Friday, September 22, 2006

Better, but needs improvement: Warren Bolton

Without a doubt, Warren Bolton is the class of The State opinion page. You're just not going to find the same condescension, arrogance, and elitism in his columns that characterizes the noxious output of Scoppe and Warthen. Thank Goodness for small favors.

Unfortunately, Bolton is still, after all, an employee of The State and seems to have succumbed to its anti-small-people ThoughtWorld.

To wit, read his recent column about the conference of Black Mayors and, in general, many of his columns about the state of Black South Carolina.

Although reflective and polite, Bolton can't get beyond the idea that the key reforms involve letting powerful people control our lives more and more. So Bolton says we need to look to (in this case) mayors to make our lives better:

Mayor Campbell said that in small towns, mayors have to get involved in almost every aspect of citizens’ lives, including schools. “We have to get involved in the education system, although as mayors we have no control over education,” he said. “We have to motivate our school systems in our various cities and towns,” he said, adding that mayors must visit schools and serve as mentors.

And, what's more, Mayors are the lowest level of assistance we should be looking at. State intervention cannot be neglected; even federal control can't be ruled out:

Mayor Johnson said it’s hard to believe the state has yet to address the quality of education in rural areas. Manning is in Clarendon County, where the school desegregation suit was birthed, yet “we’re still dealing with equity issues in education,” he said.

But of course the real answers to our most pressing problems do not lie in politicians at higher and higher levels of authority who are farther and farther removed from our daily lives. The real answers lie in our neighbors, friends, families and, most of all, in ourselves.

To the extent that we rely on politicians, "community leaders," celebrities, and others, we will continue to be disappointed. But insofar as we look to ourselves and those closest around us, we are on much sturdier ground.

Warren Bolton seems like a reasonable guy. I wish he'd reflect on that simple truth.

Posted by Bill Smith at 11:35 AM | 2 comments

Comments:

Bolton definitely seems to be the "kinder and gentler" side of the editorial board. I think he is pretty much just insipid, where the others are evil and dangerous. In any event, I can take his material a lot better than I can the "know-it-all" pomp and blather from Brad and company. The thing about Warren is that he seems to see nearly everything, and I mean EVERYthing, in terms of race. I guess when the only tool you have is a hammer, most everything starts looking like a nail.

# posted by Anonymous : 9/22/2006 05:42:00 PM

Amen! It would be a relief to see him write an article without the word 'black' in the title.

# posted by Anonymous : 9/23/2006 10:27:00 AM

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Better, but needs improvement: Warren Bolton

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