This is INCREDIBLY stupid. If they aren't in school, they will just be more bored and will wreak havoc on the community.

*SIGH*

I wonder what good ole mayor willie has to say about this?

But im sure the kids are stoked about the possibility of schools being shut down...

This is insane though. My child will be entering school in four years. Ugh, I don't even want to think about it, to be honest with you. Hopefully somethings change by then.

No ,
I disagree with Mr.Whalum. What needs to happen is for the governor to call up the Tennessee National Guard and first go to silly hall , remove Silly Willie, remove the Silly Council, then go to the Memphis Silly School Board and remove all them, declare martial law in the city limits of Memphis , and not leave until all is sure that this uncontrolled foolishness is over and done for good. The joke and playtime is over. Its time for harsh hard ACTION.

There is no place in Memphis that is safe. Shutting schools down will only stop the problem as long as they are shut down.  When the doors open..they'll be bringing guns in again. Metal detectors are not going to stop the problem. It will help but if a student/or outsider wants to sneak a gun in, they will. Willie has let Memphis become a city of rot and ruin. I don't think there will be a place within the city limits that will ever be safe again.

Mr. Whitey-

You made me laugh- thanks. Silly- hahahaha...

On a more serious note- that actually is NOT a bad suggestion.

Or, as I read somewhere else- what about churches/other organizations? Why not start a volunteer movement to police the schools/do searches to help out until this thing can be solved. Kind of like a neighborhood watch.

I ask MR. WHALUM to be the first to spearhead such a plan at his church. Oh, and hey, let's not forget COGIC.

And what about all the baby momma's who don't work and have enough time on their hands to run to the schools creating mass chaos when a shooting does occur? Let them be proactive too. Might make them feel better about the situation.

What the hell...  Hear ye hear ye...  We are the worst state at present put up the metal detectors now don't hesitate, our children's lives are at least worth that...

Don't let your kids play with guns if you do send them to hunting classes or something so they are made aware of the safety that needs to be taken with them.  don't buy your kids toys that look like guns...  

Next why in the heck was a 14 year old in an elementary school????  Me personally I was in high school at that age...  Explain some one please.

Well for once I agree with Mrwhitey almost 100%. The problem is, the powers that be, will never admit Memphis is a cesspool and help is needed. Willie doesn't care..he got the votes he wanted and he's sitting back and laughing at that. Memphis is hopeless unless a major change occurs.

I hate to say this, but until the child of someone high up in Memphis government or society is shot by someone in a school, nothing will be done.  This is just like that Tamara Mitchell Ford thing, how many accidents does she get to have before it is taken care of?  

I am so sick of the blame being pushed back and forth from the school board to the parent and vice verse.  It starts at home PEOPLE!  How can a school control and watch 2000 kids when parents can't watch and control one.  Yes, in this day in time schools need metal dectors (it is sad it has come to this ) but if a child brings a gun to school the parent need to be charge as well and do three days in jail.  Maybe this would teach them a lesson or give them time to think where they went wrong in raising THEIR CHILD.  Parents need to get more involved in their kids lives,  know who their friends are, who they hang around with to even get a gun.  Ask questions, be FBI....Kids have too much freedom now.  When something happens to their child they hollar oh my baby.  Well parents get involved then the school system can do their job which is educate and monitor them not police.  17 year old Cheers aunt said the gangs had been on him about joining,  well if the family knew this WHY didn't they do something about it as adults and not make him feel he had to handle it himself.  They could have transferred him to another school, seek help from the police and tried to remove him from that situation.  Now he has ruined his life, and the family should be looking stupid.

All I want is a popcicle

In the wise words of The Eagles-----The Heat is ON and I'm interested in what BS Willie will come up with in his news conference.

LOL Dover...who knows, but I guarantee you are right....it will be BS!

This is so sad.... now "king willie" has approved 25 high schools to have metal detectors and a handful of middle schools to have them.
I don't understand where these children are thinking that killing someone will resolve any problem they have.
NOW he is saying the tax payers will pick up the bill!!!!! What about the people that DON'T have children in public schools or DON'T have children at all. Why should they have to pay for stupidity?
THANK GOD I had the money to put my child in private school and he is now in college.
WHY DO MEMPHIANS STILL WANT THIS MAN IN OFFICE?

This is the link for one of the most interesting speaches I have ever read.  It's Bill Cosby speaking at the 50th anniversary of Brown Vs. The Board of Education.  He sure makes valid points.  Too bad the people who need to listen aren't!

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/billcosbypoundcakespeech.htm

mnshadow…there was so much BS, I had to put my knee boots on.  Willie sure doesn't like to answer any questions about his decisions. lol He gets a little huffy.  Anway...dig deep for those tax dollars people and later when the guns are still showing up in schools..dig a little deeper.

Why isnt anyone ever in the chatrooms on this site? I was just sort of wondering.

I tried to check the live chat out one time. It would never connect, load or whatever. I gave up.

What is the most stupid part of this entire thing is that it was OUR tax money that built this school. It was OUR tax money that bought the metal detectors that are sitting collecting dust. It is OUR tax money that ships these juvies to school. It is OUR tax money that feeds them. It is OUR tax money that pays Willie and the School Board, but I don't see that OUR voices are being ask to solve the issues.
I think that a handful of parents should be chosen each month to go to thier childrens schools and sit in the classes and see how Johnny and Julie behave. I also think that these preachers and their congregations need to be more involved in the schools in their areas.
Why isn't Jessie, Al and Javier stepping up to the plate? Where are they? Why are they not getting involved. Because a WHITE person isn't behind these actions? The only way they can get involved is when they can smear racial remarks?
The next thing we need is a black president. Golly, you think the US is in trouble now, just WAIT!!!!

You know. That is a valid point. Where are Jessie, Al, et al right now? Why aren't they protesting the multiple travesties of guns/shootings in Memphis?

MrW- I couldn't get live chat to work as of this morning.

Hey, did anyone but me see in the Commercial Appeal this article?

http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/13/mayor-firming-up-his-02/

Why couldn't he have used some of this money for some metal detectors? Would have been money better spent.

Cat - I read that article and the only thing I can say about willie is....he's  disgusting.

congrats LaSonya

Hey Catgirl.....I just read that article.....so I guess it's "de rigueur" in Memphis to be a convicted felon and have a high paying city job!  Slick Willie strikes again.  And about 30 to 40 % of the idiots of this city voted for him.  Well punishment rains down on the just as well as the unjust and we poor, intelligent Memphians who didn’t vote for this Bozo are sure getting punished!    

According to the article, “Former colleague Yalanda McFadgon also was promoted Monday as deputy director of Public Services and Neighborhoods where she will make $100,897.67.

McFadgon, a former police sergeant and head of Herenton's bodyguard detail, served five months in prison in 1999 for concealing $70,000 in drug-dealing proceeds and interfering with a federal search.

Herenton took heat for hiring her to a city job in 2000. On Tuesday, he praised McFadgon's work ethic and competence and hailed her work with the city's Second Chance program, a job placement program for ex-felons. She earned $72,141.57 annually as director of that program.”

But see? What I JUST. DON'T. GET. is how the "government" can say there's no money for more use of metal detectors, and then the MAYOR can stand up in front of his city- his bleeding, crying city and make this announcement.

Why can't people see that it is not you, me, or Mr. Whitey ignoring their pain this time, but their MAYOR. Their BLACK mayor. HE is acting like the biggest THUG in Memphis.

So what if their raises don't equal the $4 million they say is necessary for metal detectors. It's still more than no $$$ put towards it, and surely is worth saving one measly life.

congrats LaSonya Gurl

I agree CatGirl......they wanted this Bozo and now they've got him....

I'll tell you what, Wharton and Herenton loves each and every single of their citizens so much that, even though we're in the midst of a recession and even though there might be a mortgage crisis going on. Even though our government is exporting jobs left and right, these 2 men love you so much that they are considering raising your taxes.
This is going to hurt them more than it hurts you because they love you and care about you SOOO much, that it hurts.
I wish I was hearing the words "RECALL", but eveyone is too lazy to start anything.

WAKE UP MEMPHIS...WAKE UP SHELBY COUNTY!!!!

What  Rev. Whalum is saying makes sense. It's a little extreme but I get the point. As I stated before, I taught elementary school for a while and dealt with very uncontrollable children.  When you tried to contact a parent to get help with discipline, either they never showed up or they sided with the child immediately and came to the school sometimes taking off work to fight the teacher. This type of example that was set in elementery school is the reason why these children act out in junior high and high schools. Many of the parents dont care. They dont set examples. Since the school board is sitting around twiddling their thumbs trying to decide how many kids are shot before they decide to say now it's our turn to try something, a bullet could innocently hit a kid not even in the fight. If they arent in school, that minimizes the chances of innocent students, faculty or staff getting injured. Let the fools fight it out in the streets. Oh yeah, unsubscribe00,you're funny. It's sad to admit but children thrive off of copycat lifestyles. Why do you think there is a sudden rash of guns in school? They see that they can get away with it but instead of trying an effective method like metal detectors everyday, we just point fingers everyday while the kids fight or kill. I said it before, when this happens in my son's school district, metal detectors will be up before the gunsmoke clears.

tiredofexcuses, your about as dumb as a box of chocolates.
do you not think I've been around the block a few times. I've most likely seen your juvenile in action. All of your children make me sick. you are the epitomes of unfit parent. you and people like you disgust me. you think YOUR child is so much above and beyond the normal. i'll bet your children are right in there with the crowd of these gun totters. you think your children are so special, don't you? your kid ain't no different then any other kid, except they are yours.
believe me, your kid is not walking around with a shiny halo, so get over yourself.

Kenneth whalum as a minister should have never gotten involved with politics, because he took 10 steps down doing that, he cannot change a system that will and refuses to be changed.  He went in thinking he could make a difference, yeah he can but not much, sooner or later he will comply with that satanic system

unsubsribe00, I'm confused... I was actually agreeing with the fact that the shootings have to take place in a "white" area before change takes place. I do apologize for having a choice of neighborhoods to raise children in. I thought you would have been intelligent enough to get tha point. But, I'm quite sure I don't know you personally, that's probably a good thing, so your opinion of me doesnt really count. Hopefully, you dont have children at all. It's parents with the attitudes like yours that keeps these kids in trouble and with access to guns. You are so busy "popping off" before fully understanding a situation. Kids follow by example and you just proved my point. My son is far from perfect but he definitely isnt running the streets. You see it's parents like me that make sure that my son has enough extracurricular activities in his life to feed his creative outlet and keep him out of the streets. And, for some reason, if he does go astray, he's going to deal with the consequences. That's the only way to teach a child. I'm definitely not calling the family up to take our last savings down to the jail only for him to do the same thing next week. Pray about it sweetie and understand that not all parents have sense enough to monitor their children, that's where the problem begins. Now, that that's understood, when is the board of education going to try something to make a difference, instead of waiting on ignorant parents to do nothing but pick fights?

 Catgirl said:
But see? What I JUST. DON'T. GET. is how the "government" can say there's no money for more use of metal detectors, and then the MAYOR can stand up in front of his city- his bleeding, crying city and make this announcement.

Why can't people see that it is not you, me, or Mr. Whitey ignoring their pain this time, but their MAYOR. Their BLACK mayor. HE is acting like the biggest THUG in Memphis.

So what if their raises don't equal the $4 million they say is necessary for metal detectors. It's still more than no $$$ put towards it, and surely is worth saving one measly life. My dear CATGIRL why must you belittle yourself with such foolish talk I had given you high marks but I see they were'nt deserved! Why does he have to be our BLACK MAYOR? Why not just our mayor? Your hate is overwelming and very disgusting! You try to sound like your gonna make some equal statements but you've proven time and time again you just can't get over your fears of ? Well you know like I know so there's really no need to prolong the comment!  

Gmoney-

Tah dah!!! I proved my point. See how ridiculous the comment sounds? You admit it. There is NO need to say black/white.

But why is it when blacks say the word black, it's okay, but when I say it, it's not? It's hatred, it's disgusting, I'm scared... (not)

I said it for a reason- and you took the bait.

NO! NO! NO! We dont need to shut down Memphis City Schools. If we do what are we going to do with the children. If yall decide to shut it down the children are going to be even worse because some of them are going to be home alone. They are just gonna leave and they are going to go and get a gun from one of the people on the street. THey should not close down the schools. If they decide to put metal detectors in the school they need to do QUICK and FAST, so not another child will get hurt.

Catgirl, you've come a long way.You're learning.Proud of you

@EOO-

What do you mean? Are you being sarcastic or sincere?

Forgive me for seeming obtuse today. My head is about to split in two, and I haven't had more than a few hours sleep for days (and those hours not very good).

Happy Valentines Day, my blog buddy.

I'm as sincere as Billy Graham. I'm proud of you.Hope u feel better.Happy Valentines Day

I'm not from memphis and I can tell by the conversations read here that most of the people here dont have a clue to what's really going on, this crap is going on all over the country so to all of you there is life outside of memphis.   I dont believe what i'm reading, do you people realize that the children are our future some of these people that are walking through these war zones are gonna be leaders one day, so I suggest some of you should shut the he-double toothpick- up or come up with a better solution than to blame the Mayor or the City Council for what we as Parents should be doing at home.  The facts are that children are desensitized to life or the importance thereof, and for some of you to point the blame at government is kinda sad, put the blame where it should be,  T.V., the media, that oil barron in the white house, that bs the call art gansta rap, got these young people gone and they have the nerve to call it art, I dont give a saling ---- whose selling it it's not to be heard and if your king is a crook, your subjects are gonna be just the same.  Tis, tis, tis, life is grand but follow a stupid kid home and you can bet someone stupid is gonna answer the door.

@E-

Well, that's only good if you LIKE Billy Graham and believe in his message.

Otherwise, you were being sarcastic.

;) Feeling better today. Thank God.

Hey CatGirl...glad you are feeling better!  

Thanks. It wasn't my usual migraine, but close.

catgirl, didn't know that you were sick, but at any rate, with some of your comments it's a wonder that you don't develop an aneurism, but once again, it's only a thought

@E- To clarify- I do like Billy Graham and do believe in his message.

@Built- I'll take the bait. What the heck are you talking about?

tiredofexcuses, the reason I think your ignorant is because of your attitude. Tell me, why should it get down to "if it were my child, before the smoke could clear." Your attitude should be the same no matter WHO'S CHILD is harmed. Why wait until it's your child. Get upset NOW, do something NOW, get involved NOW, so that way the chances of it being your child will be lessened.
I hope that don't make sense to just me. Maybe I do have a different mentality because I am not from the south, I am not from Memphis. I have never encountered people that sit back and watch this stuff going on. I am from somewhere people don't stand and observe. People get involved and make a DIFFERENCE!
You would be surprised at how differently things would be run if a large group of people got together and made a movement to unset Herenton. His attitude would change. If the city cousil felt that they were going to have a group of people come down on them and said they needed to do something different, they would change. I can't make changes myself, but together, as a group, you can make changes.

your cool and all, Billy G. is the man, maybe if the G-man was really listened to when he wore a younger mans clothes we wouldn't be having all these problems and I think Mr. Whalum is just blowing hot air from the pulpit, remember seperation of church and state and closing the schools in not one of the choices, I mean, i'm knockin here, let me in, that was just dumb, for him to be a clergyman to have such thoughts.   I feel sorry for his church members as in the blind leading the blind.

Being a clergyman has nothing to do with his thinking about closing the schools.  That man is trying to find some kind of solution to the violence.  At least, unlike most people in this cesspool called Memphis, he is TRYING to do SOMETHING.  

53, so not facing the problem is his answer and as it seems yours to, but at any rate lets tackel the problem head on and common sense should tell you and him that everybody in the city school system handle their problems with guns, so this goose stepping minister should say something other than close the schools, think of the seniors that would slow down as far as this fall is concerned and if I myself lived in a pool as the one you refered to I think that I would move.

53, so not facing the problem is his answer and as it seems yours to, but at any rate lets tackel the problem head on and common sense should tell you and him that everybody in the city school system handle their problems with guns, so this goose stepping minister should say something other than close the schools, think of the seniors that would slow down as far as this fall is concerned and if I myself lived in a pool as the one you refered to I think that I would move.

Ok, Built-

1. I believe you said earlier you are not even FROM Memphis, so why do you care about our blog?

2. Perhaps you need to do a little reading and catching up on what has happened here in the last oh, I don't know, 10-15 years.

3. You don't know Shadow, not facing the problem is NOT what she meant at all. You might get a better feel for all of us if you took the time to read other blogs and figure out where our thoughts and opinions come from.

Thanks Catgirl......got my back again!  :- )  Ok Built....you missed my point....I am not for doing nothing to relieve violence in the schools.  But if closing the schools until something is done will stop the violence I am all for it.  Install more metal detectors, increase police presence in the schools, arm the teachers, I don't care at this point....just do SOMETHING!  And CatGirl has made an excellent point....why do you care?  

I feel ya on that one, and I really do, it's just that all of your thoughts about everything is, I think, based on race, it's a shame that I can read all of your comments and just about figure your race and no-one should be that shallow, its not where I live it's how I live and all these problems that are going on here are going on all over the country, and you should know that this can of worms only open from the inside, meaning people in other parts of the world see not just memphis, or L.A. or Denver. or St. Louis, they see America and if that means nothing to you then I think that I should not read your simple little blogs.  Ok, so I don't know shadow but I do know and understand what she wrote.

No you don't Built.....you absolutely do not understand anything I said.  And I can guarantee one thing, CatGirl is neither shallow nor a racist and neither am I.  However, you on the other hand, seem to have some issues with clergymen.  What's up with that?  

It's not a problem that i have with clergy, it's a problem of what he said, and I didn't mean to make it sound as if Cat has a race problem, but come on, the Mayor, I dont think he has the authority to close a public school, so his comments were mute, that's what i'm saying, just make sense is all.  You should know that, closing the schools is not the answer, now some of the things you suggested earlier are the things that he as a city leader should have said. I'm sorry if I offended you or anyone else, but the truth hurts.

LoL

whalum is an idiot

Hey shadow...some have issues with other things..I have issues with the same person using a different moniker every week. lol  Those run-on sentences are hard to overlook. ;-)

Oh...cat and shadow....I enjoyed a Margarita this weekend..well, really more than one but who's counting lol.  I'm sure both of you caught onto that charade above and I didn't need to point it out..but I couldn't stop myself. Funny how some think they can change a name but keep everything else the same.

Dover-

You know? Now that you mention it, those run on sentences DO look familiar. And one name is conspicuously absent almost at the same time a new one appears. Hmm...

Did you have a margarita for me?

lol cat - After reading the 'tale of interest', I was pretty sure both you and shadow knew who it was. It's very difficult to miss those run-on sentences. I needed oxygen before finishing most of them!

AND yesssssssssssss, I did have a margarita for you!!! Frozen with extra salt - it was excellent!

You know who I miss? IMD. I wonder why he hasn't played with us lately.

THANKS for the margarita. Next time, though, I really love strawberry with sugar around rim. I've got a love of all things foo foo, remember?

cat - okay next time I'll remember the strawberry with sugar..I've never tried that.

I don't know about IMD. The last time I saw any posts from him was when you were discussing a blog meeting at Starbucks with Bartlettman and mnshadow. Maybe he's still there waiting on you! ;-(

Oh, they're good. Raspberry is actually the best though. I love raspberry anything.

You know, you're right. He's been AWOL since then.

I really felt bad about not going. I had to work late. Seriously, I think it really WOULD be fun if we had a blog meeting. Probably best if we arranged one privately using private messages though. Otherwise Gmoney (aka- we know who you are...) might show up and yell at us. I bet that's why Bartlettman doesn't love us anymore, either. He went expecting to meet three awesome women, and had to make do with the Hooters chick he picked up on the rebound. lol

Hey, the heck with Starbucks....let's get together for a margarita next weekend!  :- )

Cat - I did notice Bartlettman disappeared after that meeting fell through. Maybe he's just busy. I knew I couldn't go that weekend but maybe we can arrange one soon..and yes, I think via private message would be best.

Bartlettman said he "had a lot of irons in the fire" and he will be back soon.  That was shortly after our aborted Starbucks get together.  

mnshadow53 said:
Hey, the heck with Starbucks....let's get together for a margarita next weekend!  :- )

------------------------

Absolutely shadow -  Or two, or three!!!!! lol

I love the idea myself. Count me in. I'll already be in Memphis that day anyway.

Hmmmm I can send y'all a private message and we can arrange where and when.  Don't want to leave anyone out, but might be safer that way!  

Shadow- better to err on the side of caution, my friend.

That's why I made you VP! Your wisdom.

The President is waiting for the VP and SOS to make that important decision and advise accordingly. lol

Madame President and Madame Vice-President, my RSVP is being officially returned. Who knows how to use the private message on this thing? I don't.

I do I do  LOL  I will send you a message post haste

The President does not know...the VP will have to advise! lol

shadow???  did you get my reply? I can't tell if it is being transmitted ???? lol Fine President I am! I can't handle minor communication!

I got it  LOL  That's what you have "staff" for

.......and thank goodness for "staff" shadow. I got the first message replied and now it's showing I have another but no new message shows. <confused>

Click on the original message.

Okay Cat - I think I understand this now. lol Still not sure how to initiate one but our VP can go over that at our Margaritafest!

Yep. I think we've got the details worked out too!

This will be great!

Sometimes I wonder, what type of drugs the elected officials are on!  But then, I think what are we as parents doing, allow our kids to still were oversize clothing to school, when they are suppose to be wearing nice and neat uniforms style items,(but security officers and teachers allow them to enter the school). There should be some type of enforcement that effects the parents as well as the child. So then, we as parents might just think before we go out and buy those really oversized clothes or really tight ones for the girls. Parents, uniforms are uniforms and after school clothing is after school clothing (once you get home, not as you change in the school bathroom).   These extra large clothes allow for weapon to be carried in easier. But then we already and will pay more security officers to walk around in/outside of schools, not to enforce any laws or regulations. So yes, let us allow the mayors to take more of that hard earn money out of our pockets, to put police in the school just to run metal detects and keep our children safe from each other and us, (who also must be paying for the guns, that the children are bring into the schools).  We as parents are not responsible for our childrens' acts or behaves once they leave our house (that seems the way, must parents feel, this day). Basically, what I am saying is simple, sometimes we need less laws and regulations, and spending of money, but more enforcement and efficient use of the ones we have, by the people or authorities we pay to enforce them.  And for US, yes us the partner to help by just enforcing some common sense thinking in what we do to get them ready to leave our house each day and the shopping we do when buy their uniforms to wear to school. Just a little something to think about.. All

this asstounds me that a *** *** can say, in public that a posion in the MCS must be another *** dude....

*** N*I*G*G*E*R*S