"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Saturday 28 January 2012

The Meaning Of Integrity

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Mardi Gras In Aurora Is Spectacular ..Kudos To The...":

1:08 PM
Christopher, I think that comment was about You earning trust. And you have not done so. The fury over being asked not to meddle on Evelyn's Blog and losing the battle over the condemned house shows why people might be reluctant to sign in.
And you only know what you read and infer about what stands Anonymous Bloggers might take. There is a world of inter-action beyond the Blog. You have not been asked to participate as you are judged to be a 'wild cannon'.

********************

Whoa!

I am happy to be the conduit between Christopher and the people he dismays. I am  confident of his ability to speak for himself.

But I need to clarify a couple of things. I  appreciate  advice  from Christopher on how to improve this great opportunity we have for carrying on a robust conversation about this and that but mainly town affairs.

I  sense  the world of interaction beyond the Blog . I  am also not asked to participate.I notice that.

I have an affinity for Christopher. He does what I did when I first became involved . 

For me, the next step was politics. No point firing off salvos if I didn't believe they were shared by others and should make a difference.

Aurora may be  the only place to elect someone like myself. They've certainly done it often enough to prove a straightforward position delivered with force of conviction is appreciated in this town. 

I have never felt pressure  to "play nicely". It's a good thing.

Politics is not kindergarten, a Sunday school picnic, a service club dinner or  the lady's auxiliary.

Criticism is a sign of good health and vigour. 

Politics is the one arena where the battle should be enjoined. People should put forward  positions  with all the force they can muster without malice aforethought.

It takes courage and confidence, a willingness to risk and it keeps you knowing you are alive.

It calls for sticking your head above the crowd and inviting dolly molly shots. There are plenty of those.

In my judgment, an unwilling,ill-equipped  council member,who aspires to popularity at the expense of  integrity, is mainly taking up space.

 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Evelyn , You are included in the world of inter-action with us every day through phone calls, e-mails and
messages to and through your Blog. Your advice is sought either openly or quietly. Do not even feel that you are not a part of everything in town. Trusting you to keep confidences has never been an issue.
Christopher is regarded with caution. The 'wild cannon' comment reflects that attitude. He shoots from the hip and that can have disastrous results. Plenty of time for him to develop and grow.

Anonymous said...

OK Now we know that Evelyn is kept in the loop and Christopher has to learn when to shut up. Can we drop the whole damn thing ?