NASSAU COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
"The government is us, we are the government, you and I." Teddy Roosevelt
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NASSAU COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC. "The government is us, we are the government, you and I." Teddy Roosevelt |
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January 3, 2008
Nassau Legislature Starts Divisive New Year
Activist gives invocation
Upon her selection as the new Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature, Diane Yatauro (D-Glen Cove) promised to send a message of understanding and unity in the administration of county government. With the past two years marred by political division and infighting, the call for consensus building was more then welcome. Unfortunately her effort seemed to be off message when she invited Jesse Jackson to give the invocation at the ceremony swearing in members of the legislature. While Jackson talked about fairness and equality as reported by Newsday, his credibility is clearly lacking.
Jesse Jackson who many view as a divisive figure, last appeared in Nassau County in 1993 after the Long Island Railroad shooting in which Colin Ferguson shot nineteen people, killing six. The subsequent investigation revealed that Ferguson was motivated by racial hatred. In responding to the race based massacre at the time, County Executive Thomas Gulotta called Colin Ferguson an "animal". Jackson who arrived in Nassau County claiming to be concerned about a "white backlash" attacked Gulotta and referred to him as a "racist". Instead of having compassion for the victims and people of Nassau County and exhibiting humility, Jackson resorted to racial invective and arrogance.
While time may have healed old wounds, time has not changed Jesse Jackson who continues to play the game of race politics. To this day, Jackson has not disassociated himself or his organization from his relationship with Louis Farrakhan, leader of the racist Nation of Islam. Jackson who professes to be a Christian pastor should understand and practice the admonition from the Gospel of John, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment", chapter 7, verse 24.
The decision to invite Jackson sends the wrong message and reflects poorly on Presiding Officer Yatauro and the Nassau County Legislature. George Orwell would be proud.