Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 16 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Prank should not divide community
Published Saturday, April 18, 2009
A childish fire extinguisher prank has sparked a fire of emotions.
Festival of Music volunteers were rightfully upset after someone set off a fire extinguisher inside Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center’s auditorium.
Volunteers with the festival have poured thousands and thousands of dollars and countless hours of time in improving the building over the last few years.
So seeing that someone disrespected the group’s work with vandalism was completely understandable.
A group of youth from the city’s Youth Build program seemed likely responsible as they were the newest tenants to the building. The group responded and cleaned up the mess.
Now that the immediate problem has subsided, the question of what will happen next needs to be handled.
Festival leaders want the youth group out of the building.
However, doing that seems shortsighted. Margaret Martin is a large building which can easily accommodate both groups, even if doing so requires a little compromise and some working together.
Festival organizers should consider offering the Youth Build group a second chance.
The issues can be resolved if the parties involved seek to find common ground rather than draw lines in the sand.
If the issue is one of security concerns, let’s address those and see if the two sides can work together.
Our community is great because of our differences, not in spite of them. How we work together speaks volumes to outsiders about our true nature.
Letting an isolated prank divide two important community groups does little to move our community ahead. Let’s seek a compromise for the betterment of all.
Comments
Posted by scarlettohara (anonymous) on April 18, 2009 at 11:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with the editorial, but I have one question.
In regards the sentence... "Festival organizers should consider offering the Youth Build group a second chance."...
Does this mean that the decision to let the youth group remain in the building lies in the hands of the Festival group?
Not stirring, the pot here. It's just that I really don't know and would like to know....Who exactly will have the Official say in whether or not the youth group is allowed to stay in this building.
Posted by Bozo (anonymous) on April 19, 2009 at 12:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let the little heathens meet in Braden. It's a county owned building with an auditorium or use one of the schools. One strike and they're out!!!!
Posted by rattlesnake (anonymous) on April 19, 2009 at 2:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Give them a second chance? They are already getting a second chance and getting payed at the same time and some still will not do right and go by the rules. Kick them out!
Posted by 000117 (anonymous) on April 19, 2009 at 2:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now look at what can happen if you put the kids to work fixing up the building, that the so called Festival of Music volunteers are not trying to maintain.
This is a VERY LARGE building. Now tell me what is the Performing Arts doing with the rest of the building that they don't occupy, and how are they keeping it up?
Stop and think people get your Head out of your ( where the door knob hit you and the good LORD split you ).
Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on April 19, 2009 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"How we work together speaks volumes to outsiders about our true nature".
Yep, that's exactly how outsiders view us. They laugh at the snobbery...yes, LAUGH! If the local nose-lifters would move off to New York or any other large city, they'd quickly move back to Natchez because nobody knows nor gives a dam who they are anywhere else. Explains why they stay and display.
Posted by TEACHME (anonymous) on April 19, 2009 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kids will be kids. How many adults went through their days as youths and NEVER participated in mischievous stunts? We are all human. We should forgive as God forgives us. Give these kids a break...
Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on April 19, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That is what I have said all along. The Natchez Festeval of Music committee is so sure the Youth Build Group did this and they have no proof. The Youth Build Group, not knowing if one of their group did this, went in there and cleaned up.
A compromise should be made here. These young people are trying to make a lapse in judgement on their part (dropping out of school) better. Yet those who have "never (caugh)" had a lapse good judgement are ready to toss them out on their ear... What would Jesus do.. He would tell you "let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
Posted by sunflower7 (anonymous) on April 19, 2009 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
they knew. they admitted it. then they changed their story. and they kicked out two of their members who admitted they did it, according to the first article in the democrat. and every time i read another article, the story changes. now there's no proof. you should ask the person who found the mess extacly what happened that day. then maybe you could report the truth.
and as for letting them stay...if they are only in there two days a week and they are willing to respect the building and it's other tenants, go for it. but from what i know, they had only been in the building ONE DAY when these two decided vandalize it.
and it wasn't just the auditorium. the hallway from the auditorium door all the way down to the entrance on the side was snow white. and the powder settled upstairs in the balcony seats as well as the hallways and rooms that were open. they only cleaned downstairs, but the mess was all over the building. and from what i know, mrs. jones immediately got on the phone when she saw the mess saying, "i know exactly who did this." just clearing things up...
Posted by southernwoman (anonymous) on April 19, 2009 at 10:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So many saints in this town - or is it just that some people are sometimes mischievious and others are just rotten to the core (and we know their names).
Posted by 000117 (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I see White and Black kids doing this things. I see White and Black using welfare cards.
You stated "Oh and kick those kids out,teach them a lesson."
What lesson will it teach them, That all Adults are the same?
That there is no reason to change. Even if you do change your life, you are still going to treated the same way. As a no body.
This has happen to some of these kids for so long that a lot of them just give up, and become your robbers, drug pushers, rapist, etc.
That is right you will be teaching them a lesson.
kpage your comment was correct.
Posted by TEACHME (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How many of you comment writers have actually been around children these days? NOT all of them are brats. Not all of them are bad. Many of them are well-mannered, have plenty of intelligence and have hopes and dreams as well as goals for the future. There are only a few out there...that always make the paper, by the way...spoiling the reputation of a good group of children. I know. I teach them. And I teach a very hard age group. These children can be awesome when given the right encouragement, the correct leadership, the chance to be somebody. Don't put all children in the same category, just because a FEW act so poorly. Punish the few who require it, encourage the others. They need it. Just as we, as adults, needed it when we were children.
Posted by showbiz (anonymous) on April 21, 2009 at 7:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"How we work together speaks volumes to outsiders "What does this comment mean you bunch of HOOD RIDERS ,that building should have been demolished long long ago As far speaking about our community i have a few things to say the Whites get whiter try walking on the same side walk with them , Yeah a bunch of S___!!!!
Posted by daytripper (anonymous) on April 21, 2009 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IF YOU KNOW CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULT DROPOUTS YOU SHOULD KNOW THERE NEEDS TO BE ADULT SUPERVISION AT ALL TIMES. WHERE WAS IT WHILE THE INCIDENT WAS GOING ON? THIS IS'NT JUST A PRANK, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN COSTLY DAMAGE. TAXPAYER MONEY IS PAYING SOME ADULT TO BE THERE , THAT IS WHOM SHOULD BE FIRED AND ANOTHER SUPERVISOR/ TEACHER HIRED.
Posted by showbiz (anonymous) on April 22, 2009 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To kshollwood it was meant to be or did you read all the other article and decide my comment is racist because its so raw face it NATCHEZ IS RACISTS
Posted by whatif (anonymous) on April 25, 2009 at 11:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
kshollywood: Go to hell, you jealous, evil good for nothing. Stop expressing how you were raised. No one cares anymore about your slimy racist opinions about Barack Obama, someone you will never get to meet. If you want food stamps or aid go get you some...stop hating hater.
Posted by showbiz (anonymous) on April 26, 2009 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GO WHAT IF! GO WHAT IF!
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)