[Mpls] Unsung Heroes - MPLS Year In Review

[gemgram]

Jonathan Palmer says,

> "Okay, waitaminute, first the Smoking Ban is tantamount to Slavery and 
> ethnic
> cleansing of Native Americans, and now Peter McLaughlin is an unsung 
> hero?
> C'mon Jim, let's be real here."



Jonathan, why would you allow a spin doctoring lawyer's lie to lead you to 
give you such an accusation. It is clearly not true.  I said that our 
history was covered with both great and small injustices, and yes even 
horrors, committed in the name of public good, so we should be very wary of 
any of the self-righteous making such statements to justify their actions. 
You KNOW what I actually said.  It was:



" The people "GRANT" certain powers to the government, all
others are reserved to the people.  Our founding fathers knew this, but
unfortunately our history is replete with injustices that have been
justified by the "public good".  Such theories of "public good" once
justified slavery, justified the ethnic cleansing of American Indians, the
"taking" of their land, not allowing Native Americans to vote until the
1920's, not allowing them to drink in some states until the 1950's.  And
lest we forget, only about 60 years ago it justified internment camps for
some of our citizens who were the wrong color and ethnic background. So let
us be very, very careful when we talk of public good abridging or taking of
"Rights".


There is nothing in those words to say that, "Smoking Ban is tantamount to 
Slavery and ethnic cleansing of Native Americans".  Accusing someone of such 
a thing for political points is not your usual course Jonathan so I forgive 
you. The remainder of your post I will treat seriously.



My intention of bringing up those McLaughlin actions was to think of a 
public figure that had done something outside of his or her normal job. But 
perhaps you are correct, a politician actually going beyond just holding 
office and serving political friends is unusual enough to be counted as a 
"Hero" and have praises sung. Such does seem to be the exception.



You are very correct in your praise of Roberta over at FNA and others. 
Others also deserve such praise especially the few who helped to save NRP. 
Rita Ulrich and Doug Walter from NENA, Debbi Evans, Jeff Strand and a few 
others including myself for our efforts for their communities, but greatly 
for that small group's efforts to save NRP when the darkness of the wrath of 
some City politicians attempted to extinguish it.  Attempted to kill NRP, 
because they fear and resent "empowered" citizens.  Kill NRP so they would 
be better able to control the people.  Without those few people willing to 
work and fight for NRP there would be no NRP today.  All the neighborhoods 
and residents of Minneapolis owe those few gratitude and thanks.



Jonathan you say

>"Heck, if that's the case, the  Empowerment Zone
> also put significant funding into Many Rivers (both phases) and  other
> projects down in the Phillips Community, does that make every Board Member 
> an unsung
> hero or just RT Rybak because he's co-chair and running for Mayor like
> Peter."



Jonathan while we are glad to have that "Empowerment Zone" funding for our 
neighborhood, remember it is "OUR" money.  Given to us by the United States 
Government.  Not the Empowerment Zone Board, or anyone in the City of 
Minneapolis.  Our people and statistics and were used to justify those 
dollars and the dollars were given to us, not the City of Minneapolis.  We 
perhaps should commend them for "putting" some of the money we justified in 
coming into our neighborhood.  And we do!



If there is an "Unsung Hero" in the Empowerment Zone business it is Ken 
Brunsvold.  When he was head of "Grants and Special Projects" for 
Minneapolis he brought the Super Bowl, the Final Four, almost the Olympics, 
and millions upon millions of dollars of other Federal money into 
Minneapolis.  He also brought Empowerment Zone designation to Minneapolis 
with what one HUD official said was the finest application they had ever 
received.  Ken was not only unsung he was totally unappreciated by 
Minneapolis, and we should remember this when comparing the present civil 
servants to those under appreciated ones we have had.



Chief McManus 'MAY' become a great Chief of Police, but Jonathan perhaps we 
need to wait a couple of years before such a statement is made.  Several of 
the others you mention receive a great deal of praise, especially Barb 
Johnson.  But she is not "unsung" we sing a lot about what a great friend 
she is to the neighborhoods of all of Minneapolis.



As for me, I very much doubt that I am "Unsung".  When neighborhoods from 
the northside call asking for me to come and advise them on crime and 
economic development issues.  Or Northeast asking me to come and talk to 
them about MOUs to make CDC's more responsible.  Or when Whittier 
Neighborhood calls and asks if I will come and assist and advise them in how 
to fight off Basim Sabri and the politicians who might support his nefarious 
activities, then I would hardly say I am "Unsung".  When Debbi Evans 
wondered who to get to stand against the City Hall attempt to kill NRP she 
called me.  Not because I was "Unsung".  In her phone call asking for my 
assistance she said that when she asked people who would (and could) stand 
against City Hall the advice she received from most people asked was to call 
Jim Graham. (Whether they liked me are not).  So while I might not be a hero 
to many, I certainly am not "Unsung".



My post was an attempt to get more "singing" for many of our City's people, 
not to start an argument about who was or was-not deserving of "songs".  In 
the spirit of such I would mention a couple more.



Robert Cook!  Robert runs a youth program in south Minneapolis, which is 
reason enough to make him a hero.  In addition Robert is a fearless defender 
of the people in his immediate community.  A couple of months ago a 
gang-fight was erupting between people coming from 911 E. 21st Street and a 
house on the corner of 22nd Street and 10th Avenue. Gangs of young men were 
meeting in the middle, and one side had guns and the other side had sent for 
their own "shooters".  Robert Cook was not hesitant to be the first to stand 
between them and say NO, not here, not now, now go home.  This is only one 
of many times Robert has been willing to stand unarmed to stop violence and 
crime, sometimes for long hours without the police there.  Now THAT is a 
hero!



How about Shirley Stone, Lt. (now Inspector) Chris Arneson, and Jan Graham. 
These women pretty much alone set up the Franklin Safety Center.  Others 
including politicians took the credit, but those women worked hundreds of 
hours to actually create it; and received little (or NO) credit for their 
work.  I remember politicians getting up to speak and take credit, but I do 
not even remember Jan Graham being mentioned at the "Opening" ceremony.  Or 
Gail Baez and Jan Graham for their "Court Watch", and efforts with Officer 
Dan Wells to clean up Franklin Avenue.



Those are heroes who are "Unsung", but they are my heroes.   So are the 
very, very, few politicians who go outside their normal office duties to do 
good for their communities.  We need to remember and praise such things 
also.  Not only because such actions are so very rare, but also to encourage 
other politicians to use such actions as models for their own behavior.  And 
you are correct Jonathan lets, " leave the campaigning for the 'Who's the 
best candidate' posts.  Let's talk about the often unnoticed people who make 
sure that our neighborhoods work, that the City works, and help their 
community but don't get the praise for it."  Let's spend time remembering 
such people who are our hero's and not time casting doubt on some one 
else's.



I invite others to celebrate the New Year by "Listing" your unsung.



Jim Graham,

Ventura Village, Phillips, Sixth Ward of Minneapolis

>"The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it but what he 
>becomes by it."
- John Ruskin