Patterson
did
issue an
apology
indicating,
“Sometimes
when I’m
passionate
about a
topic, I
choose
sharp
words
and
purposely
engage
in
hyperbole
to get
my point
across.”
Someone
should
inform
Mr.
Patterson
that
sticks
and
stones
may
break
your
bones,
but
words
that
reek of
racism
can
break
your
spirit
and your
will.
Racially
charged
comments
never
far from
the lips
of L.
Brooks
Patterson
Our
Region
Needas
Cooperation
Not
Denigration!
Op-Ed by
Rev. Dr.
Wendell
Tell
Us USA
News
Network
DETROIT
– The
recent
comments
of
Oakland
County
Executive
L.
Brooks
Paterson
concerning
the
effort
of CEO’s
in
Detroit
and the
region
to come
together
to
advance
the
cause of
Southeast
Michigan
were
unwarranted,
unnecessary,
and most
racist.
The City
of
Detroit,
along
with
Southeast
Michigan
is in a
great
period
of
outreach
and
expansion
for
business
and
community.
This
should
inspire
all of
us.
CEO’s
who have
never
joined
together
in the
quest to
bring
economic
development
to this
region
are now
working
together
for the
benefit
of our
communities.
The
comments
of L.
Brooks
Paterson
indicating,
“Oh hell
no. I’d
rather
join the
Klan”
come at
a very
critical
time.
The
racial
divide
within
our
nation
is stark
and
deep. If
we are
to
progress
as
people
who
believe
in
diversity
and
sharing
the
resources
for all
people,
this
racial
wall
must be
torn
down.
Patterson
did
issue an
apology
indicating,
“Sometimes
when I’m
passionate
about a
topic, I
choose
sharp
words
and
purposely
engage
in
hyperbole
to get
my point
across.”
Someone
should
inform
Mr.
Patterson
that
sticks
and
stones
may
break
your
bones,
but
words
that
reek of
racism
can
break
your
spirit
and your
will. An
apology
is
appropriate,
but more
than
just an
apology
is
having
the will
and a
plan to
do
better.
We do
not need
walls of
division
between
suburb
and
city. We
need
bridges
between
every
city and
area in
our
region.
These
are the
kind of
words
that
remind
me of
George
Wallace
standing
in the
doorway
at the
University
of
Alabama
in 1963
in which
he said
to black
students
trying
to
enter,
“Segregation
now,
segregation
tomorrow,
segregation
forever.”
Having
passion
is a
great
thing.
Being
highly
motivated
to
protect
your
interests
and to
acquire
new
opportunities
is
great.
However,
we must
have the
kind of
passion
that
brings
people
together
instead
of
tearing
them
apart.
We must
have the
kind of
emotional
intensity
that
drives
us to
places
and
spaces
that we
may have
never
ventured.
No one
must be
allowed
to stand
in the
doorway
of
progress.
This
type of
twisted
thinking
is what
stands
in the
doorway
preventing
regional
transportation,
educational
advancement,
economic
development,
lower
insurance
costs,
racial
harmony,
and
equal
opportunity.
How long
will we
continue
to allow
individuals
to stand
in the
doorway
of human
progress?
Perhaps
someone
should
send Mr.
Patterson
a memo.
The memo
should
indicate
that the
days of
division
and
separation
are
over.
The time
for
cooperation
and
collective
participation
began
several
years
ago.
Signed,
All
Those
Who
Believe
In
Progress
And This
Is Not A
Hyperbole.
I
HI TECH NEWS
I
SPORTS
I
DETROIT
– The
recent
comments
of
Oakland
County
Executive
L.
Brooks
Paterson
concerning
the
effort
of CEO’s
in
Detroit
and the
region
to come
together
to
advance
the
cause of
Southeast
Michigan
were
unwarranted,
unnecessary,
and most
racist.
The City
of
Detroit,
along
with
Southeast
Michigan
is in a
great
period
of
outreach
and
expansion
for
business
and
community.
This
should
inspire
all of
us.
CEO’s
who have
never
joined
together
in the
quest to
bring
economic
development
to this
region
are now
working
together
for the
benefit
of our
communities.
The
comments
of L.
Brooks
Paterson
indicating,
“Oh hell
no. I’d
rather
join the
Klan”
come at
a very
critical
time.
The
racial
divide
within
our
nation
is stark
and
deep. If
we are
to
progress
as
people
who
believe
in
diversity
and
sharing
the
resources
for all
people,
this
racial
wall
must be
torn
down.
