BLACK HISTORY MONTH... WHY ARE WE STILL DOING THIS

Don't misunderstand, I know the history. But I wonder if enought time has passed the those people and issues celebrated in this observance can and should be incorporated into regular old American History. Otherwise, isn't this just segregation that's repackaged and sold as Pride? And how can anyone understand and appreciate a particular contribution or issue if it's removed from its historical context?
I mean, other groups have suffered discrimination in this country too.... Chinese, Irish, Mexicans and American Indians. When is Native American History month, or Chinese American History month... Are we really saying that contributions by African Americans are so much greater than any other demographic groups' that they need to be singled out for special recognition. Or, once again, is this just repackaged segregation?

QUOTE FOR TODAY

"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross"
- Sinclair Lewis 1935

THERE'S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN, BUT THE PROBLEMS REMAIN THE SAME

With John Gronki now out as Snow Hill's police chief, Sheriff Chuck Martin has once again lept into the breach to provide coverage and oversight. According to one source, an administrative-level officer from Martin's staff will assume the role as interim chief for a 90-day period, during which the town hopes to hire a new chief. Reportedly, the interim guy is a retired Ocean City cop who works for the sheriff on a part-time basis.... Gene Somebody-or-Other. So now we have a stopgap, but we don't have a resolution to the problem that confronted town officials two years ago when they hired Gronki.That is, if they couldn't afford to hire a police chief with knowledge and experience last time, and the town's economic situtation has not changed appreciably since then, how are they going to afford it now? Of course, the short answer is that they aren't, at least not without a hefty tax increase. Yikes.
... But another option may be easier for town residents to take than a big tax bite, would be to just disolve the town's police force and turn law enforcement duties over to the Sheriff until such time as the town can afford to reconstitute it's own agency.

SNOW HILL'S GOT SUCH A GOOD BEAT, YOU COULD ALMOST DANCE TO IT

So John Gronki is out as police chief of Snow Hill after not quite two years. It's not like I didn't see that coming from ten miles downrange. ... Right after the town hired him, a good friend of mine sat down and talked to Mike McDermott, then interim chief and a candidate for the job. Mike had the respect of the rank and file and of the citizens. But he didn't get the job because the town was shopping for a Cadallac with a Yugo bank account. That is, they wanted to pay a whole lot less for an administrator than the going rate. And when they found out they couldn't, or wouldn't afford the market rate they decided to go with a candidate with no administrative skills. So they hired Gronki. "It won't last," McDermott reportedly said.... and it didn't. Even a year ago, line officers were saying privately the wished McDermott was back at the helm. Maybe he will be.