1. A The Daily Reflector, Thursday, December 1, 2011
OpiniOn
John Kent Cooke Jr.
Serving Greenville M. Allen Clark
Publisher
Brian Colligan
and Pitt County Executive Editor Editorial Page Editor
for more than a century Bobby Burns
Associate Editor
Cherie Speller
Associate Editor
Publishers Emeritus, The Whichard Family 1882-2008
Our Views
Consider broader examination of executions in N.C.
P
itt County District Attor- Carolina should be brave enough to punishment under the legislation,
ney Clark Everett offered revisit its approach to executions as and prosecutors argue that the racial
well reasoned, principled soon as possible. component in capital trials is more
opposition to the state’s A divided General Assembly pronounced than ever under this law.
Racial Justice Act, a bill passed by passed the Racial Justice Act two The state Conference of District At-
the General Assembly in 2009 that years ago in an attempt to alleviate torneys was nearly united in its call
intended to eliminate the influence the possibility that race may play a for repeal, and lawmakers answered
of race in capital cases. He contends factor in capital trials. It allows for that call this week by gutting the act
the legislation was intended to ef- those facing the death penalty or who and sending it to the governor.
fectively halt executions in North have been convicted in a capital case It would be hard to contend that
Carolina and that its poor wording to use statistical evidence to over- Web photo
inequality has been eradicated from
actually amplifies attention to race in turn the punishment, even though North CaroliNa Legislative building. the criminal justice system, but this
jury selection. the charge or conviction would still discussion misses the needed exami-
Flawed though it may be, the stand. North Carolina became the feel pressure from their peers to nation of the broader system. North
Racial Justice Act stands as landmark second state to establish that protec- convict black defendants. Lawmakers Carolina has wrongfully sentenced
legislation for taking direct aim at tion, following Kentucky’s lead. supporting the measure hoped the seven people to death only to see
the racial disparity evident in the When it was approved, some Racial Justice Act would address both them exonerated. Now is the time to
criminal justice system, particularly 60 percent of the state’s death row flaws. revisit executions in North Carolina
with crimes that would see the state inmates were black, and the North Instead, according to Everett and and to consider a specific morato-
mete out an irreversible punishment. Carolina NAACP contended that other district attorneys, the oppo- rium. Simply ignoring blatant flaws
Lawmakers’ decision to gut the bill blacks were more likely to be stricken site is true. All but three of the 157 in a system that exacts the ultimate
hardly ends that debate, and North from a jury pool and, when selected, people on death row appealed their punishment should not be tolerated.
Public Forum Other Voices
Race for City Council offers lessons
With the voting over it is time for me mayoral candidate. These newsletters to
to thank all those individuals who voted me were the biggest low point of the elec-
for me during the City Council election. tion campaign. Just ugly.
I believe we did very well considering Major lesson No. 2: However, not
the candidates in the race and special to be outdone was the less than stellar
interests — the anti-growth and TRUNA performance of The Daily Reflector in
crowds — against us. I really appreciated its endorsement process. Without regard
the support and the kind words from all, to the fact that The Daily Reflector pays
both before and after the election. Your no Greenville city taxes and really is not
vote did make a difference and we will a citizen of Greenville, it used the jour-
see the positive results in the years ahead. nalistic checklist of Democrat to make its
Trust me. endorsement.
I did learn a lot about Greenville Had Councilman-elect Dennis Mitch-
politics even when it was clear the special ell been a Republican or an independent,
interests were gearing up for a “let’s keep it would have been a frothing dog of
things the same” campaign. indignation at such a thought of two
Major lesson No. 1: Needless to say, the council people in a boss/subordinate
animosity displayed by an incumbent relationship being on council together.
councilman in his newsletter missiles to-
ward the mayor-elect could only lead me
Reflector, let’s put your tax money where
your endorsement mouth is. Pay Green-
Law trails technology
to think of what he was espousing about ville taxes on your building and endorse The Courier, Findlay, Ohio local police did not have a valid search
other candidates behind closed doors. If away. Otherwise, cool it. Sometimes it takes time for our nation’s warrant when they installed a GPS device
his newsletters were ugly against the new laws to catch up with technology. on Jones’ car and collected travel infor-
mayor when he wasn’t running, I cannot TERRY BOARDMAN That’s seems to be the case as the U.S. mation over 28 days. The device helped
imagine what they will be when he is a Greenville Supreme Court explores law enforce- authorities link Jones to a suburban house
ment’s use of GPS tracking. By placing used to stash money and drugs.
Support Ayden-Grifton in title game the small devices on motor vehicles, Certainly, police should have use of
police can now accurately map wherever emerging technology, including GPS, to
a vehicle travels. do their job as efficiently as possible.
I would like to congratulate the Ayden- have accomplished this football season. The high court heard arguments re- But, if a situation is serious enough to
Grifton High School football team for This Saturday, the Ayden-Grifton High cently, and is expected to rule by spring in need to watch someone electronically day
reaching the finals of the state 1-AA School football team will play for the state a case involving nightclub owner Antoine and night, then a judge should have to ap-
playoffs. I recently had the opportunity title. I would like to encourage Ayden Jones, who has been sentenced to life in prove it. It stands to reason, if a warrant is
to attend their most recent high school and Pitt County residents alike to attend prison on a drug conviction. A federal too bothersome for police to pursue, then
football playoff game against Wallace- the game on Dec. 3 at 11 a.m. in Winston appeals court in Washington, D.C., threw a case most likely isn’t that important in
Rose Hill and I can attest to how exciting Salem at BBT Field and cheer on the out the conviction, ruling FBI agents and the first place.
it was to watch the Chargers execute on Chargers as they compete for their final
the field. win of the season. I know they would
It is clear to me that the Chargers are appreciate your support as they endeavor
SOMETHING TO SAY?
not only a great team, but they are also to become state 1-AA football champions. Send your letters to: Please, limit letters to 300 words Questions about a letter?
■ Public Forum, P.O. Box 1967, and include your name, address, Call Brian Colligan, editorial page
great ambassadors for the Ayden-Grifton Go Chargers! Greenville, NC 27835 phone number, signature and e- editor, at (252) 329-9507 or e-mail
community. ■ E-mail reflector.letters@ mail (if applicable). We use phone bcolligan@reflector.com. Read
I, along with the town of Ayden, am STEPHEN W. TRIPP reflector.com and address to contact writers, but Public Forum and Our Views at
very proud of what the team and coaches Mayor of Ayden ■ Fax (252) 754-8140 do not publish that information. reflector.com.
Today’s Columnist
In a ‘Frank’ moment, Polish foreign minister calls out Germany
T
wo politicians from different fears about the collapse of way that commanded everyone’s atten- there are important values that can only
countries and with very dif- the euro and to issue his tion. He was right to tell the Germans be vindicated if we act together through
ferent political pedigrees made “demand” that Germany that for all their complaints, they have government.”
news this week. Both spoke use its financial might to profited more than any other European Frank is often cast as ultra-partisan,
difficult truths and reminded us that we help the eurozone “sur- country from the existence of the com- but that’s not who he is. In 1978, he an-
shouldn’t use the word “politician” with vive and prosper.” mon currency. noyed many Democrats by supporting
routine contempt. He also spoke a truth One politician who would understand two progressive Republicans, Sen. Ed-
The better-known story is the retire- that is inconvenient to Sikorski’s extravagant bluntness is Barney ward Brooke and Massachusetts guberna-
ment of Rep. Barney Frank, a Massachu- e.J. Germany: “that it is the Frank, who never walked away from a torial candidate Frank Hatch.
setts Democrat who was never afraid to biggest beneficiary of fight and never left a quip unspoken. Such Republicans, however, have noth-
make people angry — or to make them DIoNNe current arrangements Much has already been said about Frank’s ing in common with the current Repub-
laugh. But more on Frank in a moment. and that it therefore has the biggest rhetorical skills, his ornery personality lican House of Representatives, which
Far too little attention has been paid on obligation to make them sustainable.” — “I don’t even have to pretend to try Frank described with deadly accuracy.
these shores to a remarkable speech in Germany “is not an innocent victim of to be nice to people I don’t like,” he said “It consists half of people who think like
Berlin on Monday by the Polish foreign others’ profligacy.” I need to note that in describing one of the joys of leaving Michele Bachmann,” he said, “and half of
minister, Radoslaw Sikorski. Sikorski is married to my Washington politics — and his sexual orientation. But people who are afraid of losing a primary
He offered what may be the sound bite Post colleague Anne Applebaum, al- what needs to be underscored is that he to people who think like Michele Bach-
of the year: “I will probably be the first though that is not why I wrote this. takes the process of governing, at every mann.”
Polish foreign minister in history to say In fairness, none of this is easy for level, seriously. His is not a trendy sort I can’t wait for Frank’s debut as a
so, but here it is: I fear German power German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The of liberalism, but the old-fashioned kind political commentator. But he should be
less than I am beginning to fear German world needs Germany to put up a lot of that sees government as being there to remembered as a politician who remind-
inactivity.” money to help Europe get through this solve problems and help those down on ed us that the dictionary’s first definition
You don’t have to know much about crisis. But this will be understandably their luck. of politics is “the art or science of govern-
Polish history (just remember the 1939 unpopular with German voters, who “We have a very large number of people ment.” That’s the passion he and Sikorski
Nazi invasion) to realize what an extraor- think they are being asked to pay for the who, through no fault of their own, have have in common.
dinary statement this was. The center- mistakes of other countries. lost everything they have,” he has said.
right Sikorski used the most dramatic And this is why I admire what Sikorski “Now, I’m a great believer in the free- E.J. Dionne is a columnist for The
language he could find to describe his did. He said what must be said, and in a market system, but I also believe that Washington Post.