You don't have to be a follower of Pastor Harvey Burnett to acknowledge that he has been vocal about trying to find a solution to stop the crime and killing in Peoria. It is unfortunate that Pastor Burnett feels the need to ask for inclusion in the Mayor's recent call to action event. It is also unfortunate that crime is so bad here that there is room for everybody at the table. For that reason, the event held at the Dream Center can only be helped by Pastor Burnett continuing to call attention to efforts (or lack thereof).
Below is Pastor Burnett's response to an Anonymous Poster who continues to question the Pastor's true intentions:
Anonymous said: So, Pastor Burnett, did you attend?
Pastor Burnett said: Since you are kind of slow when it comes to this particular point let me say it like this...where were you or any of these officials 18 murders and 12 months ago when I made the initial call on Feb. 12th, 2009? Why did it take 15 days from Jan. 5th 2010 until Jan. 20th 2010 for the Mayor to respond to my request for a meeting to deal SPECIFICALLY with this agenda...Remember this was AFTER we had already rolled out a Peoria safe community campaign that he was fully aware of.
Why did the Mayor in our meeting on Jan 28th NOT MENTION his plans that were announced on Jan. 20th, the same day his secretary set the appointment with me?
So far as any of these officials are concerned and based on your logic, are we to assume that they (the officials) didn't come or say a word to me since the initial call on Feb. 12th 2009, because they wanted to be on the dias or because they were uninterested or simply wanted attention?
Now, if I were like you I could make that case because I could ask where are any of their phone calls to me or any of the families that people like me and Carl Cannon ministered to when these tragedies took place? They've had 12 months to respond and haven't said anything until now. I did not so much as receive a "whatever I can do" from any of them... So is it be fair for me to paint the picture that somehow these officials didn't care or only wanted publicity?
Surprisingly, using your warped form of logic I guess that would be appropriate, but I make no such claim...
Fact is that the Mayor has a duty to the citizens to INCLUDE them and especially those who can be readily identified in the field and who are carrying forth agenda effecting the citizens we are trying to reach. We are not students of his campaign, neither should we be approached as such. We don't approach him in that manner why should we be disrespected?
I contribute. We contribute. What do you do besides hide behind anonymous? That leads to this comment that I agree with as it pertains to your commentary in this thread: "But what do I know, I'm an idiot."
Thank you for affirming my initial thoughts!
Below is Pastor Burnett's response to an Anonymous Poster who continues to question the Pastor's true intentions:
Anonymous said: So, Pastor Burnett, did you attend?
Pastor Burnett said: Since you are kind of slow when it comes to this particular point let me say it like this...where were you or any of these officials 18 murders and 12 months ago when I made the initial call on Feb. 12th, 2009? Why did it take 15 days from Jan. 5th 2010 until Jan. 20th 2010 for the Mayor to respond to my request for a meeting to deal SPECIFICALLY with this agenda...Remember this was AFTER we had already rolled out a Peoria safe community campaign that he was fully aware of.
Why did the Mayor in our meeting on Jan 28th NOT MENTION his plans that were announced on Jan. 20th, the same day his secretary set the appointment with me?
So far as any of these officials are concerned and based on your logic, are we to assume that they (the officials) didn't come or say a word to me since the initial call on Feb. 12th 2009, because they wanted to be on the dias or because they were uninterested or simply wanted attention?
Now, if I were like you I could make that case because I could ask where are any of their phone calls to me or any of the families that people like me and Carl Cannon ministered to when these tragedies took place? They've had 12 months to respond and haven't said anything until now. I did not so much as receive a "whatever I can do" from any of them... So is it be fair for me to paint the picture that somehow these officials didn't care or only wanted publicity?
Surprisingly, using your warped form of logic I guess that would be appropriate, but I make no such claim...
Fact is that the Mayor has a duty to the citizens to INCLUDE them and especially those who can be readily identified in the field and who are carrying forth agenda effecting the citizens we are trying to reach. We are not students of his campaign, neither should we be approached as such. We don't approach him in that manner why should we be disrespected?
I contribute. We contribute. What do you do besides hide behind anonymous? That leads to this comment that I agree with as it pertains to your commentary in this thread: "But what do I know, I'm an idiot."
Thank you for affirming my initial thoughts!
5 comments:
Why wouldn't you just go to the meeting? Why do you care who gets the credit? It's the end game that matters.
First, that other Anonymous is not the original Anonymous. That's me!!
I don't mind that you have a problem with the Mayor, Pastor Burnett. I even agree that he likely pays more lip service than he does real attention. And he may even not like you and purposefully tried to exclude you.
But as I see it, you had two choices: 1) You could have gone to the event, participated and shared your obvious passion and commitment. OR 2) You could have not shown up. Of course, with number 2 you could have stayed silent or did what you did.
How exactly did any of your actions this week advance the cause? Did you embarrass the Mayor? Maybe. Did you call out injustice? Possibly. Did you make them think twice about not including you again? I doubt it.
This town is big enough for multiple efforts to reduce crime, but probably small enough that we only need one. I think you missed a chance to be the bigger man here. I do wish you the best of luck with all the good work you do every day.
Anonymous Wednesday, February 17, 2010,
You said:This town is big enough for multiple efforts to reduce crime, but probably small enough that we only need one. I think you missed a chance to be the bigger man here. I do wish you the best of luck with all the good work you do every day.
I'll accept that criticism and my efforts were certainly not to embarass. I approached the Mayor personally between he and I regarding the issue. He put it on blast with the Senator and Representative. I just told the full story.
Now, I think the thing that is missed is the culture of Peoria. This culture has marginalized leadership especially black and inner city leadership for more than a number of years. Now, some of this may be justified because some of the leaders have marginalized themselves through their actions and inactions...but on the other hand the establishment, be it whoever they are, has also marginalized leadership. That is why there has been very little respect for what vocal leaders have set forth in this town.
This is not about trumping anyone. What it's about is respect where that respect is due. The Mayor by his actions proved that my presence wasn't any more essential to matters than anyone else. The proof is that in 3 conversations before the event he failed to even mention the event in passing...That would have been sufficient for me, but not even ONE word. Then to use our name after receiving our ideas...what???...Why should I have gone?
Read this: If I don't tell you I'm cooking a meal, you smell it, and can almost taste it, and I get lost for an hour and then come back as if nothing happened (when I really retreated to eat my food) do you think I want to offer you a plate? Do you think I ever intended to offer you a plate?
Now, there's two problems here. If I knew you were hungry and withheld, I suffer from a moral problem. If I was simply that inhospitable, I may not suffer morally, but my actions of excluding you from the meal should tell you that I don't want you to eat. For you to then ask is either desparation or ignorance. I'm neither depsperate nor ignorant, nor am I hungry for the meal of deceit and popular fame offered by the political elite.
In this case, there are others not just myself, that could have participated IF we were simply extended a common courtesy in either one of the 3, 2010 conversations that we had...so the actions spoke loud and clear and this was no mistake or oversight, and since I do respect the office of the Mayor, as he is a person elected by the people, and am not a beggar, the best thing to do was stay away and let other citizens get involved...that much I certainly encourage.
A greater concern for me is this. In light of what we see and I have known, I believe it's a fair and honest thing to hold these political leaders to the fire and examining their motives is something that we should do. All I know is that 12 months ago they were absentee and I have YET to hear from them with even a well wish and if I had not pursued this issue, it wouldn't be an issue.
So I can stand the criticism. There is only one perfect and he was crucified by people like us!
Ok, don't take this personally dude, but after reading this I kind of understand why the Mayor might have left you out of that deal.
LOL-LOL!
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