Dallas county officials spar over 'black hole' comment

[Mugu]

dallasnews.com

A special meeting about Dallas County traffic tickets turned tense and bizarre Tuesday afternoon.

County commissioners were discussing problems with the central collections office that is used to process traffic ticket payments and handle other paperwork normally done by the JP Courts.

Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, who is white, said it seemed that central collections "has become a black hole" because paperwork reportedly has become lost in the office. Commissioner John Wiley Price, who is black, interrupted him with a loud "Excuse me!" He then corrected his colleague, saying the office has become a "white hole."

That prompted Judge Thomas Jones, who is black, to demand an apology from Mayfield for his racially insensitive analogy.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/yahoolatestnews/stories/071008dnmetofficialsspar.3b884727.html?npc">Complete article

[thecrow]

1. Sounds like a bunch of holes to me

but not white or black comes to mind.

[exothermic]

2. What morons. The only "racially insensitive" comment was from Price.

Unfuckingbelievable...

[Ishoutandscream2]

13. This is John Wiley Price

He does tend to overreact. There are more racial problems to be dealt with than some member of the council saying "black hole." Price overreacts to many things.

[DJ13]

3. Physicists around the world thrown into a panic

Now what are they supposed to call it?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. My goodness. This story is not from the Daily News.

Irregardless, I bet we're not getting the full story.

[LanternWaste]

9. It's pretty close...

"I bet we're not getting the full story."

It's pretty close-- that particular portion of the council meeting was played ad-nauseum on the local news last night.

I think JWP was being a tad oversensitive in this instance, but he's got good reason to-- he habitually gets portrayed as a clown by local media when the reality is (at least, as perceived by me) that he's the hardest working member of the council, always trying to eke out a few crumbs for the perpetually underfunded South Dallas area.

[aspergris]

15. he just proved he IS a clown

Cmon. Black hole is not a racist term.

Why is it called a black hole? Because the gravity is so intense, no light can get out.

What do you see when there is no light (lock yourself in a very dark room if you don't believe me)...? Black

Hence the term "Black Hole"

Clowns are as clowns do.

[LanternWaste]

17. Of course I don't believe Black Hole to be a racist term

Of course I don't believe Black Hole to be a racist term, but JWP has been working for the city since the mi-seventies when Dallas was still an openly racist city sitting inside of an openly racist state. I don;t blame him one bit if he's habitualized himself into becoming defensive and seeing racism where none exists. He's been the passive and active victim of racially motivated "pranks" numerous times over the years. I imagine if that had happened to me, I'd perceive the words and actions of a wide swath of people a little differently than I do now.

"(lock yourself in a very dark room if you don't believe me)...? "

Now, now-- there's no need to get sarcastic and clever, I'm sure as much as we disagree on, we agree opn even more...

[aspergris]

19. Sarcastic and clever

Hey thanks! I knew I was sarcastic, but that made me feel good to know I was clever too! :)

Cheers.
I wasn't trying to be mean, just funny.

I understand what you are saying, but people like this (the eternally offended) make a mockery, whether they intend to or not (most likely the latter) of REAL racism and bias.

It's kind of like the boy who cried wolf.

REminds me of the comedy routine where the comedian was making fun of this type of person by riffing on the fact that olives are racist - since the black ones are locked away in a can, but the green ones are in a bottle. And the green ones get a pretty red filling, etc.

But in conclusion, this guy (in this instance) DOES sound clownish. He gives fodder for comedians, critics and political opponents and the reality is - that when you are on record with RIDICULOUS claims of racism, one's valid claims of racism are going to receive less credibility.

I believe the term is MEGO - My Eyes Glaze Over.

[LanternWaste]

20. No harm intended so no offense taken

"I wasn't trying to be mean, just funny."

No harm intended so no offense taken :)


I'm the stereotypical straight, conventional, blue-eyed white guy, so I consciously attempt to give greater latitude to people who come from minority races, orientations, religions, etc. for no other reason than I can't imagine what it would be like to "walk a mile in their shoes".

Maybe I bend over backward too much and thus lose sight of the other goals in life, but it's not really a big deal-- sometimes I just wind up defending the indefensible, but... :shrug:

Cheers back atcha

[girl gone mad]

10. the full story is that John Wiley Price..

is a man who has made a career out of fostering racial divisiveness in Dallas.

[Ishoutandscream2]

11. Yes, sad but true

[hobbit709]

5. Can't expect County Commissioners to understand physics.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. but basic terminology of the world around them?

i mean...they haven't even heard the term 'black hole' in relation to object in space?

sP

[derby378]

6. Price and Jones both need an astronomy lesson

God, I wish this were a joke...

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

7. Holy Cow How Stupid LOL. That Has To Be One Of The Most Overly Inflated Charges Of Racism I've Ever

seen.

And the funniest part is that the Judge actually demanded an apology LOL. That means not one, but TWO people in that room were melodramatic and dumb enough to actually for a second think that was a racially motivated statement. Too fuckin funny!

[Javaman]

12. Blue people up in arms over comment.

the committee for equal rights for blue people were up in arms today over a comment made by upper volta's president elect.

At a press conference held in the daisy garden of the palace, the president was heard replying to a obviously true comment by a member of the press, "that's as true as the sky is blue!"

At which point, several members of the Blue Equal Rights Committee stood up and yelled, "racist!!!"

Calls to the presidents office for comment have not been returned.

[aspergris]

16. Papa smurf took the lead, and Smurfette is filibustering... n/t

[Javaman]

22. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

:spray: :rofl:

[Renew Deal]

14. Brilliant

:rofl:

[Catherine Vincent]

18. How stupid.

That wasn't a racist statement. The guy is an idiot for interrupting and saying "excuse me".

[Dukkha]

21. dumb assholes in a shithole town

shut your pieholes already!