After meeting with the area NAACP president in Wichita last night, Arkansas City Mayor Mell Kuhn issued an apology for his Men In Tights performance on Sunday that some found vulgar and racially insensitive. Check back in the afternoon for a full story.
"It has been brought to my attention how offensive this was and I absolutely agree that it was shortsighted of me not to see that in the first place. I am sincerely sorry and I sincerely apologize for the offensive nature of my actions. This was not CASA, this was of my own volition, and I take full responsibility for my actions. The buck absolutely stops here". - Mayor Mell H. Kuhn
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103 comments:
Too late, Mr. Mayor! If you would of been a man and said from the start that you we're sorry if you offended anyone then I would say " ok"... But you didn't. You said that you knew what you we're doing and that it was funny. Only when the Wichita Naacp gets involved that you think the great folks of AC deserve an apology. We'll I say to you Mr. Mayor that I don't give a damn about YOUR apology- Too late!
There are too many people with an ax to grind who are using this whole thing for their own purposes. They don't like Mel and have been looking for an excuse to jump on the bandwagon and throw stones. Mel did the right thing by apologizing and I think it was big of him to do it especially when what he actually DID do fit entirely within the context of the event in which it took place.
"I found out today that David Allen KNEW about all of this BEFORE it happened just like the CASA organizers. IF there was any "wrongdoing" doesn't this make you every bit as culpable?"
I heare that video of the event portrays a completely different {performance} than what we are hearing about after the fact from the mel-haters and that it will show everyone how they are wrong to be so quick to condemn and jump on board the premature conclusion bandwagon.
I would remind everyone HE WON the competition in two divisions, overall and talent.
He was good - funny, the crowd enjoyed the performance and so did the judges.
For those who WERE NOT THERE and didn't see the performance - I'm not aware of anyone walking out.
A moral high-ground based on hear-say for those not attending... Silly, silly people.
He didn't give a damn yesterday, but now he's sorry.
Oh how easy it is to throw stones at those you hate. The NAACP is nothing short of an Organized Mafia. Jumping on a bandwagon to get publicity.
It is amazing how many text and emails I have gotton from people about Obama and what C.H.A.N.G.E. really meant...you all thought that was hilarious, but now ya gotta beat up on Mell.
I say to hell with all of you!
If Mayor Kuhn honestly believed that his actions were noble I do not think he would have apologized or agreed to meet with the NAACP - do you?
Ok, I don't get it.
Yesterday he was adamant that he would not apologize.
Today he did apologize.
Which mayor are you supporting? The one that doesn't care at all what the people of Ark City think or the one that seems to care a lot about what the people in Wichita think?
Kuhn supporters are not Ark City supporters?
Hey does Bryant's sell Torches?
Yeah, but not on credit!
"I found out today that David Allen KNEW about all of this BEFORE it happened just like the CASA organizers. IF there was any "wrongdoing" doesn't this make you every bit as culpable?"
Well how about it Traveler staff?
Did CASA know what the mayor was going to do before hand? Seems that this part was left out of the article. Interesting...
Seems like ol'JJ just couldn't wait to post the picture and start more trouble.
Mr. Kuhn has opinions and he freely gives them, some may find it obnoxious, but he is at least man enough to tell someone to their face. Not hiding on a blog.
I did lose some respect for Mr. Kuhn, not because of his "performance" but because he backed down and apologized to the NAACP. "PC" is bullshit.
So here I am taking time out of my busy schedule to let you and maybe a few other people know that this screams of the old belief that the most deluded sciolists I've ever seen are merely stubborn nabobs of sectarianism. Although not without overlap and simplification, I plan to identify three primary positions on N.A.A.C.P.'s perorations. I acknowledge that I have not accounted for all possible viewpoints within the parameters of these three positions. Nevertheless, N.A.A.C.P. says that without its superior guidance, we will go nowhere. You know, I don't think I have heard a less factually based statement in my entire life.
Throughout history, there has been a clash between those who wish to appeal for comity between us and N.A.A.C.P. and those who wish to panic irrationally and overreact completely. Naturally, N.A.A.C.P. belongs to the latter category. It has been brought to my attention that froward individuals can't even agree among themselves as to how bleeding-heart N.A.A.C.P. is. While this is true, if N.A.A.C.P. had its way, schools would teach students that honor counts for nothing. This is not education but indoctrination. It prevents students from learning about how if N.A.A.C.P. wanted to, it could bribe the parasitic with the earnings of the productive. It could deprive people of dignity and autonomy. And it could start wars, ruin the environment, invent diseases, and routinely do a hundred other things that kill people. We must truly not allow N.A.A.C.P. to do any of these.
Actually, each rung on the ladder of clericalism is a crisis of some kind. Each crisis supplies an excuse for N.A.A.C.P. to rule with an iron fist. That is the standard process by which the most treacherous schemers you'll ever see hamstring our efforts to punish those who lie or connive at half-truths. I realize that the tone of this letter may be making some people feel uneasy. However, even if you're somewhat uncomfortable reading about N.A.A.C.P.'s illaudable hatchet jobs please don't blame me for them. I'm not the one causing riots in the streets. I'm not the one making my blood curdle. And I'm not the one plaguing our minds. Okay, this letter has become much too long so I'll just jump right to the punchline: The continuing misunderstandings that some incoherent pamphleteers seem to have merely underscore this point.
Quote-"Which mayor are you supporting? The one that doesn't care at all what the people of Ark City think or the one that seems to care a lot about what the people in Wichita think?"
Exactly! Amen!
Oh and to the poster who told us "to hell with all of you" mighty aggressive, Don't you think? And if you can't take on opinions of others who don't share the same view as yours without telling them "to hell with you" then LEAVE- Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!
Quote-"Did CASA know what the mayor was going to do before hand? Seems that this part was left out of the article. Interesting..."
Some people are so dumb- They want to point fingers at everyone, But Kuhn. Go back and read the article AGAIN. It's RIGHT there in black and white. They did report and I quote-
"He said he ran everything he planned by CASA officials, and that the audience found it all hilarious.
"I didn't spring this on anybody," he said. "I don't give a damn what people think. It's a bunch of bullshit"
Mr. Mayor, you are a day late and a dollar short. Yesterday you didn't give a damn what we thought, but then when faced with people with more power and influence than yourself, you cave in. You should have apologized yesterday without being forced to. You represent us, and we were offneded, but you didn't care.
Shame on you!
"So here I am taking time out of my busy schedule to let you and maybe a few other people know that this screams of the old belief that the most deluded sciolists I've ever seen are merely stubborn nabobs of sectarianism..."
Sorry you wasted your time on that. Now lay your head down on your thesaurus and take a nap.
Kake news- http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/30140049.html
The mayor of a south-central Kansas town is apologizing for appearing in blackface as part of a fundraiser.
Arkansas City Mayor Mel Kuhn won the drag queen beauty contest in which he not only appeared in blackface but also used sexually suggestive slang for his character's name. The contest was part of a fundraiser held over the weekend by the Court Appointed Special Advocates, which supports foster children.
Kuhn's apology came after a meeting Wednesday night with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The apology, posted on the group's Web site, said it was shortsighted of Kuhn not to see how offensive his actions were in the first place.
The mayor previously had defended himself to the local paper, The Arkansas City Traveler, saying he did not care what people thought.
>>I did lose some respect for Mr. Kuhn, not because of his "performance" but because he backed down and apologized to the NAACP. "PC" is bullshit.
That's pathetic. The man gave a sexist, racist performance in a public official capacity and you defend those who call him out on it? You're either naive or stupid.
>> Oh how easy it is to throw stones at those you hate. The NAACP is nothing short of an Organized Mafia. Jumping on a bandwagon to get publicity.
So it's wrong of them to point out the obvious?
You do realize that Kuhn's actions would have ruined the career of a military officer, of a company CEO, or any public official in a larger city.
>>It is amazing how many text and emails I have gotton from people about Obama and what C.H.A.N.G.E. really meant...you all thought that was hilarious, but now ya gotta beat up on Mell.
..what? That makes absolutely no sense. Try again.
>>There are too many people with an ax to grind who are using this whole thing for their own purposes. They don't like Mel and have been looking for an excuse to jump on the bandwagon and throw stones. Mel did the right thing by apologizing and I think it was big of him to do it especially when what he actually DID do fit entirely within the context of the event in which it took place.
I think this goes beyond not liking Kuhn. It was racist, it was sexist, it was downright offensive. Regardless of the humor, Kuhn used it when representing public office. It's downright wrong.
Mel Kuhn should not have had to go to Wichita to apologize to anyone. That is BS!!!
>>>>
Just in the interest of accuracy. Mell Didn't "have to" to go wichita. The naacp called him and he offered to go.
So give him credit for that.
Maybe he was going to there anyway?
Someone mentioned the video of the act.
Id like to see it.
KAKE has picked the story up. Link on my blog.
and KSN
not sure how i feel about people promoting their blog on my blog.
ill let it pass for now
so did the Traveler know ahead of time what was going to go on? If so are they using this episode after the fact to grind an ax with Mr. Kuhn? Doubt we'll ever know.
Mr. Kuhn was man enough to say it was him and only him....but seriously why has no one asked CASA why they didn't put a stop to it if it was offensive?
No offense but I am promoting information of interest to the community on your blog, it just happens to be on mine since I found it.
I think that is fair.
He's damned if he does and he's damned if he doesn't.
"Oh and to the poster who told us "to hell with all of you" mighty aggressive, Don't you think? And if you can't take on opinions of others who don't share the same view as yours without telling them "to hell with you" then LEAVE- Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!"
TO HELL WITH YOU TOO!
">> Oh how easy it is to throw stones at those you hate. The NAACP is nothing short of an Organized Mafia. Jumping on a bandwagon to get publicity.
So it's wrong of them to point out the obvious?
You do realize that Kuhn's actions would have ruined the career of a military officer, of a company CEO, or any public official in a larger city."
I realize that it is OK for you to forget Mayor Ben Givens, Or Mr. Watson..no department heads at the city office. Get real? Damn PC bullshit again.
">>It is amazing how many text and emails I have gotton from people about Obama and what C.H.A.N.G.E. really meant...you all thought that was hilarious, but now ya gotta beat up on Mell.
..what? That makes absolutely no sense. Try again. "
As for this you apparently did not get the email:
C = Come
H = Help
A = A
N = Negro (but this was more offensive)
G = Get
E = Elected
So, now you know no more and no less than those I was preaching to. Apparently you were not one of them.
But I leave you this:
If the only reason you vote for Obama is because he is black, then that make you a racist. NO? Anytime you do something based on color of skin, then you promote racisim.
Mell Kuhn;
An open letter to you Mr. Mayor.
I thought it was nice of you to support CASA, and I know it was a very hard job finding "contestants" to participate.
I guarantee CASA will never have any participants in the future for this event, but I do not blame you for not being a liberal or a worthless democrat.
Nor, do I blame you for have your convictions.
And I frankly could care less about the NAACP, or their opinions.
Matter of fact Thank you for your time.
>>As for this you apparently did not get the email:
C = Come
H = Help
A = A
N = Negro (but this was more offensive)
G = Get
E = Elected
>>So, now you know no more and no less than those I was preaching to. Apparently you were not one of them.
>>But I leave you this:
If the only reason you vote for Obama is because he is black, then that make you a racist. NO? Anytime you do something based on color of skin, then you promote racisim.
I agree, that's a racially offensive e-mail. Same with voting for Obama purely on terms of race.
Two wrongs don't make a right. Kuhn is also held to a higher standard than Joe down the hall who sends out those trashy e-mails. Kuhn is the mayor, and thus has a public image that he must uphold when representing Ark City.
HEY MEL< IF WE HAD A LOWES WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO TO PONCA TO BUY OUR SUPPLIES TO CRUFIX YOU
HEY MEL, IF WE HAD A LOWES WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO TO PONCA TO BUY OUR SUPPLIES TO CRUCIFY YOU!
LOL, too funny!
I agree!
I think that is fair.
Yea, maybe so.
im ambivalent
o did the Traveler know ahead of time what was going to go on? If so are they using this episode after the fact to grind an ax with Mr. Kuhn? Doubt we'll ever know.
>>>>>
I did not know. I only knew he was going to participate.
Ive no axe to grind.
If youll notice, I've not expressed an opinion one way or the other.
ive just posted stuff :)
jj
HEY MEL, IF WE HAD A LOWES WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO TO PONCA TO BUY OUR SUPPLIES TO CRUCIFY YOU!
I find this comment very inappropriate you guys sound like children.
It doesn't matter how we sound. Our MAYOR stated publicly that he doesn't care what we think. We found that out at Lowe's and now we find it again promoting vulgar language at a children's event.
It doesn't matter what we say because he doesn't care what Ark City says or thinks.
We want it, we need it, we don't like it, fix it, change it. No matter what we ask for he neither listen's nor cares.
Wow, how much egg can one person have on his face?
Step down Mayor, before this gets even worse.
At times, we all have an axe to grind. Currently, I'm grinding my axe in regards to Arkansas City Traveler's announcements. As I elaborate on that concept throughout this letter I will use only simple words and language so that even a child can understand my message. Yes, even a child should know that Arkansas City Traveler's attempts to marginalize me based on my gender, race, or religion are much worse than mere simplism. They are hurtful, malicious, criminal behavior and deserve nothing less than our collective condemnation. As we organize our campaigns against anal-retentive drug addicts and formulate responses to their rhetoric, it is critical that we avoid the extremes of a pessimistic naturalism and an optimistic humanism by combining the truths of both. Arkansas City Traveler acts as if it were King of the World. This hauteur is astonishing, staggering, and mind-boggling.
Although this has been overlooked or ignored by the established scientific community, Arkansas City Traveler has never been a big fan of freedom of speech. It supports pogroms on speech, thought, academic license, scientific perspective, journalistic integrity, and any other form of expression that gives people the freedom to state that Arkansas City Traveler argues that our unalienable rights are merely privileges that it can dole out or retract. To maintain this thesis, Arkansas City Traveler naturally has had to shovel away a mountain of evidence, which it does by the desperate expedient of claiming that saturnine, ungrateful casuists aren't ever narrow-minded. To create an unwelcome climate for those of us who are striving to snap Arkansas City Traveler's lieutenants out of their trance has never been something that I wanted to do. Never.
Arkansas City Traveler's understrappers were recently seen forcing me to experience psychological stress or "cognitive dissonance". That's not a one-time accident or oversight. That's Arkansas City Traveler's policy. While we may all pray for a perfect utopian world in which everyone is holding hands and singing "We Are the World" in perfect harmony, the blunt reality is that throughout history, there has been a clash between those who wish to declare a truce with Arkansas City Traveler and commence a dialogue and those who wish to eliminate the plebiscitary mechanisms which ensure a free and democratic society. Naturally, Arkansas City Traveler belongs to the latter category.
While there's no use crying over spilled milk, it takes more than a mass of collectivism-prone malefactors to discuss the programmatic foundations of Arkansas City Traveler's subhuman projects in detail. It takes a great many thoughtful and semi-thoughtful people who are willing to raise high-handed maniacs out of their cultural misery and lead them to the national community as a valuable, united factor. It may be unfashionable to say so and it may surprise a few of you out there, but I would like to give you an example of how wanton Arkansas City Traveler can be. Arkansas City Traveler has admitted that it intends to do everything possible to keep negligent, fork-tongued meatheads querulous and power-hungry. Okay, that may have been a particularly bald-faced and unsubtle example but I'm no psychiatrist. Still, from the little I know about psychiatry I can indeed say that Arkansas City Traveler seems to exhibit many of the symptoms of Asperger's syndrome. I don't say that to judge but merely to put Arkansas City Traveler's confused, abominable perversions into perspective.
I have just one word for Arkansas City Traveler: physiologicoanatomic. To put it another way, I am not fooled by Arkansas City Traveler's namby-pamby and eristic rhetoric. I therefore gladly accept the responsibility of notifying others that if we recognize and respect the opinions, practices, and behavior of others then the sea of sensationalism, on which Arkansas City Traveler so heavily relies, will begin to dry up. You may not be aware of this, but every time Arkansas City Traveler utters or writes a statement that supports immoralism -- even indirectly -- it sends a message that the federal government should take more and more of our hard-earned money and more and more of our hard-won rights. I doubtlessly aver that we mustn't let it make such statements, partly because it, serving as judge, jury, and executioner, has decreed that there is an international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids, but primarily because I enjoy the great diversity of humankind, in our food, our dress, our music, our literature, and our forms of spiritual expression. What I don't enjoy are Arkansas City Traveler's silly declamations, which extirpate the very things that I unquestionably cherish. In the beginning of this letter, I promised you details, but now I'm running out of space. So here's one detail to end with: A certain curtailment of the right to political opposition is an unavoidable concomitant of Arkansas City Traveler's insipid obiter dicta.
http://www.wichitanaacpblog.com/2008/10/oh-no-he-didnt-mayor-of-ark-city.html
Hey Mell you are so damn sexy now.
Hey since we found him guilty we can buy our lynching supplies for the electric chair at Mid-Western Electric Supply.
Come on ya hillbilly bastards, get ya pitchforks and torches and follow da crowd.
I bet get can get some stones at Wells Cuntstruction he has all dem big dump trucks
Just wish Thuerber was found guilty as fast as this. Kinda profound we care more about words than murder.
Mel I loved your shoes, where did you find them?
XOXOXO
Larry~Laurie
Asperger Syndrome? Of all the meat-head comments. My brother suffers from this and I do not find it a bit funny. Shame on you Mr./MS. Poster!
(Asperger's Disorder) is a neurobiological disorder named for a Viennese physician, Hans Asperger, who in 1944 published a paper which described a pattern of behaviors in several young boys who had normal intelligence and language development, but who also exhibited autistic-like behaviors and marked deficiencies in social and communication skills. In spite of the publication of his paper in the 1940's, it wasn't until 1994 that Asperger Syndrome was added to the DSM IV and only in the past few years has AS been recognized by professionals and parents.
Individuals with AS can exhibit a variety of characteristics and the disorder can range from mild to severe. Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with AS has difficulty determining proper body space. Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the person with AS may prefer soft clothing, certain foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. It's important to remember that the person with AS perceives the world very differently. Therefore, many behaviors that seem odd or unusual are due to those neurological differences and not the result of intentional rudeness or bad behavior, and most certainly not the result of "improper parenting".
By definition, those with AS have a normal IQ and many individuals (although not all), exhibit exceptional skill or talent in a specific area. Because of their high degree of functionality and their naiveté, those with AS are often viewed as eccentric or odd and can easily become victims of teasing and bullying. While language development seems, on the surface, normal, individuals with AS often have deficits in pragmatics and prosody. Vocabularies may be extraordinarily rich and some children sound like "little professors." However, persons with AS can be extremely literal and have difficulty using language in a social context.
At this time there is a great deal of debate as to exactly where AS fits. It is presently described as an autism spectrum disorder and Uta Frith, in her book AUTISM AND ASPERGER'S SYNDROME, described AS individuals as "having a dash of Autism". Some professionals feel that AS is the same as High Functioning Autism, while others feel that it is better described as a Nonverbal Learning Disability. AS shares many of the characteristics of PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder; Not otherwise specified), HFA, and NLD and because it was virtually unknown until a few years ago, many individuals either received an incorrect diagnosis or remained undiagnosed. For example, it is not at all uncommon for a child who was initially diagnosed with ADD or ADHD be re-diagnosed with AS. In addition, some individuals who were originally diagnosed with HFA or PDD-NOS are now being given the AS diagnosis and many individuals have a dual diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism.
In this letter I plan to cite some of Caucasian Leaders's more topical crimes and let you, the reader, decide for yourself how to react. Before I launch into my rant, permit me the prelude caveat that caucasian leaders's confused ipse dixits reduce religion to a consumer item in a spiritual supermarket. Caucasian leaders then blames us for that. Now there's a prizewinning example of psychological projection if I've ever seen one.
Perhaps caucasian leaders received its information (or rather, misinformation) from late-night television programs and "B" movies. My point may be made clearer by use of an allegorical tale. Suppose a hypothetical group of three people is standing in a room. One of those people realizes that it's time for caucasian leaders to stop its systematic assault on religious freedom. Another goes on and on about caucasian leaders's contemptible, pertinacious equivocations. But the third can't understand why I don't expect everyone to agree with me. In this hypothetical situation, it should be obvious that what we're involved in with caucasian leaders is not a game. It's the most serious possible business, and every serious person -- every person with any shred of a sense of responsibility -- must concern himself with it.
I have a hard time trying to reason with people who remain calm when they see caucasian leaders disarm us morally, make us rootless and defenseless, and then destroy us. It may be obvious but should nonetheless be acknowledged that caucasian leaders's goal is to concoct labels for people, objects, and behaviors in order to manipulate the public's opinion of them. How misguided is that? How disdainful? How unpatriotic? Even if one isn't completely conversant with current events, the evidence overwhelmingly indicates that caucasian leaders has certainly never given evidence of thinking extensively. Or at all, for that matter. I conclude this letter with an appropriate quote: "Caucasian leaders's publicity stunts are a quick-fix detour, a placebo aimed at surface symptoms, and an excuse to discredit legitimate voices in the faddism debate." I believe we all know who said that, don't we?
What the hell are you spouting off about?
Hey Einstein, you don't need "s's" after the word leaders.
Oh well big words, small message.
Hey Einstein, you don't need "s's" after the word leaders.
Oh well big words, small message.
Well ain't that just great, now the grammar nazis have trooped into the thread....
NICE JOB AC TRAVELER IN NOTIFING THE WICHITA NAACP!
Can someone please translate whatever message NAACP is trying to convey into something that I might better be able to understand, like Yiddish or that Bushman clicking language? As it stands, I have no idea whether NAACP is seriously claiming that everyone who doesn't share its beliefs is a lamebrained mendicant deserving of death and damnation or if it's simply the case that it owns drawers and boxes full of legal documents, which it is convinced prove its position. Permit me this forum to rant. NAACP's more than cynical. It's mega-cynical. In fact, to understand just how cynical NAACP is, you first need to realize that that's just one side of the coin. The other side is that it is more than merely truculent. It's über-truculent. In fact, NAACP's so truculent that if it truly wanted to be helpful, NAACP wouldn't promote the lie of hooliganism.
We can all have daydreams about Happy Fuzzy Purple Bunny Land, where everyone is caring, loving, and nice. Not only will those daydreams not come true, but NAACP may have access to weapons of mass destruction. Then again, I consider it to be a weapon of mass destruction itself. I sincerely have a hard time trying to reason with people who remain calm when they see NAACP promote a culture of dependency and failure.
I won't lie to you; NAACP insists that it has answers to everything. Has anyone, at any time, ever been more wrong? Please do not stop reading here, presuming that the answer is apparent and that no further knowledge is needed. Such is truly not the case. In fact, I'd bet no one ever told you that I want my life to count. I want to be part of something significant and lasting. I want to turn random, senseless violence into meaningful action. Finally, this has been a good deal of reading, and surely difficult reading at that. Still, I hope you walk away from it with the new knowledge that NAACP's mandarin prose has always appealed to perfidious, vapid psychics.
you are a racisist!
"Happy Fuzzy Purple Bunny Land"
HEY WHERE IS THAT PLACE?
Is it true all the stockers at Wal-Mart, Dillons and Country Mart have been instructed to paint the faces of the Aunt Jemimah and Uncle Ben boxes even the Mrs. Butterworth bottles with white out?
Same difference huh?
Don't bash the NAACP. Had Kuhn never wore the offending costume and had never created the offending name to describe his act, there simply would have been no story. He not only offended people of color, but women as well. He apologized under pressure because most were outraged by his insensitive actions. Had he dressed up as six pack joe and called himself "Flaccid Mel", perhaps no one would have been outraged and he could have still raised money for CASA.
"Had he dressed up as six pack joe and called himself "Flaccid Mel", perhaps no one would have been outraged "
So "Joe Six-Pack" is fair game? Why?
They are "ignorant" rednecks?
They are poor?
They are white?
You hit a person and it would be a misdemeanor crime. Say something racist and hit the person it becomes a felony.....Everbody is equal, except some need to be more "equal" than others...
I'm still waiting for him to apologize to us ladies. Hmmmm....
Oh, JJ, you were right about the long stories. I lose interest after so many words, too!
Larry~Laurie, is that really you? :)
BIGGOTS
Well, Ark City you made national news with the Mel Khun ordeal. You are on Fox news at foxnews.com. I know Ark City wanted to promote tourism, but how desperate are you? Thank you mayor Khun for putting Ark City America on the NATIONAL map.
caucasion spoutings?
Thats racist!!
Well I would like to voice my appenion on this and let people know what I was taught when I was a kid growing up. First off I am a white man in his 50ties. I grew up in the seventies when racial tension's were at their highest near Kansas City.The point I want to make was I was taught By my best freinds Grandfather and he was a wise man and I look up to this man as a great man and I respected him as if he was my own Grandfather. But this was his point that if political groups such as the N.A.A.C.P and other group would stay out of everything that people of all Races and genders would get along and things would not be so stired up all the time. By the way this man that taught me so much and I looked up to was as he put it a Black Man or to be politically corret An Afican-American Man
One thing I will give James and David, when they grind an axe they really grind an axe.
If you had ran an article stating Mel had won and a picture, this would have been a non-issue. The majority of AC citizens would have seen it as it was intended, humor for a good cause.
Instead the Traveler leadership(sic) chose to even a score with Mel. The Traveler and it's little blogger cronies set forth to build a mountain out of a mole hill. And they succeeded.
The whiny little bitches (or bastards to be gender equal) reported this to the local TV and most likely to the cable news networks.
Now AC is being protrayed as a two-bit racist midwest town. You and your cronies flamed this little forest fire and then point at Mel and say it's his fault that the town is a nationwide laughing stock.
James and David have constantly gone out of their way to stir up controversy. Not report news, oh no time for that, they use the paper as a vehicle to advance their own personal agendas.
The Traveler disgusts me to no end, they have caused 90% of the trouble we have seen in local politics. Maybe it is to sell more papers, or ad space on their blog. Or maybe just push their own political ideas.
I will make every effort I can to get people to drop their advertising and subscriptions to this worthless rag. At least in the days of outdoor plumbing the paper would be of some use, now it is just pure propaganda.
Didn't see anything about Kuhn on Fox news.com. Only this black guy saying he was almost lynched when he lived here.
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Aug02/0,4670,ObamaMentor,00.html
Thank Goodness Kuhn wasn't on Fox news. It would have given Arkansas City some bad press.
Ok. So he says he is accepting responsibility. Other than empty words is there any meaning to that?
Maybe he should step down and let someone who can move the city forward take over.
. It would have given Arkansas City some bad press.
Ive known successful politicians and entrepreneurs who know that there is no such thing as bad press....
attention is attention.
maybe arkansas city people worry too much about their image?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,432023,00.html
Quit blaming the newspaper for printing the news that the mayor painted a black face and used a vulgar name. He did it. He didn't get it and now he suddenly does. The Traveler and people do not have to call the other news organizations to ask them to come down. They get copies of the paper mailed to them from all cities in Kansas every day and then decide what area news is worth reporting.
The Traveler has seriously gone out of its way to avoid many conflicts that could have plagued this commission and we can only hope they will re-examine some of those issues. In the meantime, Mel has apologized and I am not sure that he really gets it yet but perhaps he will try. At least, he doesn't want to get called up to the big city again.
Many of you that still think what he did is okay and that the issue should have been ignored should perhaps take a lesson from him. This was not about small town America being offended. The standard that offended us is the same standard that is offensive to most people across Kansas and America thus the coverage.
I think we should just be thankful that the entire story has not been on the news. The rest of the story includes his "black accent" and the name of his back up singers. The Wichita news has been kind to him and now we will have to see if that kindness was warranted. I certainly hope so Mr. Mayor.
I'm honestly suprised to see this on Fox news. However, don't worry. Everyone is watching the VP debates and after shows. No one outside the AC Bible belt or NAACP group will notice.
Having said that, I guess all of us should be more aware of our actions in this day and age. The new technology allows news to spread like wildfire.
After reading Fox News story about this, He makes me even more sick. I have lost all respect for him.
Quotes- "Blackface is shoepolish," he said."
Umm I've seen someone post that on here, Hmm Been on here lately mel?
Another quote- "Still, he warned that he might rescind his apology if "people wouldn't accept it."-
So, You really don't mean your apology or you wouldn't of ever said that! If you mean it, You mean it.. There is no threats of taking it back if YOUR people don't agree, That's not how it works.
Then he says-
But Kuhn told FOXNews.com that he was not in blackface, but in "tanface," and did not intend to offend anyone.
THEN
Instead, he said, painting his face and portraying a black woman "was the best way to win."
So Mel, It was all for winning, Huh? Was it worth it now?
He then again blames the "media and bloggers" for HIS bad behavior.
"Kuhn added that he was saddened that the event had been "blown so out of proportion," by the local media and bloggers."
"Still, he warned that he might rescind his apology if "people wouldn't accept it." (quote from FOXNews.com)
I thought he didn't give a damn what people thought!
Quote from FOXNews.com: "To paint me as a racist is just not right."
But this is not the first time he has expressed his racist opinion. There are AT LEAST two other times, not just against African Americans, but also against Native Americans and Hispanics.
Also it's not the first time he's been accused of being sexist either.
...white female said,"I do not know him personally, but have had some run ins with him through his business. He talked down to me and was insulting then, too."
Kuhn added that he was saddened that the event had been "blown so out of proportion," by the local
media and bloggers.
"I am the mayor of a small town in Kansas," Kuhn told FOXNews.com. "We are poor people, but we don't
have poor ways. To paint me as a racist is just not right."
---Mr. Mayor, speak for yourself. I am NOT a poor people. I DON'T have a poor people attitude, nor a
'poor people mentality'.
--- Strong Black Female ---
"To help rectify his actions, Kuhn has promised to work with the NAACP and other local groups to raise
awareness about issues of racism in his city.
Still, he warned that he might rescind his apology if "people wouldn't accept it."
--- I just wonder Mayor Kuhn, how can one rescind a 'sincere heartfelt apology'. It just does not seem possible to me. Whether your half-hearted apology was or is accepted, if it was sincere it would stand on it's own merit.
Now I am not a brain surgeon, nor a rocket scientist, but even I know that when a person is sincere in an apology, it doesn't matter what people say or think.
Sorry, but your ‘sincere heartfelt apology’ never , (and surely after that statement), seemed to be a sincere statement issued to the local paper. ;(
--- Strong Black Female ---
read shane farley's article over on newscow. he dressed as a hispanic woman years ago in the CASA pagent even had a name that meant big boobs....how come things were not blown out of proportion like this then?
CASA pagent even had a name that meant big boobs....how come things were not blown out of proportion like this then?
Farley is Hispanic.
I guess that is why?
What if Kuhn was a black man and did what he did. Would that make a difference?
Chi Chi is a stretch. Isn't that the name of a prominent golfer?
Poon and Poontang are unmistakeable!
>>read shane farley's article over on newscow. he dressed as a hispanic woman years ago in the CASA pagent even had a name that meant big boobs....how come things were not blown out of proportion like this then?
Farley is not a mayor or a public official. Had a regular Joe did what Kuhn did it may not be such a big deal. But, Kuhn has an image to uphold, and a fine line to walk. His costume was racially charged, and the names in the performance were sexual slang that had no place coming from a mayor.
The same thing happened when Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans called his city a "chocolate city." Comments with a racial or sexual undertone should not be coming from someone in the position of mayor, or any other public office.
**** onestone said...
Well, Ark City you made national news with the Mel Khun ordeal. You are on Fox news at foxnews.com. I know Ark City wanted to promote tourism, but how desperate are you? Thank you mayor Khun for putting Ark City America on the NATIONAL map.
October 2, 2008 6:20 PM*****
I thought it was Thurber who did that.
Traveler Editor said...
"not sure how i feel about people promoting their blog on my blog.
ill let it pass for now"
pssst... Mr. Traveler Editor... this is how the blogoshere works. People leave comments and they invite others to read their opinions on their own blogs.
So, we are a poor city now? I guess us poor uneducated folks shouldn't know no better than to be upset about a vulgar, racist, mayor.
And it's all our faults that he did what he did. He said so.
Remeber the attractive female Mayor who was in the news awhile back because she had put pics of herself in her undies on her Myspace page?
SHE GOT RECALLED FOR IT!
And that was nothing compaired to this.
And now he might recind his apology? Wow. He just doesn't know when to shut up, does he. He deserves all this bad press, and I hope he steps down, or is forced out.
Mayor Kuhn was not the only one involved in this. What about the CASA board that allowed it to go on. What about everyone in attendance at his performance. I understand everyone thought it was very funny at the time. The judges at the event picked him as the best performance. Did anyone step up at that time and say they were offended by his performance? Why was the performance not stopped? At least the Mayor has apologized, we have not heard from the other people involved!
The story has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Chicago Tribune, the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, K.C. Star, Omaha World Herald, Houston Chronicle and who knows where else. Fortunately, it makes it sound like he apologized immediately following the incident. If only that had been the case.
Gosh, guess us small town folk weren't upset over nothing after all.
Can we not do something here just once that will get us positive national attention? How will we attract any business to this area when our leaders do this stuff?
We were never going to attract any business as long as Puhn was in office anyway. At least none that would compete with him or his buddies. That should be evident with the Lowe's fiasco.
Something to think about. If a black or brown person put a white face on,pranced around as a drag queen,dehumanize your wife or daughters and says your poon tang smells, that person would be publicly humiliated and removed from the position of Mayor and blacked balled. Mr. Mayor is not a Mayor, he is an embarrasement and CASA's new director is also an embarrasement to their community.
"Fortunately, it makes it sound like he apologized immediately following the incident. If only that had been the case."
Good Point.
How can you blame this on the CASA director? It might be naive to not know the meaning of the name, but that director did not condone racism. Were you at the event? Most of the people who attended thought he looked like a woman wearing too much makeup, NOT like a person in black face. The choice of name was a mistake. The contestants were given written instructions to avoid vulgarity, etc. Until he said he was impersonating a black woman, most people didn't even know.
LESSON 101 FOR MEL:
Diversity is about having the long term goal that should generally reflect the population of the state it serves in all its dimensions.
See what happens when you put a KUHN in office?
Mel you made an ass of yourself, does this make you a KUHN-ass?
KUHNta-Kintay would not be proud, oh wait that was a fake story.
CHI-CHI does mean TIT-TIT, ask anyone that ate at Chi-Chi's restaurant in Wichita.
Just a racist trying to fan the flames I guess, oh wait the Traveler already did that!
If your gonna play go play with/by your self...whatta loser.....if your gonna fan anything fan yourself because you stink!
Mell Kuhn now gets the Steve Abrams award for putting Arkansas City back on the map for intolerance and stupidity.
Waytogo Mell!!
Newsflash: CBS and BBC don't have an article about Mell Kuhn and Arkansas City. Everybody else does.
A google search for Mell Kuhn comes back with 4000 hits.
He was awarded the "Moron of the Day" award from weathereye.
http://weathereye.wordpress.com/2008/10/04/todays-moron-blackface-mayor/
Who ever said the cream doesn't rise to the top? Enjoy your 15 minutes of fame Mell. Then go away.
Are you trying to say that cream is white? You are a racisist
Not only were people outraged in this community by Mel Kuhn's behavior but people were shocked and disgusted on a NATIONAL level as well. This should not be swept under the rug either. Mel needs to step down and allow the community to heal over this disasterous mess. If he doesn't, people need to petition his removal from office since the City Officials apparently are not planning to take action. And, on another note, these City Offical's who do nothing in a situation like this will be remembered when it is time to vote.
It is actually a good point in that Ark City has a history of hiring management employees from within the ranks and none of the recent hires are minorities.
A lawyer would have a simple task to show the prevailing atmosphere of discrimination in the Ark City government.
I don't really truely know the situation of the city hiring minorities, but could it be possible that not many are applying or that they may not have the qualifications needed? What about work history? Before anyone jumps to conclusions and shouts discrimination, the whole picture should be looked at and not just what we see.
Step down Mayor Kuhn, and restore a little dignity to our fair city. I was a supporter of yours, but you have crossed a line that has brought shame upon us, and we cannot move forward until you have stepped down.
The only reason people who were NOT at the event are showing so much dismay is because they didn't see that no harm was intended. The audience didn't even know he was supposed to be a racial minority, most thought he was over made up. The reports that hit the national wire service made it sound like he used shoe polish to appear in "black face". That is not true. It is true that a black person can impersonate another black person for comedy and it is acceptable, while a white person cannot. I think he sees that now. The name choice was unfortunate, but I believe it started out as a rhyme of his own name. It was a bad decision, for which he has apologized. Let it rest. All the furor is not helping the abused children of the county. The funds that were raised will. Give your dollars to CASA and fundraisers won't be necessary!
This whole thing is so coy, so fey, so queer.
Only the most shallow would ever believe that Mr. Kuhn didn't know that the name he chose was not offensive.
The photos of the face are all over the web. If he said he didn't do it, then he is a liar.
Really. Intentionally darkening his face, assuming the name smelly p###y and singing to Aretha Franklin and claiming it wasn't meant to be an ethnic slur? Give me a big fat freakin break.
How stupid does he think Ark City is?
He needs a japanese fan to cover his blush when he flutters his eyelids and says, oh gawrsh, I didn't mean any little thing by it.
How gay.
We need to quit believing that anyone could be that dumb. Hold him accountable. He did just what he meant to do. He also stood his ground until the NAACP got involved.
EXACTLY!!! He stood his ground until NAACP got involved. I DO NOT feel there is any sincerity whatsoever in his apology, it's a simple smooth over publicity stunt that most of us have seen so many times already in the news with politicians and celebrities. How dumb do they think the public is???
So sorry you think Mell needs to step down to allow "the wounds to heal". Get real, and grow up. They are words, nothing more. If you are offended by them, then you need to heal yourself, it is not the city's responsibility to make you feel all warm and fuzzy. It is YOUR responsibility to keep your self-esteem in check. Words can not hurt you, only your feelings got hurt. It did not affect you morally, socially, nor economically. Just pissed you off, but did not hurt you. So GROW UP and get on with the job of living!
So I can call you cracker, whitey and honky and this does not hurt you?
"So I can call you cracker, whitey and honky and this does not hurt you?"
Well since I am african-american, these comments do not fit your attempt to tempt me into fighting with you. But, call me lazy, nigg_ _, trash, food stamp collector, gang banger. I am none of these things, so no, those things do not hurt me. This was the point I was making above.
Anyone who posts personal attacks against specific individual should realize that their posts will be deleted.
Especially if they are anonymous.
There seems to be alot of anonymous hate here in the blog world. I just started blogging myself and think its pretty neat. But I was taught a long time ago, a man has to be accountable for his actions and his words. I think Mel Kuhn has some grit. Most of the gutless wonders around here dont get it. And I think they are afraid. Thankfully they have a way to anonymously lynch him {sarcasm}. I contacted At Least ten E.P.A. offices about a local veterinary clinic burying thousands of used needles next to the Walnut River. I received absolutely no response, and you guys are all fired up about this crap. This World amazes me everyday.
good post.
good points.
I contacted At Least ten E.P.A. offices about a local veterinary clinic burying thousands of used needles next to the Walnut River. I received absolutely no response, and you guys are all fired up about this crap. This World amazes me everyday.
Sir, or Ma'am, perhaps you should have contacted the news stations. You might have got some follow up.
Now, perhaps, the fact that you are on the blog regarding the mayor should help you understand that though the posts may be anonymous, they are the feelings of the people of our fair city.
There might have been some outrage on the part of the citizens regarding your issue had anyone else known anything about it.
hmmmmmmmmmm....
I am a former Ark Citian and clearly late to the game on commenting, but this should be an outrage to all Ark Citians.
In the article listing his apology he states "I don't know how to do a black accent". What the heck is a "black accent"? That statement is worse than the act itself, which was quite despicable. I just hope his term is up soon so my nephews can grow up in a city without racists who think it's ok to flaunt their bigotry while in office. That certainly was not the town I grew up in.
On a better note, congrats on your music festival. It's good to see the arts thriving in Ark City.
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