Richard Herman (commenting on Clevelands Race Problem, Politico

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/02/cleveland-segregation-
115320_Page2.html#.WRsyqOvyuUl )

February 20, 2015

with the exception of Boutros, I don't see the characters highlighted in this piece as examples of enlightened
leadership on race relations in Cleveland.....i see a big part of the problem ---- those continuing to view race
through a 1960s black/white lense, and those using this antiquated construct to enhance politically entrenched
interests. there is a big world out there, a diversity explosion, and by staying wedded to the black/white
paradigm, cleveland is missing the global opportunity and failing to "take care of our own.". The City's
Community Relations Board is not about community relations....it's a political apparatus for political
operatives.

Blaine Griffin Rich. No matter how you feel about me and what you think about the political opportunist you THINK I or others
might be, there are several people on the CRB that promote the global diversity that you are talking about (Gia Rian, Steph
Hrbek, Rev. Lucas, Yair Hamdallah, Ted Wammes, Peter Whitt and others). The problem that some people have with
recognizing the Global Explosion that you are TRYING to champion is sometimes the messenger (You). Let me be more plain.
When you take shots at honest people because you deem them not sophisticated as you on an issue because they don't share your
enthusiasm about how to achieve a goal, that doesn't make you enlightened, smart and an authority on the topic, that makes you
arrogant and somebody who fails to grasp what many of us have to deal with everyday. So while you have moved on and are
pretty much telling us to get over it (Racism), shows me that you don't have to deal with the same reality that many of us and our
children have to deal with on a day to day basis. And that is the problem. I don't have the luxury to look past a critical dialogue
like this to try to embrace YOUR reality. Your reality is only one of many at the table. What you said is insulting, disrespectful
and unacceptable, not just to me but everbody on the board. I never have claimed to be an authority on race but you sure showed
me that you don't get it either. I am trying not to say Screw You but There it is. Screw you.
February 21, 2015 at 12:24am
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