I just wanted to thank Gregory Flannery for the thoughtful editorial regarding Kabaka Oba’s shooting (“Killing Kabaka Oba,” issue of April 19-25). If anything, this tragic incident should finally bring the violence and hell of Over-the-Rhine to the attention of city council.
Too many people have suffered and are still suffering from the misery here in Cincinnati. Maybe the fact that a community leader was gunned down just outside council chambers will prompt our elected leaders to get off their collective asses and take meaningful — not just politically motivated — action.
Over-the-Rhine and the rest of Cincinnati matter to all the suburbs and the rest of what’s called “Greater Cincinnati.” The shooting of Oba should finally set off the alarm bells for all the passive observers.
Whatever it takes and whatever it costs, this constant killing has to end. We survive together or we go under together. At this point, we’re sinking. When do we demand and get change in this city?
— M.P. Clark, Delhi Twp.
Oba Did Something
Thanks to Gregory Flannery for doing the editorial piece on Kabaka Oba (“Killing Kabaka Oba,” issue of April 19-25). I was having quite a time trying to explain this guy to my conservative family. He was not the bad guy, nor was he especially the good guy. But, hell, at least he did something.
— Marilyn Schirmer, Hamersville, Ohio
Trying Isn’t Good Enough
Gregory Flannery drew the short straw. He had to write puff pieces for three well-known but ineffective communicators — Kabaka Oba, Nate Livingston and Ken Lawson — without actually stating that they are/were ineffective communicators (“Killing Kabaka Oba” and “Equal Rights and Pot,” issue of April 19-25). Flannery ended one of his pieces with “at least they’re trying.”
Trying is not only not good enough, but ineffective communicators close minds rather than change minds. Don’t take my word for it. Ask some of the advertising agencies that produce the ads which appear in CityBeat. Ask George Soros how hard and expensive it is to change minds.
Ask them if amateurs are helping or hurting good causes. Ask them if amateurs play into the hands of opponents of good causes.
— David E. Gallaher, Over-the-Rhine
Honest Portrayal of AK Strike
I must say that I found James S. Proffitt’s article “Nerves of Steel” (issue of April 12-18) to be an honest observation that’s absent in almost every written article I’ve read from newspapers across the Midwest, including The Cincinnati Enquirer, concerning the lockout of the AK Steel Middletown Works employees.
Proffitt should be commended on his ability to capture some of the agony and resolve that we as locked-out employees feel at this dreadful time of our lives. Many people outside of this conflict don’t understand the full issues we’re facing and the dire consequences that we well understand might happen to us. Yet we’re forced to make a stand against these possibilities if only for principles alone.
Thank you for having the journalistic fortitude to print something that other newspapers have chosen to not fully investigate or honestly portray.
— Jerry L. Rogers, Middletown
Thanks for Attention
I’m one of the AEIF union members locked out of AK Steel, and I just wanted to thank you and your publication for such an accurate and precise article on the situation here in Middletown (“Nerves of Steel,” issue of April 12-18).
There have been many articles written on this lockout, but I believe this is the best one. Kudos to the author and his employer for such a well-written description of our situation.
— Cathy Bush,
Middletown
Leaders Need to Lead
I find it both ironic and pathetic that on the day all anyone could talk about was Bill Cosby’s return to the Cincinnati area being the “official” end to the boycott no one has mentioned in two years, a black man shot and killed another black man for making negative comments about his restaurant, yet there’s not a hint of outrage.
Five years ago a white police officer shot a black man while trying to prevent further crime, and the city all but burned. Last week a black man shot and killed another black man over the victim’s freedom to have an opinion, and that’s OK.
Where are the black “leaders” in our community? Where are you, Rev. Shuttlesworth? Where are you, Rev. Lynch? Where are you, Dr. Cosby? Where is your denouncement of this round of senseless violence?
The next time you prepare to complain about how no one in the white community cares about black-on-black violence, remember how much you cared this time.
— Tim Ruffner, Mount Auburn
This article appears in Apr 26 – May 2, 2006.