Response to Sound Off

Response to Sound Off

Below is a letter to the editor of the Mississippi Press regarding a few comments printed in the Sound Off column on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27. I, unlike these Sound Off callers, take responsibility for what I say and do and willing put my name to it. Please read the letter below for further understanding:

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Letter to Editor of Mississippi Press:

I want to take a minute to clarify a comment I made at the Pascagoula Main Street Awards Gala. It seems it struck a nerve with someone who apparently routinely uses the Sound Off as a means of expression. Since it is my normal practice to speak directly to those who need assistance but can't due to the unnamed accusation, I would be remiss if I did not attempt to address this concern with all of you. Since the Sound Off caller is unnamed (which is just one problem I have with such forums) I cannot address this directly to them; I am forced to direct it to you all in hopes that it reaches the few.

The unnamed Sound Off caller is quoted as saying, "I went to the Pascagoula Main Street Gala last night, which was very nice. Some very deserving people won awards. The only issue I had was with the one councilman who was there. He made a comment about the cowards calling in on Sound Off. That's unfair to call your constituents cowards. If we can't talk at council meetings and we don't know your phone number, are we not supposed to have an opinion? Sound Off has been great to show that people do care about our community."

If I were to be able to address this caller's concerns directly, I would concur that the event was excellent. I've attended them all, having been a part of the team that first implemented the Gala. Yes, each year we have sought to highlight some very deserving people as we did this year. And yes, I was the only councilman there other than the mayor which is why I am responding. Unlike the nameless caller, I respond to offer my remarks and attach my name.

I would then seek to first clarify my comments and ensure they applied them in the proper context. I encourage you all to read the transcript of the speech by visiting www.frankcorder.com/blog.

After the proper context was understood, I would then seek to discuss my distaste for the Sound Off and such nameless forums. Since I cannot speak directly to that caller, please read the blog I wrote a while back entitled "Quit Sitting on the Sidelines." It discusses my opinion of the Sound Off and other nameless forums: http://www.frankcorder.com/blog/?y=2009&m=4.

After that discussion, I would seek to ease their minds as to this comment - "That's unfair to call your constituents cowards. If we can't talk at council meetings and we don't know your phone number, are we not supposed to have an opinion?"

With the phrase "your constituents" it must mean you live in Ward 4. If you do live in Ward 4, within the past 2 years, I have canvassed that ward on foot a total of 6 times from one edge to the other handing out cards with my name, cell phone number (which most elected officials aren't so quick to give out), and email address on them. I also held the first ever Ward 4 Dialogue where I invited as many people as possible to a town hall style meeting and I'm planning another for this year. In addition, I have a website listing my cell phone number and email address. Plus, City Hall has the number and has been told to freely give out my cell as needed. The number is also on the City's website. Most, if not all, who were in attendance know where I work and many have called me there. I also have a weekly TV and radio show that normally gives my email address and on occasion my cell phone number. So for one not to be able to find my phone number or email address with the slightest of effort is to me a little absurd especially since I have most of the email addresses of those in attendance and have emailed most of you all at least once over the past few months.

As to the "coward" comment. If you've read the two links I provided above, I trust that is clarified. The exact quote from my speech was "...so don't be one of those nameless, spineless accusers in the Sound Off or on those internet blogs. Don't talk down about those around you. If you've got something to say, say it productively and be ready to invest yourself in solving the issue at hand."

The part of the Sound Off comment saying "we can't talk at council meetings" is blatantly false. My colleagues and I, in this current council and the previous one, have always encouraged attendance at council meetings and always seek productive citizen comments. There is a process provided to be added to the agenda formally, yes, but we also ask for comments from the audience every meeting even if you don't follow that process. We want to hear from you.

Again, all of this should and could have been said directly to that nameless Sound Off caller if they would have addressed me directly instead of running to such a forum. I have sought to be extremely available and accessible during my tenure and am probably one of the more involved and visible elected officials out there. I say this not to gloat or not demonstrate humility, but I say this since I attend so many meetings and host many others and I know the other elected officials that attend as well. I always ask for comments, criticisms, complaints, and praises. I want to hear them all. It takes us all listening and being engaged to make our city what we all want it to be.

So to you who did not call but read the comment, I apologize for the long discourse. To you who did call, I'm glad you attended the Gala; I'm sure I saw you there. Perhaps I even shook your hand. I wish you had caught me afterwards or contacted me the next day. But since apparently you don't have my number or email, my cell is 228.623.1236 and my email is frank@frankcorder.com. If I don't answer the cell immediately (which is rare) leave a message and I'll call you back as soon as possible. By the way, you are always welcome to come to the council meetings. Hopefully you will not remain a nameless accuser but will be proud enough to address such concerns directly to me or others and then help us make a difference. We could use your passion.

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman
Cell: (228) 623.1236
Email: frank@frankcorder.com
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Transcript of speech given at Pascagoula Main Street Awards Gala

Transcript of speech given at Pascagoula Main Street Awards Gala September 24, 2009        I don't know about you, but I love Rocky movies.  I've seen them all at least a dozen or more times.  Sure, the fight scenes are a little contrived and Adrian can sometimes get on my nerves, but I like Rocky mostly for the philosophy on life that can be drawn out of every frame.  You can learn a lot from a beaten up, punch-drunk boxer.        You see, Rocky is the classic American story.  A man of modest means yearning to be something other than "just another bum from the neighborhood," so he does what he has learned to do best while trying to survive on the streets in Philadelphia - he fights.  He trains hard, works his way up through to the boxing elite, and ascends from poverty to riches just to have it all taken away, while learning that the riches and fame aren't what matter; what matters are the things that last - faith, family, love, dignity, and self-respect.             I have a file where I keep quotes that have touched my life through the years, and in it are many such axioms from Rocky.     One quote is taken from the latest installment in the series, Rocky Balboa.  The old fighter is talking to his son.  The son likes to blame his dad for all of his life's shortcomings.  The son, like many of us, blames everyone other than himself for the way his life is.  In one of the most inspirational moments in the movie, Rocky seeks to encourage his son.  Listen to what he says…"You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life.  But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward.  How much you can take, and keep moving forward.  That's how winning is done.  Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth.  But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody.  Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!"  Wise words from an old fighter.          The essence of what Rocky is saying here can be applied to many areas in life, including our passion and zeal for the betterment of your community as well as the state of business here in Pascagoula.  We have all weathered literal and economic storms.  We've been through alot, but yet we are still standing.  No, all of the problems and issues are not resolved and redevelopment and recovery still seems to be moving largely at a snail's pace, but Pascagoula is moving forward, thanks in large part to you as citizens who have invested yourselves into our community.  By being here tonight, you all are showing your desire to invest your time, resources and yes, even your selves into making a better Pascagoula. As the manager of a local small business I have seen the decline in my revenues and have had to rethink and restructure.  Change is no longer a four letter word (think about that for a minute)- change is a must.  Do or die.  I have looked into the eyes of dedicated, longtime employees as I tell them they are being laid off, knowing full well what their families will be facing.  I feel the stress and know the sleepless nights.  From where I sit not only as a business manager but more so as an elected official, I believe that it is time that we light a fire under ourselves and our fellow citizens by uniting together to encourage everyone who truly cares about Pascagoula and its future to make our money and ourselves count!  As Rocky said, "If you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth."         The truth is that those in Washington D.C. or Jackson or even in city hall cannot do what each and every one of us can do for ourselves and for our great city.  There are no bailouts or stimulus packages around the corner here - this isn't DC - this is Pascagoula.  It is time that we as citizens wake up to the cold hard facts and recognize the reality at hand.  Doing business in Pascagoula can be a challenge - believe me, I know.  People have a tendency to drive across the bridge or across the stateline when in reality, what they are looking for is sitting right in their back door.  We must change that mindset.  In addition to that, every dollar that is spent outside of Pascagoula is one more dollar that we as a city must make up somewhere, whether in the form of a loss of services, such as streets not being paved and drainage not being repaired, or in the form of a millage (yes, tax) increase which comes directly from your wallet - which I surely don't want to see happen.  If every citizen of Pascagoula truly thought before they bought we would see an enormous upswing in sales tax revenues, despite the current economic downturn, which would in turn provide the city with greater opportunities to accomplish those things we all want to see - including more business options. And I have to tell you…I hear almost every day how we need more retail shopping options or more restaurants or more this kind of business or that kind of business - we've all heard and said this.  The truth is that unless we first support what we have now we will never have more.  I have talked to many struggling business owners and managers who have caught the vision of what Pascagoula can be but are now losing their passion because of apathy.  By thinking before we buy, we invest in Pascagoula's future.  Our businesses have invested in Pascagoula; the citizens of Pascagoula should be investing in them.  And when the citizens invest in local businesses, we as a city can provide more amenities, lower our tax burden, attract more options, and strengthen our local economy.        So the public has a stake in how Pascagoula succeeds or fails, but so do these businesses.          Being in business in Pascagoula is challenging right now - I won't deny that.  Cost of Goods have increased, the minimum wage has gone up, public apathy, national politicians seem to want to tax businesses more daily, employee healthcare is a concern, and on and on I could go.  The deck seems stacked against us.  But we as small business managers and owners must take ownership as well for how our line of business fairs.  There is no pile of money any government is providing  - local, state, or federal.  It is up to us to do the small things right first.  And we can begin by asking ourselves the tough questions -       * Am I open during hours to best serve the public or best serve me?        * Am I selling products or services that are marketable in this area or just selling items that I want?       * Am I pricing myself out of this market?  This is a major concern in this area and we must acknowledge this fact.       * Is my customer service up to a level where people feel welcome and served with a smile?  Am I people focused?       * Am I open to criticism, good and the bad, or do I shy away from productive ideas?      * Am I properly capitalized before I go into business?  This is another major factor. So often people go into business ill prepared for what that means. And we're all left thinking that we won't support new businesses and that is not always the case - sometimes new business owners just don't quite know the ropes fully. * Is my product or service consistent?  Can I go in a get the same steak cooked the same way each time?  Can I get the same shirt or dress?  Is there someone at the desk that I'll know when I walk in? Consistency is key.           And on and on I could go.          The small business owner and manager must think about the public, the location and area the business is in, and be open to change if they want to succeed and thrive.  It's not 1959; heck it's not 1999; it's 2009 and we must meet the challenges head on.            Local government also must come to the table.  We as a City must be business friendly and think customer service above all else just like these businesses.  This means at City Hall, at Code Enforcement, and elsewhere. We must create an environment where businesses want to locate and people want to live.           Pascagoula is not just a blue collar town as some would have you believe.  Pascagoula is so much more.  We are poised for progress and with a little care and handling and continued beautification, planning, and assistance we can capitalize on the many positives on the horizon.          The great German author and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once stated, "Treat a man as he appears to be and you make him worse.  But treat a man as if he already were what he potentially could be, and you make him what he should be."  I believe this to be true in regards to Pascagoula's future.          As long as the citizens and leaders of Pascagoula brand our city simply a "blue collar town," that is all we will be and no more.  Our economy will stay mostly the same.  The amenities of living here will never be enhanced.  New businesses will not come our way.  The plans and dreams of so many will never be realized.  If we treat Pascagoula as it appears to be, it will only get worse.  It is time we treat Pascagoula as if our city already were what it potentially could be.  It is time for Pascagoula to start portraying what it wants and deserves.  Our citizens and leaders need to begin seeing Pascagoula differently.  We all must begin talking about Pascagoula in a new way.  We can no longer sell ourselves short just because someone says Pascagoula will only be a "blue collar town."  It can only remain that way if we treat it that way.            It has been my personal goal for some time now to invest myself into Pascagoula.  But I am not alone in this venture.  There are hundreds people all across Pascagoula in every walk of life that participate daily in helping to secure a more attractive and enhanced city.  There are hundreds more that could give of themselves for the betterment of our city.  City government leaders cannot achieve the vision alone - it takes everyone speaking and portraying a positive Pascagoula.  What you do in our city, for our city matters.  How you think of and speak about our city also matters, if not more.          So don't be one of those nameless, spineless accusers in the Sound Off or on those internet blogs.  Don't talk down about those around you. You got something to say, say it productively and be ready to invest yourself in solving the issue at hand.  When people come to me with an issue, I'll be more than happy to listen and counsel, but I'm going to expect action from that person. We must lift each other up and hold each other accountable.           So let me encourage you to represent a positive Pascagoula in word and deed, in your day to day life, in your business and home.  No more branding or labeling that only serves to diminish the vision and dreams of your fellow citizens.  Each of us need to be treating Pascagoula as if it had already reached its potential, thus enabling Pascagoula to be what it should be - a truly great place to live, work, worship and play.          And don't forget what that old fighter said, "It ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward.  How much you can take, and keep moving forward.  That's how winning is done.  Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth.  But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody.  Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that" - you're from Pascagoula.

Testing the Waters

Testing the Waters

Bath time with the kids is always an adventure, from earplugs to tangled hair to the inevitable wet floor. My son can't wait to jump in the tub and splash around. My daughter, however, has always been more cautious, carefully sticking her toes in first to test the temperature of the water. She doesn't want it to be too hot or too cold; she wants it to be just right (Goldilocks and the three bears come to mind, but I digress).

It seems the Obama administration is doing just that - they are testing the waters to see just how deep they can wade in while promoting the ideals of socialism (and let's be perfectly honest, they are following the playbook nicely) before they dive in completely. If they go too quick, the chances for re-election and marble effigies dwindle. If they go too slow, the Democrats may miss their opportunity while they still hold the keys to both Houses of Congress and the White House (2010 is shaping up to be fun). The Democrats and this administration are surgically working through their long standing belief that increased government control will dictate fairness and equality and to them, create progress and success. They want to see just how far the American people are willing to be pushed without creating an insurmountable backlash while continuing to craft and implement their plans.

The administration started immediately upon swearing in (perhaps even before given the Democrat controlled Congress and a lame duck President under fire) with the call to pass the Stimulus Plan. We all heard the passionate pleas. This was out of national need, we were told, while they rattled their sabers and promoted political doom and gloom scare tactics. The result was $787 billion of spending (which we can't back in the treasury) and a national debt that grows larger day after day.

Then came the auto industry collapse and in came Obama riding in on his white horse to save the day. The bailouts were injected, the industry was demonized, and Obama came out of the deal as POTUS and CEO of our new government automaker.

Next, the administration and Congress have sought to increase regulations and taxation on energy providers in an already tight economy and under challenging times as these same companies are being asked to do more with less. Cap and trade is a not so subtle attempt to align us with the liberal energy policies of Europe and Asia. Call it Global Warming 101. You think your power bill is high now, just wait my friends; you ain't seen nothing yet (pardon the slang).

The great debate of our day has followed - healthcare. It has taken center stage this summer. The administration tossed it out there and has steadily back tracked as citizens have in mass loudly opposed much of the reforms. Yet a bill still looms for a possible late fall or early winter vote. Word out of the White House is that they will present a bill if Congress can't agree on one. The old adage says that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and this administration will take every step, every inch it seems that we'll give them. They'll use emotion, passion, promises, politics, and altered facts and figures all to sell their reforms so that we as citizens will buy into them. Truman once said, "If you can't convince them, confuse them.". The administration is ascribing to this philosophy well. Increased national debt, higher taxes, a single payer "trigger option" system, and the eventual collapse of the entire medical insurance industry and perhaps many private medical practices will be the result of this current proposal.

Now comes a nationwide back-to-school address from the President to all of our school children. On the surface this sounds like a great lesson in civics and an opportunity to take part in history. But when the administration put out lesson plans encouraging teachers to follow with their classes, complete with questions asking how each child could help the President, instead of the country, eyebrows were raised. Reagan and Bush Sr. both offered classroom videos and both were met with equal resistance from the opposition party. But now, it's the conservatives questioning the anointed one's school room address, not for what Obama will say (a stay in school message is always welcome), but for what he and his administration propagate and imply through their promotional materials and the suspect timing of the address (on the heels of declining approval ratings, heated public forums, new Congressional session, etc.).

In each of these cases, the boundaries of our Republic are being pushed. They are inching us toward bigger government at grave costs, possibly even the beginnings of socialism. Big government is not the answer. Hard work, individual responsibility, care and compassion for your fellow man, and a sense of pride in your city, state, and nation can guide us back to our Republic's foundation. Government should provide the opportunity for all to succeed, not ensure our success through mandated reforms that increasingly regulate individual lives, the private sector, and play Robin Hood with our tax dollars. Yet, most of us sit idly by hoping for the best with no real commitment to resist and no true care to understand the facts.

Don't be fooled by the pretty packages. Now is not the time for the faint of heart. We must not let down our guard. The administration is indeed testing the water. Unfortunately, in many places across our land, the water is warming to such ideals. How will they find it near you?

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman
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One Citizenship

One Citizenship

Since the beginning of our great nation, one singular issue has remained at the center of every political, social, and religious debate. One issue has divided this land of opportunity into brother against brother, father against son, denomination against denomination, poor against rich. It has started riots, fires, funerals, and wars. Jobs have been lost and industries have been built; buses have been made into memorials and crosses into ash all because of one issue.

Racial or ethnic equality is the driving force behind so many of our ills today, and yet the debate still rages because we as citizens allow it to persist and linger. Some even propagate it's existence to stir animosity and resentment, to garner political favor, and to justify and satisfy their own personal prejudices. These vultures strive to divide; they fight against unity.

I ask you-what good is going undone while we allow such prideful foolery to inhabit our own minds and the minds of those around us? What could our country be if this issue wasn't diluting our communities and ruining relationships?

We must move past labels and reclaim our national identity, not as individuals, but as one citizenship in this Republic. Such unity can only begin in the depths of each soul, which will require exploration into ones deepest sense of self. Allow me to elaborate.

My ancestry nor my ethnic background make me who I am. I live in this present condition, at this time in history, and am tasked with serving my fellow man and my God right here, right now. My eye is fixed on the future, not the past, for I cannot change those who came before me; I may only learn and gain wisdom from studying where they erred, determining to not falter where they faltered, and at times celebrating their achievements.

Running through my veins is blood that was created by the Almighty right here in America, not Europe or Asia or Africa. In ages past, whoever courted my kin to these shores of freedom and by whatever trials befell them on their journey is of no true consequence to me now. While it is indeed enlightening to learn those lessons, dwelling on such things would only serve to divide me from my neighbor. I live today and strive to live on for tomorrow, not for myself, but for my Lord, my family and my community.

I cannot thank my Creator enough for placing me in such a liberating place. Thanks be to God that I was born an American. I am not white or black, Anglo-Saxon or African-American, Hispanic or Vietnamese, Baptist or Catholic, Jew or Hindu. I am simply an American, and that is enough. Such is the essence of our hope and existence as one citizenship in this Republic.

Those who seek to label and wander in the midst of confusion and lore seek only to stir emotions for their own causes. We are people, not pawns. I do not condone nor do I support many past actions in my own beloved country, actions that at times have divided families, neighbors, and countrymen. But my hope is not in the past; my hope is not in the present; my hope is in the future and in the Republic I strive for each day in my own minute way and would die to protect should that be required of me.

When we as Americans begin to see this common thread weaving each of us together and we lay down our pride and our labels of prejudice and division, this country will flourish beyond any of our imaginations. If America is ever going to overcome and reach its destined potential, we must openly and without shame or malice address this wound and nurture it to health. The scars may linger, but it is our choice not to prick those sensitive areas as it mends.

I ask you today to join me in promoting one citizenship in this Republic. Our preferences, philosophies, and ideologies may differ in the church house, school house, or White House, but our one citizenship should always guide us in overcoming any self serving motives, striving together as fellow Americans within a spirit of unity, humility, and respect for our countrymen.

Join with me; be one citizenship in this Republic. Discard the labels and antiquated mentality. Proclaim yourself as an American, no more, no less, and be proud of it.

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman-Ward 4
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