In response to my comments in Leading Off this morning, James Ragland explains himself over on their blog and reveals that I hurt his feelings. After the jump, I’ve written him a letter.
Dear James Ragland: I’m sorry for hurting your feelings. Both times we’ve met, in professional settings, I’ve enjoyed your company. You seem like a smart guy, someone I’d like to have a beer with. Which is why so much of what you write confuses me. It doesn’t come across like it’s written by a smart guy I’d like to have beers with.
If you wanted to make a point about how the national media have mischaracterized Preston Hollow, then why didn’t you do that? There are several homes for sale within walking distance of the Bushes’ new pad. Why didn’t you go tour one, use that as your lead, then say how until eight years ago, you, as a black man, would not have been allowed to buy the house? Then cite some examples of national media latching onto this fact and how they’ve blown it out of proportion. Then give me a brief profile of the neighborhood, telling me how cool it is, explaining what Preston Hollow is really like, how it harbors some of the best modern architecture in Dallas, some of its most active, interesting people, etc.
Instead you wrote a confusing lead. Then, without telling me why I should care (the mischaracterizations in the national media), you went into a Googled history of the neighborhood. You trotted out tired notions (about McMansions, lack of sidewalks) and employed language (calling Mitch Rasansky “wealthy,” refering to the neighborhood as “economically exclusive”) that hint at resentfulness (no?). You wrote about the place like you didn’t understand it and hadn’t even visited it to try to get an understanding. And THEN you brought up the national attention paid to the neighborhood’s old covenants. Oh, and the mess a couple years ago at Preston Hollow Elementary.
James, your column was disorganized and hard to follow. It sounds from your blog post that you had a point to make; you didn’t make it well. An editor there should have given you some guidance, sent the thing back for some more work.
Look, man, newspapers across the country are dying. Yours is in serious trouble. I know writing a column as frequently as you do is a difficult assignment. But we in Dallas need you to be bold, to be clear, to make a forceful point! If the paper is going to survive — even if it only survives online — we need you to step up your game. Write like that guy I met at the mayoral debates.
Again, my apologies for being snarky and glib this morning. The subject deserved a more thoughtful response. I hope I’ve given you that here. Now get to work.
Also, please pass this note along to Steve Blow.
