SHORE THING: My ‘Macaca’ Moment
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
July 11, 2012
Mention the word “Macaca,” and millions of people will vaguely recall it had something to do with a politician turning his attention toward a college student who was videotaping every word he said.
That politician was George Allen, and July 11 marks exactly 5 years and 11 months since Allen infamously nicknamed the student videographer from UVA (who is of Indian descent) “Macaca” — a kind of monkey. Commentators blame that 1-minute indiscretion for Allen’s loss to now-Senator James Webb. You can relive it here:
Last night I had my own “Macaca” moment – nothing dramatic like the Allen episode, but nevertheless I felt a little like that UVA student, S.R. Sidarth, as he stood filming a speaker who suddenly directed everyone’s attention to the cameraman.
I was attending a meeting of the Cape Charles Planning Commission, and the commissioners were hearing a presentation by Echelon Resources developer J. David McCormack. As everyone in Cape Charles knows, Mayor Dora Sullivan has signed a contract to sell the old school, playground parking lot, and basketball court to Echelon Resources for the sum of $10.
Last night was the first time that a representative of Echelon Resources has spoken publicly about the deal, and I was filming it.
McCormack began by mentioning the friendship between his wife and Town Manager Heather Arcos. His wife is from Nassawadox, and “just by sheer coincidence,” McCormack said, “we realized that we had – she had a relationship with Heather.”
“That’s really as far as it goes,” McCormack concluded.
And then the presentation began – at least for several seconds — before Planning Commissioner Malcolm Hayward asked, “Are you fine with this camera?”
And then, for a few fleeting seconds it was all about George. “I’m happy to meet George . . . I got a lot of emails from George via Edwin [Gaskin, his Echelon partner] over the last couple months . . . I’m happy to hear from George, glad to meet George,” McCormack said, facing the cameraman (me).
“Whatever happens with the school at the end of the day, I’m going to still be neighbors with you all – by virtue of my relationships in town,” McCormack explained. [Read more…]
Samuel R. Norman, 1941-2012
Samuel R. Norman, 70, longtime Ashland, New Hampshire, resident, died at home July 8, 2012, following a period of declining health.
He was born Oct. 11, 1941, in Richmond, Va., the son of William S. and Dorothy (Routt) Norman.
He and his family lived in Cape Charles, Va., for many years, coming to Ashland in 1948 when he was 6 years old. He attended Ashland schools, retired in 1976 from the U.S. Air Force, and was a graduate of Plymouth State College.
In 1978 Sam was married to his wife of 33 years, Sherry Fields Norman. [Read more…]
