Posted on 03/10/2003 4:56:09 AM PST by KeyBored
Giambra's remark startles audience
By LOU MICHEL
News Staff Reporter
3/9/2003
County Executive Joel A. Giambra, addressing a summit on school choice Saturday, caught a number of African-Americans off guard when he explained why he removed his children from a Buffalo public school. "Our children began to be fearful of black kids," Giambra told a crowd of about 225 parents and education officials. "So we decided that something had to change, and we were fortunate enough to be able to make the choice."
That statement apparently startled a number of blacks at the conference. Several, some with children, walked out of the gathering, which Giambra had organized.
"I wish he'd explained it better. It would have been to his benefit as well as the benefit of the people in the audience. He may not have meant anything by it, but people could have taken it out of context," said Nicole Stenhouse, an African-American woman who attended the summit. "It was just left hanging out there."
One African-American man stood and interrupted the conference in St. John Baptist Church to ask Giambra to explain what he meant.
Giambra acknowledged that he had not clarified his remark.
"I wish I would have finished my thought," he said later.
Giambra explained to a reporter that he and his wife, Michelle, decided to transfer their children to a private school in Williamsville because of disciplinary problems among students at Waterfront Elementary School.
"I do not regret taking my kids out of the school system, because of the concern we had about the possibility of our children harboring racial feelings," Giambra said.
He and his wife, Giambra said, placed their children in Christian Central Academy in Amherst, an integrated school with a black woman serving as its principal, to ensure they would receive an education in a diversified setting.
"The point was that I had the ability to choose, and other parents do not," Giambra said, adding that all parents should have the right to decide what school their children attend if the school system is not succeeding.
"If I was a racist, I would not have helped underwrite the cost of bringing Dr. Fuller here," Giambra said. His office helped to sponsor the summit and its keynote speaker, Howard L. Fuller.
Fuller, a black educator and former superintendent of the Milwaukee Public Schools, is a national leader in the effort to provide alternative means of public education for low-income families living in school districts failing to educate children properly.
Giambra, who remained at the conference until its midafternoon conclusion, said he was disappointed that there were no African-American politicians there.
"They were all invited," he said.
It will be interesting to follow to see what happens. Will Giambra (a Republican, in a democrat stronghold) be forced to step down (a la Trent Lott), or will he be "forgiven" after sufficient grovelling? Like Robert (KKK) Byrd, who was forgiven for his, ah, mis-statements on NATIONAL TV no less.
Wanna place a bet?
1) I'm upset with the behavior of black students. They do not meet my standards.
2) The black children make me think bad thoughts. Perhaps my children will also think bad thoughts.
3) I do not want my children to harbor racist thoughts.
4) In order to make sure that my children do not become prejudiced, I will make sure that they do not associate with blacks.
5) I'm doing this because I want to help blacks. I am a good person.
As an aside, on Feb. 22, "Dear Abby" castigated school for teaching abstinence. She wrote: "Your son and Jenny, also need to know everything there is to know about human reproduction and prevention (they are 14 & 15). do not depend on schools to perform this . . . Many school now teach the students nothing beyond abstinence."
Giambra's actually a pretty good guy. Like I said, he's a 'Pub in a 'Crat stronghold. Of course, Erie County and Western NY is a basket case economically - Giambra was elected in desperation after his 'crat predecessor ran it into the ground.
IMO this was an example of a regular guy, trying to be "politically correct", and getting bitten on the fanny.
You're probably right about Giambra being a RINO. But one thing I learned when I moved here from Oklahoma - the GOP in NY has no resemblence to the GOP anywhere west of the Mississippi. Giambra is likely as conservative as we'll ever have.
And you're absolutely correct about the local fishwrap (a.k.a. the BUFFALO NEWS). They obviously perceive Giambra as no threat to their status quo - i.e. unlimited abortions, ever-increasing government and taxes, etc.
They WILL give him a pass on this one.
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