By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015) — We will save “Kumbaya” for the Bible thumpers, the progressives, and The Berkshire Eagle. THE PLANET gives it to you straight: the “Rally Against Violence” conducted this past Friday at The Christian Center won’t change a damned thing.

The rally did make the streets of Pittsfield momentarily safer, however. For a couple hours, it kept the complicit, “see no evil” officials of the city from being anywhere else, making a mess of your life and charging you evermore for the privilege. The mayor was mayoring, councilors counciling, candidates candidating, the district attorney DA-ing, cops copping, carpet baggers carping, preachers preaching, the press pressing (though not in the way one would want), and the do-gooders do-gooding. They all meant well, all “good guys.”

Stop the presses! The mayor speaks at the rally … in the proximity of colored people! (PHOTO BY EDDIE TAYLOR)

This swell show for the cameras allowed a reasonable excuse for gettin’ down and partying. After the celebration ended and the jets turned off on the grill, though, not a thing had changed in the city of Pittsfield.

— There was still no economy.

— There were still no decent jobs.

— There was still welfare for the gimme-groups, who think the world owes them a living.

— There was still an abysmal public school system.

— There was still no relief for taxpayers.

Later that night, the streets were turned over to their proper owners: Not We The People but the gangstas and dregs.

Another Coalition from the Adults, Another Laff for the Hood 

The rally and the evening’s earlier “Walk to Save Our Youth” won’t stop the violence, particularly on the West Side.  Speakers at the rally droned the usual bromides of how “we” need to stop the guns and drugs and give young people more things to do to get them off the streets.

“We” need to do something, not the punks. Talk about putting the carriage in front of Mr. Ed.

We need to do something? Okay. How about starting with a dress code at the schools that will be strictly enforced and a meaningful curriculum that demands quality performance? How about putting a halt to issuing meaningless diplomas to “scholars” who can’t read, write, or do math?  How about electing a school board instead of a cheerleading squad? How about a nighttime curfew for the West Side?

Instead, the rally announced formation of a new “leadership coalition.” Seriously. It will give the self-proclaimed “leaders” an opportunity to gather — with all good intentions — to create the illusion that they are doing something. It will give the gang-bangers in the ‘hood another reason to laugh.

Cameras and Brilliant Antitheses

THE PLANET appeared at the rally, sifting through the crowd like ribbons of ticker. Small talk here, probing there, assiduous cultivation everywhere. The most unmerited of oddities could be seen, none greater than the failed but wonderfully caucasian mayor of Pittsfield in a suit, starched shirt, and tie condescending in his whiteness to be photographed and mingling with — are you sitting down? — colored people. Cameras will make for the the most brilliant of antitheses, won’t they?

You will recall that last year, this mayor was accused of racism by a Medford businessewoman. The charges were dismissed. You will also recall that his then-director of administrative services, Mary McGinness, quit over what she called the mayor’s stance on race and affirmative action.

Blacks Killing Blacks and Other Things You Can’t Mention

After the rally’s last platitudes faded into the early evening, not one speaker had addressed what was perhaps the most obvious fact in response (and, sadly, in repose) to the five shootings. No one dared confront the issue of black-on-black crime.

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, homicide is the leading cause of death of black men between the ages of 15 and 34 (accidents and suicide are second and third). According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 93% of these murders were committed by other black men (2011 statistics). About 40% of black men between those ages were murder victims. This compares to 3.8% for white men in the same age range.

Where is personal responsibility in all this? Where is the blame when a young person drops out of high school, runs with a bad crowd, and fathers multiple children with different women?

What of the “Black Code,” an attitude among blacks, especially young males, that disrespects education, the work ethic, and other so-called “white” institutions. The Code punishes blacks who get to close to “white society.” They are somehow “less black.”

Leadership coalitions, marches, rallies — these things don’t work. They look good while they’re taking place, but when “all the jacks have been put back in their boxes,” (Jimi Hendrix) the problems return like the incoming tide.

That’s when the good citizens of Pittsfield shudder in fear of what’s become of their once-proud city. That’s when they can thank “leaders” like their grandstanding mayor for failing to admit there’s a problem.

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“War! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.” — Edwin Starr, “War,” (1969).

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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