It was suggested to me by a friend who wrote to me this past few days that he guessed I probably wished I had used another word than one I used to denounce what I thought was classist in another's post.
Though I am well known for shooting first and asking questions later from time to time I gave considerable thought to the use of the word. I admit it is crude. I also thought it apt given what i saw as being the offensive nature of the post. I think it is the height of hypocrisy and political correctness to any objections to the use of a word on this forum that I strongly suspect everyone has used at one time or another, usually in a fit of pique at something like dropping one's favorite china tea cup. In many instances I also suspect it is accompanied by several other expletives of similarly dubious value except in how they lend emphasis to one's frustration Frustration being just another word for anger. I felt coarseness, however much I object to it and in spite of the fact I often resort to it, finding myself more and more frustrated by present times and vacuous popular culture, deserved a equally coarse reply. The most I can be found guilty of is misjudging the relative degrees of coarseness. To those who may have read my recent posting you will also note that I referred back to a person's comments regarding a relative of mine. One might be tempted to think my response was based on feeling a personal affront of some sort. Those knowing me well would be the first to tell you that personal considerations are outweighed by philosophy. There is nobody in my family who needs defending. They are all quite capable of defending themselves as am I. To suggest a personal motive or to denounce my use of a certain word is to my way of thinking an avoidance of substantive issues raised in my post, the chief one being the moral elevation of one interest group's concerns above another when both see their concerns as benefitting the common weal. To wit: There is very little if any difference from an architect who designs a public structure commissioned by a governing body, a member of which he or she may have contributed to in a political campaign or even raised money for and who receives a fee for their work product than a person active in NRP or their particular neighborhood group supporting a candidate with volunteer work, cash contributions, in kind contributions, or political endorsements who believes the candidate they support will listen more closely to the concerns of neighborhood groups which in turn may make available low interest mortgages or loans or even build a tot lot three blocks away or fund an after-school program in a park so that that person's child can seamlessly move from one place to another enabling said person to stay two more hours at their workplace earning dollars. It seems to me that is. It also seems to me that the incomes of said different parties are inconsequential from a public policy point nof view. And to suggest that one fundraiser for one candidate will benefit whereas another will not, as in the case of our City's Mayoral race, is false. I would point out to those on this list that the chief fundraisers for the candidate whose supporters wish to enshrine their candidate as a paragon of virtue have had business before our governing bodies in the past and likely will again in the future. If any doubt that fact they can approach me gently off-list and I will apprise them of details. This is not meant to impugn their character so much as it is meant to debunk myth propagated by the candidate whom they support. Though I have people in mind, I have taken great pains to not use names. I mean to express these thoughts as general topics for conversation hoping that I might do my part, finally some might say, to raise the level of debate on this forum which degenerates into partisan political name calling all too often. Fact driven criticism and opinions derived from those facts seems a goal worth striving for. I include myself in this process for good and bad. Tim Connolly Ward 7 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make a great connection at Yahoo! Personals. http://personals.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
