Rhynes Called To South Troup Street, and John Robinson arrives on scene with camera in hand! Are there TWO Valdosta's?

 "VALDOSTA CITY COUNCIL NOTIFIED"

 I was called (recently) about South Troup Street Being NEGLECTED in the Black Community.  
I presented PICTURES and WORDS to Valdosta City Mayor (John Fretti) and Council Members about how South Troup Street has been NEGLECTED in the Black Community----at a Public Meeting in the State of Georgia (Valdosta).   



However local television, news papers, and radio stations FAILED to keep the general public fully informed on what takes place at public meetings in our area.  As of there is two VALDOSTA’S one Black and one White!  This pattern and practice has existed for decades with NO change in view.  Although Valdosta is the home of Valdosta State University, Moody Air Force Base, Kinderlou Golf Course, Wild Adventures Theme Park, Wiregrass Technical College and many more historical buildings, sites, monuments etc. 

       

I believe our local news media outlets have contributed to the ill state of affairs here in South Georgia in general.  This lack of adequate news coverage has left citizens left deaf; dumb and blind to the times and unable to make intelligent decisions based on facts from public meetings.  Yet we have an extremely large religious base along with retired educators, retired military veterans, doctors, lawyers and other professional people. 

However too many of these good citizens seems to have buried their heads in the sand like the legend concerning the ostrich bird; from being beaten down so bad.  That they see NO need to try and change a system that seem hell bent on continuing an old 1860 Charter mentality.  To control, suppress, and abate all who speaks out against what the power brokers wanted our community to be forever.  This 1860 Mentality was included in our city charter displayed in Valdosta City Hall until 2004.  At which time it was reluctantly because I became outraged by the disrespect it showed for Black African Americans that died in all of America’s Wars.

          

However it seems that Mayor Fretti along with some other elected officials are carrying on this mentality of control, suppress, and abate not only Black Africans but all criticizes in our beloved community.  Although these radio stations that our elected officials appears condemns the Commander-In-Chief of our sons and daughters serving on foreign battlefields while our nation is at war. 

Never before in the history our America have we seen the amount of venom and hatred being directed towards a sitting president as we NOW see directed towards America’s First Black President.  We as Americans have FREEDOM OF SPEECH and it must be respect for to take away ones neighbor’s rights is to deny your own.

However America’s has had 43 White Male Presidents without exception until our 44^th President was voted into office by the American People and not by a Supreme Court Decision.  But even when Blacks were considered three-fifths of a human being and had NO rights that a WHITE PERSON had to respect yet Blacks never stooped so low as to condemn the other 43 White Male Presidents as today’s patriot’s and Christians are doing daily across America and sending what appears as race hatred.  



The following information is not as Mayor John Fretti calls it:  Trying to get my name in print; political posturing, theater, stirring up trouble but trying to build a better community for the good of all that lives in our beloved community.

IT IS NOT ABOUT RACE!  But where else in Valdosta, Lowndes County, Quitman, Brooks, etc can we find rusty pipes, homes without driveway entrances from the streets, hole in the road over the canal.  How many religious leaders and other professional people have passed along this street but said nothing about this disgraceful picture?  So when will we wake up to the realities of now!  How many of these type pipes can you find in Cherry Creek? Kinderlou, Jerry Jones Drive, Country Club, Moody Air Force Base or anywhere else for that matter.  Where have the Valdosta City Council Member been that occupied the seat on the council for this district for the last twenty-years? 

It is becoming crystal clear why citizens see no need of voting!  It is sad; but we must face the realities of the day.  We condemn our young people for wearing their pants down too low.  But fail to QUESTION how much federal money is coming into our area directed towards low to moderate income families. 

 

However others walk away with the MAJORITY of the money.  Then these same people condemn the poor and those that are not included in the economic wealth of the community.  The contract monies are directed in the same manner that it has been directed since Valdosta-Lowndes County was founded. 

We the people must foster a new day when all Gods children will benefit equally from the wealth being generated here in South Georgia.  There is not no need of MARCHING, PROTESTING, BOYCOTTING and ETC.  However we MUST redirect our DOLLARS away from HARDWARE stores, and other retail outlets that will not HIRE us.  We must not allow these restaurants to FEED us but refuse to HIRE us on EQUAL bases. 

 

 

Moreover we must understand and educate our children.  That nobody is going to save us; from us; for us; but us.  By this mean; both Black and White Right People that understand that in unity there is strength. 

Lastly; we are obligated far beyond race, religion, gender, educational accomplishments, economic status, and political party affiliations among other things.  That we must love our neighbor; as we love ourselves, and we must want for our neighbor’s children; the same things we want for our own children and grandchildren---without exception.   That we must treat our neighbor as we ourselves with to be treated by others. 

GEORGE BOSTON RHYNES

Retired United States Military Veteran

A concerned citizen of all humanity