All-America
Written by Tom Pounds | President / Publisher | tpounds@toledofreepress.comCongratulations to the 10 cities — Phoenix, Ariz.; Inglewood, Calif.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Richmond, Ind.; Wichita, Kan.; Sommerville, Mass.; Albany, N.Y.; Kinston, N.C.; Statesville, N.C.; and Caroline County, Va. — that were named 2009’s All-America cities by the National Civic League. While Toledo did not make the cut this year, the competition brought out some interesting elements of our city’s personality.
On one hand, money was raised so nearly 40 people could travel to Tampa to make a presentation to the judging committee. Citizens young and old came together to cheer about Toledo and try to bring home some glory. These people put aside politics and tried to spread some goodwill.
On the other hand, some used the competition as an opportunity to scorn and mock those who tried to do something positive. There is a persistent, yet unproven, rumor that one local organization spent time and energy contacting the awards committee in Tampa to make a case against Toledo being an All-America city; the National Civic League assures us such efforts do not impact the process, and we have to take them at their word.
By the way, Toledo Free Press is pursuing that rumor, and we will get to the bottom of it.
Would an All-America designation immediately create jobs, fill local pockets with money or put police back on the street? Of course not. But this is an area that could use some good news and national recognition — for the right reasons — and a thank you is due to the companies and citizens that gave it their best shot.
Such designations are clearly not a life-or-death pursuit, but be wary of those who describe awards such as All-America City as “lipstick on a pig” — they may want to convey the award as shallow window dressing, but think about their base comparison of Toledo to a pig. If that is how they feel, they should lift their own snouts out of the trough and take a more informed look around, past the tempest-in-a-teapot controversies and into the lives of the people who live and work here because they love and respect their city.
It may not be in vogue to be proud of our city, but remember: politicians and media people come and go; the city stands long after those factions disappear, and the city stands as an eternal All-America candidate, whether the actual award comes home or not.
Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!!! For writing this article. I could not agree more! It goes back to the old adage, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all.” What solid advice from our elders! Aside from that, if the only thing people have to do is spit putrid words of hatred and scorn out all over our fair city, then the question I have for them is, “Why are you still here?”
This comment was posted on June 26th, 2009 at 11:59 am2,413 — that’s the number the Other Paper headlines today: people streaming out of the All America Loser: Toledo.
This comment was posted on July 1st, 2009 at 7:52 am“Lipstick on a pig” vs. head in the sand – or someplace else the sun don’t shine? Running for Chamber president, Pounds?
Mocking something positive? More like chastizing adults using children to perpetrate fraud.
Every city has stories of Goodness and Kindness. Big whoop. Toledo has a cancer that is killing it (see Exodus headline above).
Like the radio guy says: Good is better than bad ’cause it’s nicer.
But it takes real naivite and idealistic blinders to get all gooey about a stupid contest vs. the truth that’s being spoken to power by some in the media with the guts to tell it like it is.
Which is waaaaay more than I can say for the twinkies running the TFP — which did have a golden opportunity to make a difference in getting the truth out.
Instead we now get mewling criticism from the “publisher” that just shows Pounds is as spinelees as City Council, Chamber of Commerce and the Toledo Club Crowd.