On a Positive Note:
The Town Talk is reporting that Cenla’s economic future looks good and that Alexandria should continue to be the second-fastest growing city in Louisiana, despite the fact that we seem to suffer from a lack of skilled laborers. This makes for a well-needed shot of good news.
On a Not-So Positive Note:
It’s hard not to be repulsed by some members of the local blogging community. To Michele Godard, I hope that you don’t let the voices of cynicism and blind pettiness convince you that the entire Cenla blogosphere is without merit. In the short time that I’ve been running this blog, I have learned that there are some people who just want to make you mad. They pretend like they speak for the good of the community and that they champion the common person, but they’re really just insecure, jealous idiots who can barely compose a complete sentence (let alone a rational, substantive argument). Many of them seem like they are still living in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and their perception of “who controls Alexandria” hasn’t quite kept up with the times.
It’s hard not to get infuriated by them, and I’ve probably spent way too much time on the subject. But I do know this: They don’t matter. They’ve never mattered. And this has nothing to do with political clout or social status. They don’t matter because they have nothing, absolutely nothing, positive to say about anyone or anything. They’re more concerned with who your ex-husband was or how much money my grandparents have given to charity than they are about the mayor’s race or the state of education or poverty or health care (all issues, by the way, that particularly affect the lives of those that they claim to champion).
So you know what? I’m going to continue reading and contributing, and I hope that others do the same. If you feel like insulting me and my family and who I am and who I know and where I went to school, be my guest. Believe it or not, there are some people in the world who are proud of who they are, where they have come from, and what they have accomplished.
And a final word on LC: I agree with WeSawThat’s assessment of the true purpose of LC, and I want to see LC return to former glory with the least possible damage to the institution’s reputation and student body. For this reason, I no longer think it is absolutely imperative that LC lose its accreditation immediately. The discussion regarding LC attracted some very interesting responses, and as a result, I now believe there is probably an easier solution.
CenLamar 
aw shucks bro a little pressure and you done cut and run. One day you wants da certification jerked because day don’t do tings de way you want them to and somebody axe you how you got a dog in da fight you cut and run. Now today you ain’t gwine say no mo.
You need to stay under da porch with da rest of the mongrels. You beginning to be da Cenla Clown fool.
No, Mr. Coonass, I just think option one (fire those responsible) is a better option.
Typical white elitist. I am Cajun American Lamar, not a Coon ASS as you say. I wonder if you have other slangs for african Americans? Whats the difference? ..Lamar, the more we see, the more we understand about you . Seems like your own prejudice towards others whether, intelectual, economic racial or cultural you have a real prejudice toward others value which you seem to believe is less than yours.
Copied and pasted from a respone of Lamar Junior on Cenla Antics:
“To Spanky: I have never deleted anyone’s comments on my blog other than my own. Typically, I delete a comment in order to make spelling or grammatical changes. That said, I have no problem using my discretion as a moderator in order to delete threatening personal remarks toward a particular person. Thankfully, I have not had to exercise that option yet.”
WAS JUNIOR OR SOMEONE ELSE THREATENED? Me thinketh not. I’ll bet he deleted a factual posting he had no ammunition to fight. After all he allows his friends to post FUCK YOU to a person.
LAMAR seems your censureship is selective for none of this was deleted:
“At 4:55 PM, Anonymous said…
Lamar, Lamar. The only appropriate answer to mean-spirited cretins is:
“FUCK YOU!”
Attempts at reason only inspires more rancor. The high road ain’t necessarily the nice road.
At 6:07 PM, Lamar White, Jr. said…
Yeah, you may be right. But if I were to say something like that to an anonymous idiot, he’d post it everywhere, people would read it and take things out of context, and then I’d have to do extra work explaining why I said what I did.
At 8:59 AM, Anonymous said…
OK Lamar. I can respect that. Please allow me:
HEY, RUDY’S COUSIN, FUCK YOU !
At 4:50 PM, Anonymous said…
HEY LAMAR’S SUCK ASS BUDDY BET YOUR MOMMA TAUGHT YOU THAT LANGUAGE. AT LEAST THAT IS THE WAY SHE TALKS WHEN SHE IS GIVING ME A BLOW JOB. ABOUT WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM A DICKHEAD
At 5:25 PM, Anonymous said…
Lamar, I am very sorry. While I lobbed the insult at Rudy’s phallically obsessed cousin, you caught the heat. I still bet you can take him 2 out of 3 falls. Be very careful. From all indications he is extremely starved for “male” affection.
At 5:36 PM, Lamar White, Jr. said…
Hahaha. Rudy’s cousin, don’t worry:
I don’t discriminate against homosexuals. You can be whoever you want to be on my blog. You don’t have to hide behind your “phallically-obsessed” language. We can all read between the lines, buddy.
At 8:13 PM, Anonymous said…
Good thing you don’t. That would mean you couldn’t post on your own web site you little crotch sniffer you. Such children trying to act all grown up by with your silly ass vulgarity and such. And your grandmother’s pussy smells like a can of tuna that has been open for two weeks according to Malcom X
At 10:26 PM, Anonymous said…
Damn Lamar. I didn’t even know your granny had a cat.”
What’s your point? I deleted a comment that I had posted because it wasn’t substantive.
Doesn’t meet your criteria for deleting as espoused by you. If not being substantive is a reason for you to delete your work you would never post.
What made you decide it was a “coonass” that posted. It could be slave talk or ebonics. If it would have been an african-american posting would you have called him Mr. Nigger? Coonass, homosexual, allowing violence to be posted (2 out of 3 falls) – you full of sterotypical labels and conflicting thoughts. Seems with you being “handicapped” and poor you would be sensitive to the plight of others.
I also like the point you expressed to Goddard that doing good with the family money is not important but rhetoric is. Seems like refined rhetoric based upon your familiy’s mores, ethnicity and education is all your family has to offer.
Do I have any misspells or incomplete sentences. Would hate for you to think I am unimportant. Yessir them White’s gonna lead them folks to the promised land with rhetoric.
Doesn’t meet your criteria for deleting as espoused by you. If not being substantive is a reason for you to delete your work you would never post.
What made you decide it was a “coonass” that posted. It could be slave talk or ebonics. If it would have been an african-american posting would you have called him Mr. Nigger? Coonass, homosexual, allowing violence to be posted (2 out of 3 falls) – you full of sterotypical labels and conflicting thoughts. Seems with you being “handicapped” and poor you would be sensitive to the plight of others.
I also like the point you expressed to Goddard that doing good with the family money is not important but rhetoric is. Seems like refined rhetoric based upon your familiy’s mores, ethnicity and education is all your family has to offer.
Do I have any misspells or incomplete sentences. Would hate for you to think I am unimportant. Yessir them White’s gonna lead them folks to the promised land with rhetoric.
“…I hope that you don’t let the voices of cynicism and blind pettiness convince you that the entire Cenla blogosphere is without merit. In the short time that I’ve been running this blog, I have learned that there are some people who just want to make you mad. They pretend like they speak for the good of the community and that they champion the common person, but they’re really just insecure, jealous idiots who can barely compose a complete sentence (let alone a rational, substantive argument).”
If you deleted because it was not substantive does it mean you meet your own criteria for being insecure, jealous idiots who can barely compose a complete sentence?
Who are you? Are you even from Louisiana? Do you really think that the word coonass is infused with the same baggage as a racial slur?
Are you serious? Because, if so, you’re laughably aloof.
Or are you just so pathetic that you jump on every little, stupid, inconsequential statement in order to extract some damning critique of me?
My advice: Get a life. Go outdoors. Relax. Spend some time with your friends and family.
I don’t control what other people write, and so far, I haven’t censored anyone, including you. Speak your truth. Go ahead. If you’re going to group me in with racists and bigots just because I called some ANONYMOUS person a coonass, that is your perogative.
But it surely looks stupid when you consider the bigger picture.
That said, it’s hard not to admire your zeal. You’re trying really hard to build something out of nothing.
Junior you White’s are just mouth. How many hungry people in Rapides Parish has your family fed. How many homeless people in Rapides Parish has your family provided shelter for. Many many community members both with plenty of money and with some money have expended time effort and sweat. Norman martin has actually physically help build homes and well as sponsor (meaning finance)homes for those less fortunate.
In all the days I have read your remarks and responses all I see is mouth. This is, based upon Granny’s history, a White trait. Great talkers but don’t do shit for others.
That is the pont I am trying to make. Your family is a sucky on the community – as you put it “my family has money” – taken from the community and giving nothing but mouth back. Other families have realized their obligations to give back to the community something besides opinions. Poor people hear enough rhetoric and they can’t eat bullshit, can’t get protection from the elemnts from bullshit, and cannot provide for their family with bullshit. You my friend are no Ted Kennedy, you are a Bullshitter. A poor little rich boy that can barely make it on $35,000.00 a year. Your mouth offends the poor and the ethnicity of folks. Apparently the Acadian-American took exception to your label – that is his right.
As a PS it is not up to me to decide if coonass is offensive. It is up to those of that ethnicity. Calling me a pollock wouldn’t bother me but a Pole would probably take offense.
Am I from here. Oh yes, even have a college degree from a LOUISIANA uNIVERSITY. I know that is not much in the eyes of your friends and you bu my family didn’t/doesn’t have money.
I cannot speak for Paul and Joanne White; however, their philanthropic efforts are well-known in Central Louisiana.
If I were you, I’d check out the origins of the Hope House, the Shepard Center, and Angel Care.
As far as housing is concerned, I’d direct any questions about my family’s participation to David Britt of United Way.
And feel free to call anyone associated with Habitat for Humanity.
My family also provides a number of scholarships for higher education, including one at LSUA. For years, they also put on the Wally White Lecture Series, bringing world-renowned preachers, professors, and humanitarians to Central Louisiana.
I’m not sure if you have a real point here, but it seems to me that you’re just trying to make me angry.
Nice try. Next time, get your facts straight.
And just as a quick postscript:
With regard to my personal involvement in charity, I have been a tireless supporter and advocate for the disabled.
While in Houston, I worked as a mentor for disabled children, and I also helped to establish a workforce training initiative for disabled college students. If you search the Internet long enough, you’ll come across a picture of me and Mayor Lee Brown at an event recognizing this initiative.
One final word: It’s easy to give me grief about going to an “expensive” out-of-state school, but if you look at the numbers, Rice was actually less expensive than Loyola, Centenary, and Tulane.
PS: I deleted the previous comment because of a computer glitch.
Lamar, my challenge here is to somehow avoid using the word (or variants, thereof) “petty.”
Your anonymous posters of French-Acadian heritage and the one who calls you “Junior,” who for all I can tell may be the same person, obviously have a bone to pick with your family. As a casual reader of your blog, it seems the thread that has developed here echoes insults made in other commentaries. Some “one” really doesn’t like your grandparents or parents.
The frequency and tone of these similar posts makes me wonder a couple of things. First, could this poster(s) be a disgruntled ex-employee, or a friend/relative of an ex-employee? Second, if not the first, could this be someone who was on the bad end of a real estate deal? I’ll go on faith that the bad end was due to luck or this person’s own self-destructive tendencies. Anonymity has its safety, but what happens when an author’s words betray that person’s intent? (Feel free to investigate the writings of Jacques Derrida on this particular textual dillema.)
“Junior’s” comparison about Norman Martin’s contributions versus the White family’s is inane. Norman Martin is a great guy, with a lot of wealth, and he has given much to the community. But “junior’s” logic escapes me; how is Mr. Martin’s charity “better” than your family’s or anyone else’s? Mr. Martin’s wealth is considerable, and I would guess much greater than the White family’s. So when it comes time to give back to the community, of course he can do quite a lot that others can’t. This isn’t to diminish the White family’s contributions, but the economies of scale do have a role to play here. But that’s all beside the point. “Junior’s” audacity to question your family’s philanthropy with nothing better than insinuation speaks volumes about his/her moral shortcomings.
“Junior,” if you’ve got specifics on the White family, show your cards. I’m tired of the anonymous sniping and name-calling. If you don’t think Lamar has credibility, then show us why.
The questions and issues Lamar raises with this blog, I think, are worth the discussion. He’s been provocative in a place that for too long has swept discussions about class and race under the rug.
“Junior,” if you’ve got a problem with Lamar, then avoid the innuendo and hysterics because all I can tell at this point is that the only bullshitter here is you.
PS to anonymous “junior.” Your joke: “You my friend are no Ted Kennedy…” was so funny. Did you come up with that all by yourself? Really, I almost wet my pants I laughed so hard. Do you ever write for Leno?
Yes Junior is the Savior of Central Louisian (tat has a nice ring to it.) Here we have an individual with no ties to a business (LC is a business, not a political subdivision) that has a governing body that makes democratic decisions based upon their ideals and thoughts.
Who is Lamar White Junior to question the goings on at LC? It would seem LC is a Baptist owned institution of higher learning (read private college) and has the right to do what it wants. LC must ssuffer or reap the rewards of the eventual outcome of the actions and decisions of the Board at LC.
The point being made is Junior, with all his knowledge, maturity, and clearness of thought, has no business intefering with the supposed shortcomings of LC. Why doesn’t he postulate his thoughts and opin (sic?) on Albertson’s, Weiss & Goldrings, Caplan’s or any other privately owned business in Central La? Doe Junior’s maturity of thought, intelligence and worldliness far surpass that of the Board of a private owned business doing what the democratically elected leaders of this business want to do. Do these same character traits put him in a position to determine that this democratically elected board’s chosen direction is wrong?
The Board and te actions of the Board, like it or not apparently meets the approval of the stockholders – BAPTIST.
Junior, through his immaturity and lack of common sense cannot understand he has no dog in this fight and should allow those directly concerned wit the issue to settle the issue. Outside inteference by non-Baptist is not needed. All in all Junior’s purpose is merely to fan the flame because his far more knowledgeable direction is not being instituted.
Junior start your own college on your less than $35,000 a year and run it your way. Do you think the stockholders do not have the right to run the business the wa they want or should they listen to the immature drivel of someone who has not a cent involved?
Pasernack FYI I am not the one that was offended by the coonass remakr. Seems as though others alson read and are offended by Junion
Oh Pasternak another FYI I would not recognize Lamar or any member of his family if I saw them at high noon on a deserted street. My information comes from the destruction left behind at the church, at the WIB Board and on this Blog. The White’s have ahabit of destroy and try to conquer. The choir at the Church was almost destroyed by Granny and members were leaving in droves. She then left (I think)and everyone left breathed a sigh of relief. Then, as a bad penny does, she returned. Not fiction just check with members of the church.
She enlisted political aid and assistance as far away as Washington DC when the WIB Board would not follow her mandates and done her best to destroy the Board. It was touch and go whether or not the La Dept of labor was going to give Rapides program to Vernon Parish for administration. Her and Felix Mouton just about destroyed the WIB Board trying to unseat folks. Felix Mouton was accussed of sexual harrassment by parish employees. He left the employee of the Parish and went to work for the State of Louisiana at the Trade School Guess who was at the Trade School – the former resigned secretary to the WIB Board, a Black lady, friend of Joe Fuller, Myron Lawson, and the politically important (both elected and unelected) Black Reverends of Rapides Parish. Oh and guess who this “lady” was replaced by – the wife of a Black Police Jury memebr’s pastor. Seems it just goes round and round with the same tired old hacks involved.
Dispute those facts pasternicker.
The theme song for Rapides Parish should be, song by the choir from a church near and dear to the hearts of either the Whites or local Black Politicians:
“The Circle Shall Be unbroken”
Pasternak:
Thank you for your remarks. You’re probably completely correct, despite what this person says. I doubt that anyone in their right mind would ever honestly be offended by the word coonass. It’s just a way for this person(s) to try to get to me. They think they’re revealing some huge hypocrisy on my part.
As far as my grandmother and her church is concerned: I’m glad this person has such a passion for the inner-church politics at FUMC in Alexandria. It’s almost as if he/she once worked there. Hmmmm.
And finally: I have a right to express my opinion on the future of LC. So does everyone else. I don’t see what is so complicated about this.
The anonymous person likes being a thorn in my side, and so long as we pay attention to his nonsense, he’ll continue to stick around.
So Dear Anonymous Person,
If you have a problem with my grandmother, call her up and tell her.
If you have a problem with my opinions, tell me why. No, no, you can’t say that you have a problem because of who I am. Remember? You said you didn’t know me and wouldn’t recognize me. Instead, try disagreeing with me on substance.
Until then, adios.
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