THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 21, 1995 TAG: 9504190195
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
SOURCE: BY VINCENT D. CARPENTER
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
I once had an uncle who would say, ``If I had hindsight, I'd have 20/20 vision.'' Both Vice Mayor Arthur L. Dwyer and the city of Chesapeake would have greatly benefited by my uncle's advice.
Because Vice Mayor Dwyer could not subdue his passions, Chesapeake already has its 1995 entry for its ``Hall of Shame'' (with more than seven months to spare). If only 48 more voters had bothered to turn to the second page of the ballot to cast a vote in last year's special councilmanic election, perhaps Chesapeake could have been spared this painful episode.
Once again, a so-called leader who boastfully adorned the mantle of a ``pillar of the community'' emulated the fabled emperor with his new clothes (or lack thereof).
To say that the public trust has been violated is a gross understatement considering: No woman can approach the dais without wondering if she is being ``sized up'' by one of our honorable hound dawgs. No African-American (or other ethnic minority) can help but wonder whether his or her race was a factor in the council's decision to deny a request.
My grandfather used to sing a song entitled, ``There's a bright side somewhere, (Don't rest until you find it; there's a bright side somewhere.)'' The irony is that we can benefit from this soap opera because the truth about what people think and what they do have been magnetized on tape. Now we know how some members of council act behind closed doors or in executive sessions.
In spite of all the gains we thought were made regarding mutual respect between the races, we see that more work needs to be done.
As our elected leaders have demonstrated, they just don't ``get it.'' They continue to think that African-Americans are wedded to Democrats, that we are quick to blame racial discrimination for lack of individual qualifications and that we are neither their intellectual nor moral equivalents.
Women have made great strides to be considered equal in ability. Now we know that there is still work to be done, because even members of council treat them as targets for their primal urges. It is understood that ``boys will be boys,'' however, men must be men!
Now the remaining members of council have less than 30 days to fill the unexpired term of Vice Mayor Dwyer. While some Republican leaders have been quick to present potential candidates, the best person to fill the vacant seat is the very person Arthur Dwyer beat by only 48 votes for that seat - Dwight Parker.
Elected officials who proclaim themselves as champions of family values can find no better example than Mr. Parker.
He is a happily married man, originally from South Norfolk, a government teacher at Deep Creek High School, active in the community, including his church, First Baptist Church, South Hill, and an African-American. In running for that seat, he has already subjected himself and his family to the scrutiny of the voters for the seat originally vacated by Councilman-turned-delegate Lionell Spruill. Most importantly, Dwight knows that he is accountable to God, his family, his students and the citizens of Chesapeake. He will not bring dishonor to the mother who raised him and his (too many to count) siblings.
Dwight can't change the mind-sets of the other members of the council, but he can change the environment of the meetings, offer sound advice on city business and give the citizens the feeling that they got an even break from their city government.
Just think, we could have had his services the first time and avoided this mess. MEMO: Mr. Carpenter is a resident of Harbour North Drive in Chesapeake.
by CNB