If only one police officer at the arrest of George Floyd had said, “Enough.” That’s all it would have taken to avert a tragedy — this time, anyway. So many of us across the country are reeling with shock and anger and despair. Six year ago, we were aghast when Eric Garner struggled against getting […]
All posts in category Community life
We’re still here
While leafing through a coupon circular in the newspaper in the days leading up to Mother’s Day (don’t judge: we all cope with the stay-at-home order in our own way), I came across a somewhat alarming advertisement come-on: “Make Mom Melt Away.” In this time of mandated togetherness, I’m sure the ad copywriter for that […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on May 11, 2020
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2020/05/11/were-still-here/
Greene Tract series continues
I took time out for a lengthy vacation, half of it spent abroad and half among the 85% of Chapel Hill residents who don’t realize Chapel Hill has a town council. Stepping back gave me a new perspective on town business and how lives are lived by people who feel fulfilled, even if they know […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 27, 2020
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2020/01/27/greene-tract-series-continues/
Rising above
I landed in London as the British were waking up to Boris Johnson’s landslide victory. Over the course of the ensuing few days, I chatted with people I met about what they thought of the election outcome. Their responses lead me to predict four more years of Donald Trump. Johnson’s wide margin of victory surprised […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on December 23, 2019
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2019/12/23/rising-above/
Winning or transforming?
“North Korea Threatens to Resume Calling Trump a ‘Dotard’ ” — headline in Time newsfeed We have hit a new low when name-calling and bullying pass as leadership. Seeing this headline on the heels of having listened to the impeachment hearings over the past couple of weeks underscores our need for a different form of […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on December 16, 2019
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2019/12/16/winning/
Beyond Benetton
Funny, I would have expected UNC students to be more woke. Last week The Daily Tar Heel editors chose to write a story about a UNC graduate student who did not get appointed to a town advisory board. The town receives many applications for a limited number of vacant advisory board seats, so applicants are […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on November 11, 2019
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2019/11/11/beyond-benetton/
VOTE!
Over the past few weeks that I’ve walked through neighborhoods, canvassing voters, I’ve seen some truly lovely homes. Places that are sanctuaries from the problems and corrosive encounters with the world at large. Beautiful views; lush greenery; maybe a bubbling fountain to calm and rejuvenate one’s spirit. When the going gets tough, these folks have […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on November 4, 2019
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2019/11/04/vote/
How to be inclusive
We can’t legislate kindness. If we could, that would have been my answer to a question posed at the candidates forum hosted by WCHL last week. Chapelboro on-air personality Aaron Keck, who moderated the forum, asked candidates: What’s the most important thing Chapel Hill can do to make itself a more welcoming and inclusive community? […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on October 21, 2019
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2019/10/21/how-to-be-inclusive/
Feel-good decisions
As I interact with people when I do errands, I often ask them whether they live in Chapel Hill and why. I ask those who live in town what they would like Town Council to know. Usually, I hear the Big Three Issues: affordability, flooding and traffic. Not long ago, I heard a new one: […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on September 16, 2019
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2019/09/16/feel-good-decisions/
Civil discourse
A bit of unpleasantness broke out at a nonprofit board meeting recently. An elected official (no Chapel Hill Town Council member or candidate), clearly frustrated by the discussion, behaved unprofessionally, using what in our family we call a “swear word.” I blame Trump. Politics at the national level has become a free-for-all, and the incivility […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on August 19, 2019
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2019/08/19/civil-discourse/