"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

Thursday 26 October 2017

HUFFED AND PUFFED AND BLEW THE HOUSE DOWN

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A LESSON LEARNED ?????????": 

15:51
Not a bad idea. However, the writing of such a document would be too one-sided to be considered accurate.  

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 26 October 2017 at 07:45
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The idea does not appeal though not because of slant. Most recorded history reflects bias of the author.  Why would anyone want to write it , if there was no special interest in doing so. 

I've  enjoyed being part of Aurora's history. Particularly because it was a time of change. I don't 
think it would interest anyone except people involved. Most of whom have moved on.  

The change ,which was so dramatic, was not successful. Quite ruinous in fact,in my opinion. 

People like to read  positive reflectlions. It's a comfort. That's understandable. There's a limit to  an average person's control in their  lives. They prefer to think that which they don't control is better managed. 

Take this week's news of Council for example. My friend Tom Mrakas posted on Wednesday  a motion passed with a vote of 7-1 with the Mayor absent. 

It was to change the name of "Tree lighting ceremony to "Christmas tree lighting ceremony."

He noted,Councillor Kim moved and Councillor Pirrie voted against the motion. He didn't say why. He didn't have to. An immediate flurry of congratulatory comments were posted. 

Great excitement.But again, nobody said why. 

My question is, if a tree lit at Christmas isn't a Christmas Tree ,what in God's name is it ? 

Who is arguing ?  

That tree wasn't always there y'know. 

Town hall staff formed a little fund- raising group; soup and sandwich Tuesdays. They took turns making soup and sandwiches at home, brought them into the cafeteria and enjoying them together. 
It created family. Mayor Tim Jones joined them and enjoyed their affection. 

Grace Marsh told me the Christmas tree was the first project with the funds. 

It was only 5 or 6 feet tall then. Now it's majestic, a beautiful thing and a fine festive evening for 
children and families. 

But soup and sandwich Tuesdays ended. Councillor  Gaertner asked in Council,  how much 
staff time was spent on fund-raising. The Councillor was always willing to stooge for the other two

The cartoon of three witches with Bette Middler in the middle always makes me smile. 

Soon United Way  was town fund-raising operandi .For years, Aurora employees had resisted pressure to have salary deductions for United Way.  With my support, I might add. 

The new CAO was in charge of United Way in his previous position at the Region. Seemed he craved  the same fame in Aurora. 

Breaking up the family was also in line with the Mayor's intention of making staff  feel less secure as well as  punish them for liking Tim Jones. 

Petty and mean ? Yes indeed. 

No historical drama perhaps. 

Nor the stuff of Shakespeare . 

Just the mould and decay that makes mortar crumble and the house fall down. 

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