Sticks and Stones

Let's just get one thing straight: Bill Woodcock is not a racist homophobe.

If you want to know why I'm so steamed up about this, read his recent post on The 53, entitled "Ill-Suited". Then read the comments.

It seems that nastiness in the comments section has become almost a full time job for some people these days. As you know, I've been an outspoken critic of anonymous posters. In this particular case, though, the commenter has identitied herself.

It must have meant a lot to her to be able to hurl that insult at Mr. Woodcock.

As someone who has worked with Bill on Oakland Mills- and Columbia-centric issues, and who has read his blog consistently for years, I can say without hesitation that he is not a racist, and he is not a homophobe. Those are nasty accusations and they are wholly unsubstantiated..

I'm pretty sure that Bill doesn't care two hoots about this comment. But I do. Because words matter.

If you have a good case, you can win your point through stating the truth. Making things up in an attempt to smear someone's good name and then merely repeating them everywhere you go is a poisonous attempt to sway public opinion. Good people get hurt.

If there is one thing this blog can endorse, it is this:

Speak the truth.
Put your name on your work.
Don't hurt other people to make yourself look good.

Look for commenters, and blogggers, and public servants who are committed to living and working in just this way.

If they don't, it's a red flag that they cannot be trusted.

FYI: Trying an experiment. Comments here will be closed. Please comment on this blog's Facebook page instead. I invite discussion in a forum where false identities are more difficult to come by.

https://www.facebook.com/VillageGreenTownSquared/?ref=bookmarks

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