Local radio personality and Memphis Blogger Thaddeus Matthews has done it again. He has put controversial postings on his website. Matthews has posted images of the six murder victims from the Lester Street killings. The fact that Matthews posts controversial topics and statements on his website is not surprising. What is surprising is the fact that he is publicly apologizing to viewers, readers, and the family members of Shindri Roberson for posting the same image of her on his site as the Commercial Appeal did on the front page.
While Matthews is under no legal obligation to inform the family of his intent and while there is no law preventing him from doing so, he is issuing a retraction of sorts. He is apologizing to the family, telling them that he should have at least informed them of his intent. The fearless blogger is quoted in his latest blog as saying "what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong." He explains this by saying that it was improper to post the facial image of Shindri Roberson on his blog because whether or not she had a child, he would not want the child seeing that image of his or her mother and that being the child's final memory of her.
Matthews' smash-mouth, provocative style is refreshing to an old cynic like me, but even I can agree that he might have gone a step too far with posting the facial shot of Ms. Roberson. To his credit, his motivation is an honorable one. He wishes to ensure that the Memphis Police Department doesn't just sweep this under the rug and that they don't try to cover it up in the event they can't find the killer or killers.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
And Then There Was One
One by one, the Republican candidates fell. Some started as flashes in the pan but then quickly fizzled out. The only Republican that I really liked and would have voted for was former New York City mayor, Rudy Guiliani. But he was one of the first to go. So, since I didn't like any of the other Republicans (especially not Fred Thompson or Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney or any others), and my only Republican choice was shot down, I decided to switch over to the Democrats. I like both Hilary and Barack, too bad they can't be co-Presidents of the United States. Hey, now there's an idea. Ralph Nader doesn't ever really stand a chance in hell of winning and has anyone seen H. Ross Perot?? "Mr. I'm in, no, I'm out, no, I'm in" himself. Now that was comedy. And not any of the SNL skits either. Real life Perot was a riot to watch.
So, with Mike Huckabee conceding defeat, we are left with John McCain. He's not really fit to be President, but with the country possibly not being ready to elect a female or African-American for President and with Ralph Nader trying to get into the race, only to suck votes away from the Democratic candidate, the sad truth remains that John McCain is likely to be George W. Bush's successor. I think I'm going to cry. And speaking of crying, if W's public endorsement of his candidacy causes him to lose any popularity, McCain may be crying in his beer. That's ok, John. If you can't finish your beer, W will drink it for you. And if not him, then his daughters will.
So, with Mike Huckabee conceding defeat, we are left with John McCain. He's not really fit to be President, but with the country possibly not being ready to elect a female or African-American for President and with Ralph Nader trying to get into the race, only to suck votes away from the Democratic candidate, the sad truth remains that John McCain is likely to be George W. Bush's successor. I think I'm going to cry. And speaking of crying, if W's public endorsement of his candidacy causes him to lose any popularity, McCain may be crying in his beer. That's ok, John. If you can't finish your beer, W will drink it for you. And if not him, then his daughters will.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Skatepark A Great Idea
I read the blog from the SmartCity Memphis blog here and I for one am tremendously thrilled about the idea of the city building a skatepark on Mud Island. The ongoing Downtown Re-Beautification project is very important. It gives the city something positive to focus on. This skatepark is something that will be beneficial to the community as well as the image of this city. I am forever hearing people say, "there is nothing to do in this city." Of course most of the ones saying this are usually referring to nightlife activities, but people who are not are referring to the fact that there have been no fun and safe activities downtown for children and young adults.
Martyr's Park could use some company. Building this park will provide something that parents can use during the day to go to. They can play with their children and young adults and others can get some exercise and have fun as well in an area that had been devoid of a decent place like this. Provided that there is adequate security in place for this park to prevent predators like child molestors and gang members from attacking our children, this will be a very welcome and wonderful addition to our downtown area.
Martyr's Park could use some company. Building this park will provide something that parents can use during the day to go to. They can play with their children and young adults and others can get some exercise and have fun as well in an area that had been devoid of a decent place like this. Provided that there is adequate security in place for this park to prevent predators like child molestors and gang members from attacking our children, this will be a very welcome and wonderful addition to our downtown area.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Crime $toppers: 528-(not nearly enough)CASH
In an area of town called Binghampton in Memphis, 6 bodies (two dead men, two dead women, and two dead children) were found along with 3 children that had been wounded, but are still alive. The police have absolutely no leads at this time and no idea how to pursue the city's biggest murder investigation in decades. They are not even sure if they surviving children found in the house are going to be able to assist them in finding if attacked them. A homicide detective for the Memphis Police Department has pleaded for residents in the area to come forward to help solve this case.
Often ads are seen on TV and billboards about Crime $toppers. Just call 528-CASH and you can turn someone in and collect a little bit of money as a reward. But is this worth your life? If someone is desperate enough to kill 6 people and wound 3 others, then surely, they would have no problem killing another person. Now I am not advocating that you should say nothing if you have knowledge that will bring a criminal to justice, but you should stop, think it over and determine if the rewards (money) outweigh the dangers (possibly losing your own life).
Now, if the police do find this sick bastard that did this, they should decapitate him right then and there in the middle of the court room. Send out a clear message to other would-be killers. We are tired of you killing our townsfolk and we are going to start killing you back.
Often ads are seen on TV and billboards about Crime $toppers. Just call 528-CASH and you can turn someone in and collect a little bit of money as a reward. But is this worth your life? If someone is desperate enough to kill 6 people and wound 3 others, then surely, they would have no problem killing another person. Now I am not advocating that you should say nothing if you have knowledge that will bring a criminal to justice, but you should stop, think it over and determine if the rewards (money) outweigh the dangers (possibly losing your own life).
Now, if the police do find this sick bastard that did this, they should decapitate him right then and there in the middle of the court room. Send out a clear message to other would-be killers. We are tired of you killing our townsfolk and we are going to start killing you back.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Are We Still Talking About This? Really? Really??
The Pyramid, I mean Bass Pro Shop's Supercenter, I mean the possible new hotel and amusement park, is STILL in the news. WHY?????
Be done with this already. Whether the city is going to go ahead with the deal with Bass Pro Shops, or sell it to the businessman who wants to turn it into a possible hotel and amussement park, they need to go ahead and do something and quit letting this be an issue. Give King Willie what he wants by killing two birds with one stone. Cut the cables and let the Pyramid slide off into the Mississippi River and then let Herenton build another arena (with the FedEx Forum only a few years old) in its place. Or better yet, let the state go ahead and approve gambling here in Tennessee. Hell, we already go to Tunica, why not save the gas money? Turn the Pyramid into a casino and hotel.
Whatever is done, it needs to be done fast because people are really getting tired of hearing about it. I can't tell you how many people I hear say, "I'm just sick of hearing about it. I don't care if they blow the damn thing off the face of the planet, just as long as they go ahead and make a decision and stick with it."
Come on Memphis City Council. Do what you got to do to keep this from darkening another front page, or any other page, of the Commercial Appeal ever again.
Be done with this already. Whether the city is going to go ahead with the deal with Bass Pro Shops, or sell it to the businessman who wants to turn it into a possible hotel and amussement park, they need to go ahead and do something and quit letting this be an issue. Give King Willie what he wants by killing two birds with one stone. Cut the cables and let the Pyramid slide off into the Mississippi River and then let Herenton build another arena (with the FedEx Forum only a few years old) in its place. Or better yet, let the state go ahead and approve gambling here in Tennessee. Hell, we already go to Tunica, why not save the gas money? Turn the Pyramid into a casino and hotel.
Whatever is done, it needs to be done fast because people are really getting tired of hearing about it. I can't tell you how many people I hear say, "I'm just sick of hearing about it. I don't care if they blow the damn thing off the face of the planet, just as long as they go ahead and make a decision and stick with it."
Come on Memphis City Council. Do what you got to do to keep this from darkening another front page, or any other page, of the Commercial Appeal ever again.
Harold Ford, Jr
It is amazing with all of the concerns today of violence in schools, apparent surges of gang activity both in and out of schools, and the lack of any REAL, viable solutions to these problems, that anyone has ANY time to concentrate on who Harold Ford, Jr is dating or married to. I see two problems here.
The first problem is that people are commenting on this when in fact it is really none of their business. Ford, Jr does not come to these people's homes and tell them who they can and cannot, or should or should not date or marry. Keep your nose in your own business. If Harold Ford, Jr wants to know what the general public thinks about his choice for a girlfriend or wife, then I would imagine that he would open an internet poll or buy space in the Commercial Appeal or other newspapers and conduct an opinion poll. My guess is that Jr doesn't really give a flying flip what anyone thinks and he shouldn't.
The second problem, and more serious one I might add, is the racial undertone of this concern of the general populace. Almost everywhere I've gone in the last couple weeks I have heard many black citizens who have had disparaging things to say about Ford, Jr's choice for a girlfriend or wife. It is shocking to hear many people, mostly black, saying things like "Ford, Jr is betraying his race because his woman is white." It is symbolic of the existing racial disharmony that continues to beat through the heart of this city. A recent article that I read in the Commercial Appeal written by Wendi C. Thomas says that racial tension is dying down in Memphis. I have to call bullshit on that article. Otherwise, so many of the black citizens, and some white and hispanic citizens as well, would not be up in arms about this issue with Harold Ford, Jr.
The first problem is that people are commenting on this when in fact it is really none of their business. Ford, Jr does not come to these people's homes and tell them who they can and cannot, or should or should not date or marry. Keep your nose in your own business. If Harold Ford, Jr wants to know what the general public thinks about his choice for a girlfriend or wife, then I would imagine that he would open an internet poll or buy space in the Commercial Appeal or other newspapers and conduct an opinion poll. My guess is that Jr doesn't really give a flying flip what anyone thinks and he shouldn't.
The second problem, and more serious one I might add, is the racial undertone of this concern of the general populace. Almost everywhere I've gone in the last couple weeks I have heard many black citizens who have had disparaging things to say about Ford, Jr's choice for a girlfriend or wife. It is shocking to hear many people, mostly black, saying things like "Ford, Jr is betraying his race because his woman is white." It is symbolic of the existing racial disharmony that continues to beat through the heart of this city. A recent article that I read in the Commercial Appeal written by Wendi C. Thomas says that racial tension is dying down in Memphis. I have to call bullshit on that article. Otherwise, so many of the black citizens, and some white and hispanic citizens as well, would not be up in arms about this issue with Harold Ford, Jr.
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