ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF GIFFORDS

In the spirit of nonpartisan national mourning for our slain and wounded citizens, the community gathering announced for 12 PM Jan. 11, 2011 has been postponed until Friday.

Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst and Congressman Tim Bishop released details for a more formal and inclusive event below:

In light of the tragic event that took place in Arizona over the weekend and the discussion that has ensued regarding the current “tone” of public discourse throughout the country, communities nation-wide are responding with commitments to be more respectful and civil in expressing their opinions and in their treatment of others.

In support of this important movement to shine a light on our own actions and make a conscience effort to wield our treasured freedoms with more tolerance and grace, you are invited to participate in a “Coming Together for Civility” event Friday, January 14 at 9:00 a.m. on the steps of Southampton Town Hall.

The goal of the event is two fold:

(1) To express our sympathies together as one community regarding the tragic events that took place over the past weekend in Arizona and;

(2) To make a public commitment to civility within our own community regardless of personal beliefs or party affiliation.

A wide spectrum of community leaders will attend including elected officials, fire and police chiefs, EMS leaders, VFW leaders, local ministers, school representatives and more. The event will also be open to the public, so please share this invitation with your memberships, friends and neighbors.

If you do plan to attend, kindly alert my office so we can plan accordingly.

I hope to see you on Friday!

Sincerely,
Anna Throne-Holst
Supervisor
Town of Southampton
116 Hampton Rd
Southampton, NY 11968
Ph: (631) 283-6055
athrone-holst@southamptontowny.gov

Zellner Blog: PEACE IN POLITICS

The attempted assassination of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords reminds me of growing up in the South where violence seemed to be as American as cherry pie.

Children in the Bible belt were to be seen, not heard. Our little world was separate from adults for the most part except for the occasional housekeeper or baby sitter. When company came for dinner, children sat at a separate table, often waiting for adults to eat before we were fed.

When chicken was fried, we got necks, backs, the feet and occasionally chicken head. Someone somehow ate all parts. Depression gripped the South and food was not to be wasted. I didn’t know what second-class citizens were but we younguns were definitely that.

Religion, philosophy and politics were discussed, if at all, out of earshot of children because, “Little pitchers have big ears.” Infidelity, violence, and scandal of any nature were discussed in hushed tones - never in the open, like today. Our little ears, however, were full of everyday violence like the public lynching out from nearby Dothan, Alabama. When I was five, special trains brought five thousand whites to watch the murder of a black man. Children were encouraged by their parents to stick forks in the charred flesh of the victim after he was dragged through the streets behind a pickup.

Daddy’s “nervous breakdown” became the Zellner’s hushed up scandal. Methodist ministers didn’t have emotional problems. An “eccentric” bachelor uncle or maiden aunt locked away in Southern attics, wearing Confederate gray or antebellum gowns, ubiquitous in literature, shows that mental disorder was something to be ashamed of. The prevalence of mental illness made appearance paramount. Frantz Fanon explained imperialism and the resulting mental disorder among oppressed people. Thorough study of the mental illnesses of oppressors has not been attempted.

Dad’s KKK membership was, no doubt, the cause of his breakdown. He was trying to be a minister of the gospel while practicing racial discrimination. Although his Klan connection was never mentioned, Dad’s dilemma, like the American one, was professing one thing about race while doing another. Half the population lording over the other half, taking the best of everything while leaving the rest to make do on scraps, was bad business indeed. Dad also concluded that holding black people down also impoverished white people. Rich people, happy to let poor white trash do the dirty work, laughed at both. They had always controlled blacks through terror, slavery being maintained only by a constant state of violence against the enslaved. One human enslaving another is an act of war.

The rhetoric and reality of violence and war, consequently, permeates our history and our politics. Sarah Palin, however, should apologize for placing crosshairs over the district of Congresswoman Gifford. Ms Palin defended herself by saying she is only playing politics as usual. Making herself the victim, she claims she suffered a “blood libel,” an insult to Jews who actually suffered.

Listen tonight to our great President Obama as he binds the wounds inflicted in Tucson. His political style is the opposite of the current crop of rightwing haters. With real commitment we can all work together to bring peace to politics.

Bob Zellner January 12, 2011