Comments on: Frank Matthews Is So Funny

By: Helen

Helen — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 03:44:16 +0000

I’ll see what I can do on the funding sources. I also want to share something my friend Lynn sent to all Birmingham City Councillors on the failed inclusion vote last Tuesday:

I just find it hard to believe that people really feel that the civil rights fighters that this city celebrates so vocally were just fighting only for “me and mine.” Maybe the Institute needs to make the human rights section a tad bit bigger. I can’t believe that people are getting into a fight about whether “my discrimination is more important than yours”. And the discriminated failed to notice they are joining the club of the discriminators. I guess Flannery O’Connor was right everything that rises must converge, though our rising I guess is questionable

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 20:00:31 +0000

Jim, my experiences with Frank Matthews have been limited to his blind support for Richard Scrushy and his loud public homophobia, neither of which endears him to me, but I’m sure there’s value in some things he does.

Helen, you have such a gift for looking at the big picture, and I appreciate it. Let’s get our mutual friend working on that funding investigation. It’s time to turn over some rocks.

By: ALmod

ALmod — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 02:41:17 +0000

I’d almost forgotten about his little sideshow last year… Shows just how important he is.

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 23:40:57 +0000

Say what you will about Frank, but the man is an asset to the City political scene. Frank isn’t afraid to say what is on his mind and to “rock the boat” - something that needs to be done to get the City of Birmingham out of the rut it has been stuck in for so many many years.

By: Helen

Helen — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 19:47:22 +0000

I agree that this is demagoguery based on shakey history, but I would also like to see something constructive that would promote some healing: that more of those who enjoy white-skin privilege would humbly acknowledge the realities of slavery, Jim Crow and ongoing discrimination. When folks start on “we’re beyond all that,” it shuts down the dialog and gives the demagogues another reason to stir up controversy rather than work to promote dialogue.

We also need to be hearing about the backroom funding of such things as the opposition to the all-inclusive resolution. This nationally-funded effort aims to maintain and strengthen divisions using gay-bashing, reproduction and religion to create fear and division and it shouldn’t remain in the shadows.