Happy New Year from ZAR

 

We have to wonder how local history will record 2020. In fact, how will it see this past decade? Here's some interesting thoughts from ZAR:

Happy New Year Ms. S! Are you ready for 2020+1?

Over the holidays I spent a lot of time dwelling on how ironic life has become. 

I understand that discrimination laws do not apply to volunteer positions, but do we not at least owe our elders a smidgen of respect? 

Dr. Bill McDonald served from 1968 to 1989 as Chair of the Florence Historical Board. If he or Dr. Ken Johnson were alive today would they even be welcomed to join the Florence Historical Board?

Robert Steen served with great honors from January 19, 2010 until December 17, 2018 when Chairman Steen was forced out. 

On February 21, 2017 Fran Nunnelly and Dr. Joseph Flippen were both reappointed to serve 3 more years on the historical board. Oddly enough it seems that they were replaced before their terms ended and their replacements were never publicized. 

Isn't it ironic how a group that makes the claims that the Florence Historical Board makes today would dismiss three individuals who worked so very hard to refurbish a slave cemetery?  Placing age discrimination and lack of city-wide diversity aside. That in itself truly is ironic. Don't you think? A little too ironic, I really must say.

Just like how the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area's coverage is seven counties yet the University of North Alabama seems to get the "lion" share.

Everyone knew that Kitts did not have any experience as a university president when he took the job at UNA near the end of 2015. We all cut him a lot of slack, but come on man! It's time for you to step it up and start doing better.

My niece asked me just the other day if I thought UNA prepares young people for the real world, and I said absolutely not. In the real world there is adequate parking.

May God have mercy on us all.

Your good bud,

ZAR