Tears and Laughter: An open invitation

First off, I would just like to thank everybody for taking the time to read about Wilcox County politics when you could be reading something you really enjoy.

I am surprised sometimes by the number of people who follow the things that happen here.

Some people do because they were born here or spent some time here along life’s way. But most people keep up with it because they have never seen any place that operates quite the way we do. A few months ago John Archibald, a columnist from Birmingham, heard about our corruption and came down for a visit. Mr. Archibald writes fluently about politics in the Birmingham metro area where corruption is thick and popular.

Being familiar with the art of corruption the way he is, I thought after a slide down to Camden he could turn out a quick six to eight paragraphs solution that would help steer us back towards hope. But instead he was overwhelmed by the layers of corruption. The best I could interpret, his impression of the place was “Lord have mercy Jesus!”

We do tend to view our corruption as an Olympic event. Many of our politicians have been trained generation after generation.

People email and message me all the time about how they have lived all over and came here to Wilcox County only to find that it is like nothing they have ever seen before. They generally use a lot of adjectives in describing their experiences.

Now personally, I have learned that it is best to treat our local politics like a spectator sport. We don’t have much in the way of tennis or have a professional ball team to support so we just have to appreciate what action we do have to watch.

I think everyone would be amused if not entertained by visiting with us sometimes. Maybe bring your family or your Sunday school group. Certainly bring over as many of today’s precious youth that you can afford to pay to attend. We would make them all feel welcome.

The Wilcox Commission proudly meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 5:30 in the evening, assuming they don’t call the whole thing off. Meetings are almost always held in the Commission’s Chamber on the first floor of the Wilcox Courthouse Annex.

I have always thought they meet in a chamber so that everybody attending will feel a little bit closer to hell, but sometimes they will move upstairs to the courtroom where everybody can sit down but still nobody can hear.

I should also go ahead and forewarn you that sometimes the opening prayer will be the most exciting part of the meeting. They may vote to tear down the dam one day, but they will start with a strong opening prayer.

The good news is that they never pass the hat. At least they haven’t at any of the meetings I have attended so far.

I have suggested that one of the local women’s groups or school organizations could benefit financially by selling concessions out in the hallway. As tightly as we all pack in there, I just think some popcorn or a pack of Nabs might add to that spectator feel.

Since all we can do is watch.

Amanda Walker is a columnist with The West Al. Watchman, Al.com, The Thomasville Times, and The Wilcox Progressive Era – https://www.facebook.com/AmandaWalker.Columnist.