From the Editors Desk: February 25, 2010
1. I want to apologize to all of the fine folks in the Wellington Housing Divisions to whom my remarks have offended you.
2. I want to personally apologize to Ladd Biro for my way over the top and hurtful rants, and the way I responded to his email to me, and that I had him mixed him up with someone else that triggered the response. But in the end I am responsible, and while I do not want to go into specific detail of what brought this about, I would just like to extend a hand and an apology to Mr. Biro for my Rant. .
3. There has been a lot of back and forth name calling, innuendo, wild rumors, and whole gamete. The unfortunate part of all of this is no one is listening on either side. What we should do is to listen to what each sides concerns are, and try and come together and reach a point in the middle that everyone could live with.
4. I am making a pledge to all of my fellow Flower Mound Readers of the “Shiloh Area Drilling Blogspot” “NOT” to engage in any more of this rude and insightful name calling. I am pledging “NOT” to engage in what could be perceived as hostile, mean-spirited, or demeaning the other persons, or readers.
5. I am asking/pleading to all Flower Mound Residents, and those outside our Town, to bring the tone of the debate down to a civil discussion. After all, we are adults, and everyone who wants to post comments, or leave messages should have the right to do so. Not only are we adults, but I think you will find in a lot of the people across the line, are hard-working, conservative, liberal, and environmental people who are passionate about what they believe in. Who knows, you might even find a new friend?
(UPDATED Febuary 22, 1020)
While being a forum for issues concerning drilling and the Barnett Shale, it is my policy not to publish "Communist Manifesto" from people in the Wellington area who seems to think this is a socialist state and that they are entitle to the wealth of others by way of the state. I hate communist, I hate socialist, and I really hate lying environmental "Wackos" who by all accounts have lost their minds.
I would like to apologize to the majority of Wellington residents. My remarks were not directed at the residence of Wellington, but the people who are associated with the "Stop the Drilling" groups. I would like to say that it would be more appropriate for me to say that I hate "Communism", "Socialism", and key word "lying" environmental radicals and groups.
The US fought Communism for more than 50 years and I for one don't believe that being "anti-communist" is a bad thing. Just like I hate the "Nazi's", and the Klan, I don't that being against those organizations is a bad position to take as well.
27 comments:
You might need to re-think who's the Communist, Bubba. We operate a Facebook page that anyone -- including Williams' apologists -- can post and be heard on. You, on the other hand, are exercising complete control over the conversation -- no freedom of speech in your world. No dissenting points of view in your world. No conversation or public debate. Just an old man sitting at his computer spewing accusations and hate speech (your words). By the way, hate speech is not protected by the Constitution, so you'd better watch yourself. I have no interest in your "wealth" (I have enough, though your actions continue to erode mine); but if you want to keep using hate speech, maybe I'll exercise my constitutional rights!
According to the First Amendment Center -- a program operated by the nonpartisan Freedom Forum that aims to provide information about First Amendment freedoms -- the Supreme Court has also determined that Americans have the right to burn the American flag, use racial epithets, make fun of a person's ethnicity, and demean a person's gender or sexuality under the First Amendment. For someone who supposedly went to an Ivy league school, you are not very smart.
Well, it's good to know where you stand. Apparently right alongside the flag burners, racists, skinheads, misogynists, homophobes and other miscreants who spew hate, then claim it's their inalienable right to do so.
You sure seem to know a lot about me. Why are you so afraid to let us know who you are, OG?
That's what the 1st amendment is all about, "Freedom of Speech", whether you like it or not. I do support those groups rights to say what they want.
On the other hand, I "hate" all of those groups you mention and even a few more.
If it will make you feel better, I will you the term "dis-like" instead of hate. I generally reserve the term hate for the groups you mention, and a few others, like the Klan, and Nazis. Most of the time it would be applied to groups or organizations dedicated to destroying human rights, or personal freedoms.
I don't know that much about you, nor do I care. I only know what I heard in the FM Town meeting on Jan 21st, when you went before the council and said something to the effect. "I make more money that those people will ever make in royalties, and therefore they don't need the money".
Thanks, but my neighbors and I will pass on you speaking for us. My 94 year old grandfather who gets a modest $121.00 dollar royalty check for his small home in Ft Worth means a lot to him. I am sorry he is not as rich as you. But I can assure you this, he would never in a million years expect you to support him in any way or function, just because you make a bazillion dollars. And that's the point I have been trying to make.
I'm afraid you have me confused with someone else. I did not say anything even close to those words. I don't recall who did, but I can assure you it wasn't me. You can watch my speech (and everyone else's) online at the town web site if you don't believe me. I'm certainly far from rich, and I wouldn't rub it in anyone's faces if I was. So...you've got the wrong guy, there.
Meanwhile, I never mention my Ivy League pedigree in public, so it's obvious you've done a little digging about me to find that out. I'm certainly not embarrassed of it; I just make a practice of not waiving it in anyone's face.
So...OG...are you going to unmask yourself? What are you hiding???
Ladd, I'll go back and look, maybe I do have you confused with someone else. For now I will give you the benefit of the doubt. If I do have you confused with someone else, I will be the firt to apologize for what I said.
As far as wanting to remain as FM OG. For similar reasons that the folks at Stop Urban Drilling do. Just ask the Mayor, Jean Levenick, and Judge Windle what happens to you when that group of vicious dogs get after you?
So says the man with the pit bull! You just can't help yourself, can you, Chris?
Oops...
OG (Overly Greedy) and cowardly bastard is what you are.
Communist Manifesto - are you kidding?
He is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier that we rescued in 2005. He only weighs 40lbs and loves children.
LB, What do you think the people who signed your petition are going to do and say when they find out they were duped into giving you their signatures and personal information?
That's quite possibly the dumbest question I've been asked yet. And I've seen a lot of really dumb stuff out of you guys...
What I don't understand, is if this is something the entire public of the town has a stake in, then why is it so secret? Why not publish it on line, or in the newspaper? This is starting to remind me of the Nixon administration. And President Obama, who said his administration was going to be transparent. I am not seeing any transparency.
LB, precisely the type of response expected. Insult the questioner because you can't answer without exposing the truth.
A dumb question is a dumb question. Sorry you feel insulted, but I don't know how you can possibly suggest anyone is being duped. The petition is right there at the top of the form people are signing. Nobody is forcing (or duping) anyone to sign anything. Perhaps you think that more than 2,000 people (so far) living in Flower Mound are a bunch of idiots, but I think it's much more appropriate to say that those who are buying what Williams is selling are the ones being duped. I don't think those people are stupid; the money is simply clouding their judgment. Nobody in their right mind would allow gas drilling operations on or around their land out of patriotism or simply because a driller asked. It's all about the money. You know it, I know it, and Williams knows it.
And I don't object to it, as long as it doesn't infringe on my rights, health or safety. That's when we've got a problem.
All information gathered at petition drive is public information. No Soc. Sec. # type info, no phone numbers, no email. If you want to read the petition, come to a signing event this weekend and read it. Their is no secrecy involved.
If there is no secrecy, then why can't you post it on-line, or publish it in the News Connection, Star Leader, or the Gazette? Maybe not everyone in Flower Mound has the ability to come to your signing booths. There are senior citizens that my be house bound, or people who are handicapped that are unable to attend in person. They still have a right to see the petition don't they?
Maybe you could offer drive them to the signing event.
LB, in talking to some of your signers, they said petitioners stated this was to prevent open toxic waste pits on the Hilliard property off FM2499, and a toxic waste dump off Scenic for all Denton County wells. As you should know, the Dr. Smith property wells were going to be drilled whether impacted neighborhoods signed leases or not. A lease allowed those neighborhoods additional environmental protections, which are much more important than the nominal, if any, royalties. Restricting tanker traffic to the single road that has been already used for years is better than allowing it through all neighborhoods, including yours.
I cannot and will not speak to what may or may not have been said by any of the volunteers working at the petition sites. I also will not accuse you of misrepresenting the facts, but rather simply express my doubts as to their accuracy.
I find it funny that you continually distort the facts about the FM Cares Petition Signers and Volunteers. Do you have any notion about the incredible diversity of the volunteers working for the FM Cares Petition Drive?!?!? Commies, Lefties, Libs ….You are completely mistaken! We have everyone…Conservative Hard-Core Rush Limbaugh types (me) ...Strong Smart Independents...down to peace sign-wearing Dem's. This isn't about politics, it isn't about stealing your tiny royalty check, or infringing on your Constitutional Rights! Although, I find it hard to imagine that the Founding Fathers thought that a CCF was your Constitutional Right! Of course, you know that the Fifth Amendment was written to protect the colonists from Redcoat seizures of their cows, chickens and firearms! Twisting the Constitution makes me sick!
If you could step away from your royalty checks...you would find this, I know this is wild... but we are 100% a classic Tea Party Movement! Town Hall isn't listening to the majority of residents...so we MUST take action! I would expect no less from you! When elected officials don't listen, citizens must use every avenue to promote change! Having 600 angry people in a town of 64,000, show up at town hall is the equivalent of having 3 million show up on the Steps of Congress or the White House Lawn in protest, in a nation of 300 million! Our petition has 40% of the registered voters in town, after one weekend. You do the math!
I am not sure who you are directing your comments at? But I'll take the blame.
I agree with on 99% of what you are saying.
I do want to apologize to everyone in the Wellington Neighborhoods that I have offended. I know that you are good people.
I really do get your point.
I need to correct something...our petition has gathered 40% of our goal of 6000 signers.
I accept your apology. Thanks.
Thanks Ladd, you didn't deserve all that. From now on, I am going to keep it on the up and up.
The residents already impacted by the existing gas wells and trying to minimize those impacts have the same mix of politics as your group. Those residents never dreamed your anti-drilling efforts would target them and their ability to be heard and represented. Where is the proof of plans to drill everywhere in FM or that piped drilling wastewater is even 1/10th as hazardous as daily municipal sewage contaminants which contain ecoli, drugs, solvents and chemicals which frequently leak into the ground and are unmonitored. Where is the proof that justifies panicking and dividing our community? Why didn't you bother to connect with your fellow residents out west who had been preparing in advance for the challenges they were about to face? Instead, your groups began their efforts sending emails about how ignorant and greedy the people out west must be. The people out west think you are the ones placing so much importance on royalty checks and only care about yourselves, and/or you are letting yourselves be used for some other purpose. They didn't even know about mineral rights when most of them built homes 20 and 30 plus years ago.
Chris... I can only say "I am impressed!" That was very courageous!
FM OG, Class Act. Stepping up and admitting when a mistake is made. Then Apologizing. Good Man. I agree, the discussion needs to be toned down. Perhaps yours is a first step in that direction. Thanks
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