What are your thoughts about this?

Letter To the Editor
Grand Rapids Times
April 11,2008

In the March 28, 2008 issue, The Grand Rapids Times reported that the Kent County Black Elected Officials are hosting a Town Hall Meeting, Thursday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. at Gerald R. Ford Middle School, 857 Madison Ave. SE.

The writer stated, “Everyone is invited to attend.”

During the past 30 years we, as a nation, have said that our society is unique among the nations of the world because of the diversity of our population. Because of the diversity of our population we are able to solve problems using the strength of many personal experiences and philosophical histories.

If this “Town Hall Meeting” were called by only “white elected officials” and run by only lighter skin people of mostly European ancestry, the darker skin people of mostly African ancestry in our community would complain, using many descriptions and accusations, saying that their participation is needed to allow any community planning to be socially, politically, and culturally complete.

In reality, the meeting is being called to discuss problems that plague a very defined area of our city. That geographical area is made up of a very diverse population that is not represented on the platform at the “Town Hall Meeting”.

Please think about these things.