Randolph County Feuds

One of the Courier's headlines over the weekend boldly proclaimed that the pottery wars in Seagrove are no more. There is no feud and there are no hard feelings.

I guess the economy - along with two successful festivals on the same weekend - did the talking. They cannot afford to fight. It's almost too bad. Even bad publicity is publicity - and the feud certainly put Seagrove on the map. Dodging flying pots was the most "fun" folks had had down there in years.

I will assume that Phil Morgan has dropped the lawsuit.

While I was home this past week, I had the opportunity to converse with someone who has seen a different side of Phil (President of the NCMTP - aka, "the establishment" - of which I have been critical) than I have. I shared with him my experience with placing an order with Phil . . . and what I had actually witnessed while browsing in his shop (i.e., Phil's staff trashing other potters - to pump up Phil's work).

He shared with me the kindnesses Phil has shown him.

Everything depends on what's in your field of vision. I suppose it's akin to all those right honorable hospital board members who only listened to Bob Morrison over the years.

Alas, I've decided that I cannot let my lawsuit go. Sometimes you cannot hold hands and sing Kumbaya. This time, it won't be against the hospital - for that's a massive waste of time in Randolph County . . . where you can lie over and over again and just get away with it . . . because you're somebody and you know lots of important somebodies . . . and Dr. Mary Johnson is nobody.

I doubt that what I'm planning will be good for "business". But, as a good friend told me last week, "Mary, you are not going to be able to move on, or find any closure until you do something about this. You've done everything you can do - exhausted every avenue. But writing letters and blogging and waiting for the investigative journalists has not cut it. Right and wrong do not matter. Ethics does not matter. No one in government - or the press - pays any attention unless you sue somebody."

So. One way or another, Bob and I are going to dance. The Hatfields and McCoys can just step aside. And we'll see how Bonnie and David can spin it.

A long time ago, I told Steve Eblin that I was taking a chance and coming home on faith. I told him not to waste my time.

That's all the oily, over-paid, well-fed suit has done.

Afterthought: Referencing another Randolph County feud recently in the news . . . Peachtree Street Grocery v. The city of Asheboro . . . I know I said I was gonna try to get my hands on a copy of the lawsuit . . . to see/understand the basis of the Bradshaw's legal beef with the Farmer's Market. But I simply ran out of time last week, and spending time being sneered at over at the Courthouse was not high on my list of things to do . . . especially after the tongue-lashing Mr. Bradshaw gave a friend of mine over this post.

Maybe next time.