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The Key To The Massa’s
House
By
Bishop Stephen Ward
Guest Column
On
January 21 members of the African-American community
gathered at the Kitchen For The Poor in support of a chapter
of the SCLC being formed here in Toledo. While that press
conference was going on, at another MLK event, the massa
issued keys to the city.
When I
ponder upon the significance of the keys to the city being
issued and to whom they were issued to, I am reminded of
Matthew 16:19, “And I will give unto you the keys of the
kingdom of heaven; and whatever you declare to be improper
and unlawful on earth, must be what is already bound in
heaven, and whatever you declare lawful on earth is already
permitted in heaven.” This is a prophetic metaphor in
Toledo
when you think about who the keys were issued to, and who
attended the mayor's press conference in regard to his
reaction over the ¾ % income tax renewal.
During
slavery, house slaves usually lived better than the field
slaves. They usually had better food and were sometimes
given the family's cast-off clothing. In some cases the
slaves were treated like the slave-owners children. When
this happened close bonds of affection and friendship
usually developed. Even though it was illegal, some house
slaves were educated by the women in the family. Trusted
house slaves who had provided good service over a long
period of time were sometimes promised their freedom when
their master's died. However, there are many cases where
this promise was not kept.
In 2008
in this city some of those same principles are being used, a
different method, but yet the same results. Positions, keys
and glass awards are issued with hopes that a one-sided
agenda can be supported and accomplished, however, in
close-door private meetings the agenda's soon change. Just
look at the “massa” and everything he said he would do for
the African-American community if he was elected. We were
bamboozled!
Nevertheless, there are a still a few in the city who have
not learned their lesson. While citizens are suffering the
effects of the “massa's” rule, some house negroes insist on
supporting the “massa.”
When will they realize that the Emancipation Proclamation
set us free; we are free to vote for what we choose, and
vote out who we choose! When will the house negroes realize
that compromising on issues, character and integrity get us
nowhere? And to continue to do so for a sake of a position,
key or glass award?
The
reality is that when the “massa”
is finished with you he will terminate you from your
position, change the locks so the key will no longer open
any door and leave you stuck with the glass award that has
shattered your ego and integrity and has left you begging
for scraps. I guess the O'Jays say it best in their song;
“What they do, they smile in your face; lll the time they
want to take your place, the back stabbers!”
The
mayor said that “voting against the income tax renewal would
result in major jobs being cut that are vital to the
community.” Question – since when is the mayor concerned
about the budget or job loss? Since when is he concerned
with the residents of
Toledo?
Must I add this is not an issue of black and white, as the
mayor treats everyone like.
What I
am saying is that this same mayor is the one who allegedly
assaulted someone physically and verbally at the Erie Street
Market in 2000. On the Daily Show segment that aired during
the 1997-98 season he compared Toledo to Hollywood. In 1998
he was fined $400 and court costs after pleading guilty to
ethics charges, realized a $10,000 profit from Owens
Corning's purchase of his condo, and his failure to publicly
report the gain. He plagiarized a single line in his
KICK-OFF speech in 1998. He suggested relieving the problem
of the noise complaints from the neighbors of Toledo Express
Airport by selling homes nearby at low cost to deaf people.
Not to
mention more recently the unethical and unjust firing of two
African-American directors in the city, and we cannot forget
about the King Kong statement. In addition, he wanted to
close all the city pools, he didn't want to replace the
retiring fire chief but combined responsibilities with the
police chief plus other cuts in the safety budget. He wanted
to eliminate affirmative action, charge $6 per month for
trash collection, sell city assets to seed economic
development, he spent $9,996 of city money to complete the
installation of shower facilities in the City Government
building and the list goes on and on.
We must
remember that he is a political weathervane, however he
feels at that moment dictates what he says and what he will
do. Let's remember during his long career in public service
he has been a member of multiple parties. At various times
and for various offices he has run as a Republican, a
Democrat and an Independent. Regardless of the party
association, Carty has but one goal, and that is his
independent agenda. James 1:8, “ A double-minded man is
unstable in all his ways.”
Mayor
Finkbeiner suggested that “for a resident of Valdosta
Georgia, or any other state to campaign to defeat a school
levy or payroll tax in Toledo Ohio is irresponsible and
uncaring.” The truth of the matter is that for all the
injustice that Carty has done in Toledo, it is irresponsible
and uncaring for him to be permitted year after year to
speak at the MLK event, an event in which we honor a man who
stood for justice and equality. Furthermore, if Carty can go
to
London
to misrepresent
Toledo
for a bogus award to use to push his agenda further, surely
the citizens can summon the help of a Valdosta resident or
any other person to lead us out of this plantation to
freedom.
In
closing, we must look at the facts, the facts don't lie.
Recently Carty had a fundraiser, this is a sign that a
reelection effort is forthcoming. Carty will try to rally
another team of black supporters promising them positions if
they work his campaign. You know, the house negro vs. field
negro story. Nevertheless, as I said months before it was
echoed in the press conferences and media over the past few
weeks...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
You may
contact Bishop Stephen Ward at
pastorsmward@yahoo.com
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