Thoughts on Saturday's Gazette Piece

The piece reproduced in a post below ("“As a public service..."), in the words of the poet, "contains multitudes." As ripe for explication as Paul'’s Letter to the Corinthians and as ambiguous, at times, as Bill Clinton'’s famous deposition for the grand jury, it is a remarkable piece of writing, on many levels. Because time, space, and patience are limited, we'’ll make a few salient points here, and leave it to you to continue contemplating the wonder of this rich document.

Let's start with what it is, what it is not, and what it could have been.

It'’s a response to Art's letter to the Gazette of April 8; a defense of the District* against his charges of inaction, evasion, and exclusion (of the people). Even with Art'’s written words as a clear target, with the aim being to blunt the effect of those words and, if possible, to discredit them, the piece fails to develop a message; it'’s remarkably muddy. A’s an attempt at justifying the District'’s stance, it fails miserably.

Here'’s what it's not: It is not informative. It is not communicative. It is not an invitation to dialog. It does not convey the sense of a process open to those who wish to participate.

It could have been the following: An admission of past mistakes. An opening for discussion -- now, not later.

Instead the attitude is: "We'’ll let you discuss this, but on our terms, and not now! Soon! When we need your vote."”

Do I exaggerate? You decide.

Let's look at the rhetoric:

• "...voters are allowed an opportunity to make an informed decision..."
• "...a new state of the art district school or continue with the status quo."
• "...public input will be sought and debate encouraged...."

Read the next paragraph's representation of this project's history, which includes this hint:

"Board members reminded the audience that an earlier attempt...was rejected and all major building projects were put on hold."

Gosh, what was the purpose of that paving and renovation bond we approved a little while back? What about the projects funded in the previous bond? For having a moratorium on major projects, there's sure been a lot of activity!

*Really, in this case, the administration and the Board.