My first reaction after taping the William Barber-John Tedesco discussion for NC SPIN was disappointment that no more was accomplished. As moderator I take blame for this. I failed to explain to both panelists that on TV you cannot make lengthy speeches. Rightly or wrongly we deal in sound bytes, responses that last no more than 30 seconds. I didn’t cut them off when they launched into speechifying. Further, I failed on several occasions to stop them to require they answer the question I had asked.

We have produced more than 615 episodes of NC SPIN and I must admit that I had more nervousness about this particular show than most any we’ve ever done. As moderator I really wanted to get this right. I wanted to be fair to both Mr. Tedesco and Reverend Barber and was somewhat fearful that things would get out of hand. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.

Regardless of which participant you think did better or who had the most intelligent responses in the debate you will have to agree that this was a pretty gutsy thing both Barber and Tedesco did. It is one thing to engage in a debate with another when there are few present, but it is pretty intimidating when there are more than 100,000 people watching and listening. They both approached this with goodwill and a positive attitude. For that we should all be grateful. I thank them both.

While there was good information shared by both we didn’t reach any consensus or move toward any agreements in the Wake school assignment controversy. The one essential and important accomplishment was that we got these two leaders together, face to face, to begin a dialogue. Who knows where that might lead?

One question I didn’t get around to asking was what happens if we cannot get this controversy resolved? This is a very critical issue but it is taking the emphasis away from the number one priority: educating our children. So the sooner we get this settled, the better.

At the end of the show I offered, on behalf of NC SPIN, to host another of these discussions. This time I would propose an hour instead of just a half hour. We might have to break it into two programs but we could cover more ground. People of good will need to insist on more two-way conversation about these issues.Both sides have points worth hearing…and that is a key point. Listening is just as important as talking in resolving differences.

Under Superintendent Bill McNeal’s leadership Wake Schools were moving toward excellence. Unfortunately, when he left so did the leadership that brought us this far. The Wake School Board had become arrogant and adamant, not listening to parents who wanted to stop the frequent reassignment and long bus rides of their children. Change was needed, perhaps some big change. But we should never, never go back to segregated schools. We’ve come too far to regress.

In the final analysis it was not a showdown, it was not a throw-down, but it also was not a lay-down for anyone. Perhaps we cracked open a door. Let us urge these parties to open it some more and walk into a time of resolution.

If you didn’t catch the show you can stream the August 15th episode.