Under Three Minutes Please!

And this from future Chief Justice Michael Jones . . . (and I mean 'Chief Justice' most sincerely - keep an eye on this young man!)


Inconsistencies of opinion arising from changes of circumstance are often justifiable. There is one sort of inconsistency that is culpable: it is the inconsistency between a man’s conviction and his vote, between his conscience and his conduct.

That is why I am here. My conscience directs my conduct, before you today. Necessity compels me to speak true rather than pleasing things—and I prefer to save our students, rather than attempting to engender votes with derisive and hurtful comments.

At the meeting on June 11, Ms. Norman made a statement that served no purpose but to try to spark division in our community and in our schools. By implying that the residents of the “affluent neighborhoods” don’t care about minorities, the disabled, or the financially disadvantaged, you, ma’am, have engaged most irresponsibly. To further imply in your interview, on camera, with WBTV, that which the students of families of those neighborhoods have gained, is simply handed to them, is a cheap shot with no basis in truth. Work ethic does not come as a result of socio-economic background. Laziness exists on both sides of the line you want to draw—just as does the desire to work hard, to have compassion, and to work with a conscience towards the needs of others.

You attempted to pit the good citizens of our county against one another for no other purpose than to serve your selfish ends.

But I have news for you, Ms. Norman: The good folks of Burke County are more intelligent than you give them credit for. We see through your rhetoric. We see through your egoism. We see through your vendetta. We the people of Burke County reject your tone, ideas, and your attempts to win votes with the prejudice you seem to harbor and your desire to spread your prejudice so that you might divide, conquer, and infect. Your rancor, your spitefulness, and your insolence is a scourge we reject. In short, we go on record to reject you. When November comes, we will go to the ballot and speak with a unified voice—you are finished here.

With apologies to T.S. Eliot, your tenure on this school board, and in this county will not end with a bang, but with a whimper.



Michael Jones