Tyrone Councilman Dial on SB 458: ‘Practice responsible free speech’

Tue, 04/01/2008 - 4:38pm
By: Letters to the ...

Last week, we all witnessed what the people of Fayette County are capable of when they are inspired to take action. As legislation (SB 458) worked its way through the Georgia General Assembly that entertained the notion of forced acceptance of Clayton County students into Fayette County schools, thousands and thousands of us contacted our elected officials.

We should all take comfort in the fact that our methods of communication are effective and our parents care about the quality of education their children receive.

After following the coverage by this publication, attending Saturday’s town hall meeting, reviewing the timeline of the events, and speaking with many of my constituents, I became concerned with some aspects of this situation.

So, let’s take a step back and consider how we could have handled ourselves better. You may ask why we need to improve. After all, we appear to have gotten what we wanted.

Here’s why. If you followed the comments that were made publicly and continue to be made publicly, you know how venomous, inappropriate, and factually incorrect some of the language was when referring to Senator Ronnie Chance, Representative Matt Ramsey, and others involved with the legislation.

Given the number of people that were informed — or misinformed as the case may be — of the situation, irreparable damage was done to these men personally and professionally.

Though the poorly drafted language of the bill was already in the process of being stricken through the appropriate legislative channels, some had already found Chance and Ramsey guilty and sought them out for a hanging in the town square.

I am one of the biggest advocates you will ever meet when it comes to the importance of protecting and practicing the right of free speech. However, we must handle this right with care rather than using it with reckless abandon. Our words have consequences.

As you speak with your neighbors and friends, or as you type your emails and letters, I urge you to proceed with caution.

Thank you to Senator Ronnie Chance and Representative Matt Ramsey for handling SB 458 the way you did. One can only hope that every single person that was misinformed will hear the last chapter of the story.

Eric Dial

Tyrone Town Councilman

Tyrone, Ga.

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Submitted by freedomofinfo on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 1:41pm.

The Tyrone community was warned about the "ethics" of Eric Dial before the November election but chose to ignore it. Now we have Ronnie Chance running amok in the legislature and Dial proudly but degradingly warning the citizens about free speech - give us a break. Dial is and always will be on the side where he gets his bread buttered. When everything blows up in their faces all they know to do is condemn others while trying to protect their own precious selves - you are not to be trusted Eric Dial. Knew it last year, the year before that and now, well, your article speaks for itself. You have to defend Ronnie Chance because you were his campaign manager and Ronnie has been your meal ticket to the sick world of politics where you tell lies upon lies and smile at the same time.

Submitted by oldbeachbear on Thu, 04/03/2008 - 10:35pm.

your letter went well till you signed Tyrone town councilman to it. If those are your ideas, thats fine, we get it.

CCB's picture
Submitted by CCB on Thu, 04/03/2008 - 10:01pm.

He helped run Ronnie's campaign. He called me asking for money.

Eric is thanking Ronnie and Matt for handling 458, but is Eric talking about before or after the public found out about it?

What a joke.


Submitted by truthandjustice on Thu, 04/03/2008 - 9:35pm.

Why this sudden onset of concern about responsible free speech? If you followed the comments that were made publicly and continue to be made publicly, you know how venomous, inappropriate, and factually incorrect some of the language has been when referring to the previous Council and town management, yet you have kept quite, why? What are you running for now that you need help from Ramsey and Chance?

Submitted by oldbeachbear on Thu, 04/03/2008 - 10:02pm.

Everyone seems to...forget..that Seay, who is suppose to represent our area also, sold us down the river. There was no mistake on her part as to may vs shall..and what she wanted. Let me spell it out, she went to great lenghts to get shall in there and make us pay to school Clayton kids. Chance had meetings with people in this area to let them know he was gonna try to fix it...Seay didn't...cause she had already 'fixed it' the way she wanted it for Clayton, and to hell with us in Fayette. I give Chance credit for saying the wording was bad, it got past us, but we are gonna fix it...What did Seay say? Nothing..in private...maybe a lot of $$#####. Why doesn't someone just for jollies, call her butt on the carpet? I'd love to watch.

Submitted by homesweethomeptc on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 12:34am.

shall set you free.

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