County Jail

Several times, I have sat down in order to write about the jail issue since the council reversed its decision on August 25th. But so far I have been unable to do it -- I sit down and then feel drained just thinking about it. However, I think we are on the verge of watching a miracle unfold and so it is not as depressing to write about.

My friend's recent post is better than anything I would have written so I asked her if I could put it on my blog as well. (Sorry to those of you who read both of our blogs! ) I also want to encourage you to send this post to whomever you want to send it. The more people who know about what it going on, the better. After all, the citizens of Bartlesville will ultimately decide the fate of the jail.

So here it is:

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2008

Selflessness and an Apology to the West Bartlesville Residents
Jesus committed the most extreme act of selflessness when he chose to humble himself to become man, to be beaten by man and then die on the cross for man.

Acts of selflessness are hard and that is why I am always in awe when I see these genuine acts. A genuine act is one that personally gains you nothing and many times, in fact, costs you everything. I have recently witnessed one such act of selflessness and wanted to share.

An east Bartlesville resident has written an amazing letter to the editor expressing his apologies to the west side residents for the great injustice that has occured over the jail rezoning. This man has spent much of his own personal time fighting for the rights of west Bartlesville residents. He has been at the council meetings standing up and speaking eloquently against this injustice. He has stepped across the tracks from where he lives to fight for the rights of the people who are being taken advantage of. Even though this issue does not affect him personally, he has chosen to do something that goes against the cultural norm- - - to fight an injustice for someone else. He will gain NOTHING from this- - -other than ugly remarks and possible threats from those who disagree with him. You may be thinking, "Threats?" Yes, I know it is happening because my husband has received them as well. This man has put himself and his name on the line by speaking out against the jail, the jail that so many may think needs to be built on the west side of town.

I wanted to get his permission before printing this on my blog so I sent him an email. I loved the response he gave me, so I wanted to post that as well. His response:

"Yes, you have my permission. There are times when I do not recognize or act like the guy you want to blog about. However, those are the times I remember that I am only human and any goodness or righteousness I may have is not my own but from my Father alone. Who knows, maybe this is the spot I have spent my entire life getting to? If any good comes from it, it will be from Him and not from me."


Here is his letter:

An Apology to the West Side Residents of Bartlesville

After sitting through last Monday’s City Council meeting, I feel compelled to offer an apology to the residents of the West Side.

I apologize for the City Council riding over all sound objections to do whatever they want. I thought there might have been hope for this council but now it seems I was wrong.

I apologize for Councilman Vic Holcomb changing his vote. He stated, “no one got to him.” Well, of course they did. His constituents got to him. They probably told him he was being an obstructionist and needed to call for a do-over

I also apologize for Councilman Vic Holcomb not being able to look you in the eye when he voted “yes”.

I apologize for Mr. Maddux saying that Robert’s Rules of Order trumps an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision and the Council could revote the issue if they wanted to.

I apologize for Mrs. Daniels smiling as Lisa Strickland walked away from the podium, crying and holding a picture of her 4 year old daughter.

I apologize for Mr. Mason just sitting there like the old lump on a log. Wait. No, I don’t!

I apologize to the gentleman who attempted to speak after the citizen comment time was closed. Was he out of line? Yes. Was he confused? Who wouldn’t be after sitting through that Council meeting? Did you notice that three very large Bartlesville police officers moved on this gentleman very quickly to grab him and remove him? If he had stood there a few more seconds, we would have seen Bartlesville’s finest in action. All the Mayor had to do was say, one more time, “Sir, if you do not sit down, I will have you escorted to your seat.”

I apologize for Mayor Gorman’s hypocrisy. LuWana Brewster said she found it hard to believe that council members “could look us in the eye and tell us you’re representing us. We feel like we’ve been stabbed in the back,” she said. There’s no first aid for that, is there? She also added, "What part of 'we don't want a jail here' do you not understand?

I apologize because Mr. Gorman’s, “I love you guys” didn’t last one whole week.

I apologize for the county commissioners who just sat there looking at the floor. Did you notice the backs of their necks got red from time to time? They appeared as if they were embarrassed to be there. But they got what they wanted, didn’t they?

I apologize that the very morning the county commissioners discussed paying for 50% of a West Bartlesville Master Plan – with a one tenth of a cent tax increase on you and me. This will most likely be on the November ballot also. You remember that ballot, right? It’s the one where we will be asked to pay for the new jail that was rammed down our throats! That’s like…well, you know what it’s like.

I apologize because our City Council appears to some, to be elitist with some racism thrown in for good measure. They can scream from the roof tops that this is about a zoning question, "rule of law" I believe Mrs. Daniels said. I hope that lets them sleep at night. They can shout all day long, “Some of my best friends are _________ (fill in the blank: black, brown, poor).” But folks all over town, whether they want the jail there or not, suspect this is a smoke screen so the Council can step all over the wishes of most West Side residents. They feel they are better than us and being better than us, know what is best for us. Especially the black and poor residents who will be impacted the most.

I apologize because the City Council has convinced themselves this is all about zoning regulations. Politics, at its heart, is all about people. People of different color, people of different races, people of different levels of education, people of different income levels and people of all ages. People who vote! The City Council would do well to remember this.

I do not lightly say that our City Council appears to be elitist and, at times appears to be racist also. Deny it all you want, call me whatever names you want, Call me a troublemaker, a cry baby, slash my tires, kick my dog but there it is, right in our faces. It’s the 800 pound gorilla in the room no one wants to talk about.

I apologize for Mayor Gorman’s parting shot: “Let’s all go from here in the spirit of unity and progress.” Decency will not allow the Examiner-Enterprise to print my reply to that remark.

Last but not least, I think they should drop the opening prayer at all City Council meetings. From the way the City Council does whatever they want--ignore the Oklahoma Supreme Court, ignore their own zoning regulations, ignore the desires of the people they represent—it seems obvious to me that God is most definitely not in the house!

George Henshaw

Bartlesville

(Of course, Mr. Henshaw's last statement is not to be taken literally.)