn't read anything racist into that statement. If someone assumes something that was not said, it is generally assigned to their own lack of self-esteem, but if it's pointed out in this situation it's racist.
If I say they think they were called monkeys becaus ethey themselves fear being or being called monkeys then I am an awful evil person.
Good thing I'm not white.
Posted by: Jack's Raging Mommy | 2006.02.24 at 09:33 PM
I can't believe they are thinking of closing the zoo! I lived in Detroit for a few years while I was in grad school. It's not such a bad place -- well, if you like snow, that is.
http://motherhooduncensored.typepad.com/coolmomshit
Posted by: Motherhooduncensored | 2006.02.25 at 07:57 PM