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What is this?
We know the problems, will we solve them?
Published Thursday, October 15, 2009
Thriller writers and baseball pitchers know a good curve ball can surprise the recipient and make them question what’s coming next.
Local author and national best seller Greg Iles threw a curve ball right off the bat Tuesday night as he addressed the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards gala.
Iles’ curve involved a personal story of how he had to think on his feet at a business speaking engagement gone awry. With his homespun wit and flare for the dramatic, Iles had the audience laughing in no time.
Little did the audience know, however, that the first pitch was the curve. It looked straight enough.
Shortly after Iles’ first pitch, the fastballs, sliders and plot twists came screaming by, each one clipping a local “batter” along the way.
Iles’ pointed comments were well spoken and on-point. He said many things that we’ve said numerous times before and a few more that needed to be aired.
He fired the heat right at the heart of Natchez and Adams County, challenging all listeners to work together to get past the mostly trivial issues that continue to divide our community.
Iles words may have seemed revolutionary at first, but the fact is, most of us know what is wrong in our community. It’s easy to spot the problems.
The question: Is our community really ready to roll up our sleeves, step into the batter’s box and swing at Iles’ pitch?
Comments
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 15, 2009 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DEB, much of what Greg said has been said by posters here and by folks on the street many times before. The big difference is that he said it in front of a large gathering of the Chamber and also that the Natchez Democrat shared it with folks that did not attend. Perhaps that is what we need - More bold vocalization and challenges to fix our problem areas and make a better community. I appreciate the bold stance that the Democrat has been taking lately and I pray that it will continue. Lay down the darts and continue throwing the bombs.
:)
Posted by jlmorris (anonymous) on October 15, 2009 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OGD, the elected have said that they do not care what the public has to say or want their ideas.
Hopefully, we can elect some people who do care about the public. With the ND having articles/stories/etc on line for future access, maybe some of us can make a difference in the next election.
And, we need to change the rules for recall for city officials.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on October 15, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OGD...do you suppose Greg reads the stuff we post on here? If so, it certainly must have made his speech writing easier.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 15, 2009 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well THERE you are Sam. You've been laying low lately. You must be home for the balloon races. I won't guess where/what Greg reads, but all he has to do is walk around town and keep his ears open. Congratulations for him having a microphone and the boldness to stand up and tell folks our pageant is a most worthless production along with other problems.
I hear plenty of locals tell me they never read these comments and thats easy to understand. We've got some sick puppies that post here. Present company excepted, of course.
:)
jlmorris, concerning --> "the elected have said that they do not care what the public has to say or want their ideas"
As I recall, it was our alderwoman that said that to Kevin at one of their meetings. However, I do not recall him saying that any of the alderMEN stood up for him and asked to hear his opinion expressed. What's the old saying? Silence gives consent?
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on October 15, 2009 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is one area where I have a difference of opinion with Mr. Iles. He brags on Vidalia for what they have done on the river front. I think they squandered the most valuable resource they had by letting a doctor's office and hospital take up that space. I can't think of any other river front town that wasted river front property in this manner. There really is no town of Vidalia just a highway going east or west with a few stores on either side. The river front should have become the town of Vidalia again like it once was.
Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on October 15, 2009 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OGD - Sam ----I think you two are on to something...Greg's speech did sort of sound like it came form some of the comments right here in the ND blogs. But then, Greg was raised here, traveled all over the country touring with his band, saw a different side of things, a different side to people...I know from experience.
Natchez has a mystical magnetic force that draws you "home". When you come home to Natchez, and after you've seen how the "old Natchez" of your memory has changed, some for the better, mostly for the worse...all you can think of is how can I do something that will make this more like the way I remember it?
I vote for a guy I've known and trusted all my life...I talk to and listen to the guys running for my district alderman...and I like the new guy, young, personable, seems extremely smart, as well as, well educated, has a great attitude, and seems to really care, and to be a whole person, not just a skin color...so, I vote for him. And I write, that's what I do best, so that's what I do. The best forum I've found for my speeches is right here. And I do believe that the people here, for the most part, DO care about our village, and we do want something better.
What Greg Iles said the other night was nothing new to us. We've said the same things over and over again. The difference---Greg said them out loud...loud enough they echoed, and are still echoing days later. Because? Because they are true. If we don't come together as a community and let all the petty grievances of the past 200 years be just that - ...past - over - forgiven - excused - finished...we will have nothing left of the little town we loved to leave our kids.
And isn't that the promise of parenthood, whether you're black, white, or brown? To give our children, those little blessings from God, a better world than the one we inherited.
So say "hello" to your neighbor, you're going to need him one day, and one day he's going to need you.
We can do it........we need only start today!
--mojo
Posted by MsM (anonymous) on October 24, 2009 at 2:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great speech Mr. Iles! You "hit the nail on the head"! You "pulled heads out of the sand"! You opened "blind eyes"! You "spoke truth to power"! KUDOS to you for that awesome speech and for having the balls to deliver it in the setting in which you did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally, a truthful summary of Natchez (past and present) and a positive perspective of what Natchez could be if we would come together. Awesome!!! In fact, so awesome...I'm going to listen to it again!
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