Red Room Where the Writers Are

DOING THE RIGHT THING

(This is the letter that got me blacklisted from the local NYT regional newspaper)

I would like to begin by saying that no one asked me to write this letter. I am being controlled by no one or nothing but my own conscience. And it has been bothering me a lot since the mayoral election. I have tossed and turned many a night since then and even now it is about 3 in the morning.

The question is, what should I do? And this letter is primarily to the 40 something percent who voted for Robert Avery in the election - almost half the city. What should we do? Should we take what happened lying down and just forget it?

Well, I for one have tried that and it is just not working. I can't live with myself. Nobody likes to fight against rich men and all their power and I am no different, but sometimes you have to do what you know is right. An injustice was done to a man, and an injustice done to one man is an injustice done to all.

I can not speak for anyone but myself, but I am going to do something. What I am going to do is not spend another dime at any of the Gregerson's(tm) Food Stores. In fact, I have already started doing this. Why? Because It was the nickels and dimes and dollars from common people like ourselves that made Peter Gregerson rich.

And it was probably some of this money that he spent on the don't let our schools become like Birmingham ads.

I call on you who voted for Robert Avery not to spend any of your money at any business where the owners are like Peter Gregerson. And Gregersons is not the worst, but is only the most visible place because of his election advertisements. (I have also stopped spending money at at least one other place.)

How long should you not shop there? The answer is very simple: Until he apologizes to Robert Avery. It is my understanding Gregerson is an elderly man now. If he doesn't apologize before he passes on to his just rewards then I recommend not shopping at the stores he founded until one of his descendants in charge of the stores apologizes, even if that be 300 years.

Why? Because the sins of the fathers are truly visited upon the sons, until many generations. Prejudice breeds prejudice, until somebody has sense enough to stop it. And having that wisdom is obviously not dependent on how much money you have.

I myself am just a common man. My nickels and dimes and dollars alone are not going to effect Gregersons bank account - maybe the same one which was used to help fund the Anti-Avery effort. But my conscience is at rest now.

What does yours tell you to do?

As for Steve Means, there is nothing that can be done about him for four more years. He won, but it was not a clean and great victory that he can be proud of. But there will be a judgement day when before the throne of God he will have to answer for even things such as this. Just as we all will when we do not do the things that are right.

Notice in this letter I have not accused Peter Gregerson nor Steve Means nor any of the people who voted for him of racism. Just like what happened in the election where no one admitted to having such feelings and even denied the same, you have to read between the lines.

The people knew what was being said without being said. And that is what needs to be apologized for. What wasn't said but what everyone knows was meant.

Yes, Steve Means with Peter Gregerson's help won the election. But the result was a deep wound that is leaving an ugly, festering, unforgotten scar. And in this case, no healing can begin without repentance. Without a simple heartfelt apology based on one simple truth. And that truth is this: Jesus did not care about the color of a man's skin, why should anyone else. Why should you? Why should you when you go to vote? Why should you when you choose which candidate ever to support? Even this simple thing: Why should you when you meet someone walking down the street?

If you are a Christian don't you know the answer? You shouldn't.

Finally, I call on Steve Means and Peter Gregerson to do the right thing: apologize so that this city, this area, can truly come together and move on. You two are community "leaders." Isn't that what leading really is all about? Doing the right thing. Does helping to spread intolerance and keep it alive help the community in any way? No it does not.

William D. (Will) BevisOctober 29, 2002