"Why are Americans so uneasy with self-examination? Patriotism is tied up here with seeing our country as a perfect, finished product, not a work in progress. Anyone who questions the status quo in the US is likely to be called treasonous." Quoted from an interview with Barbara Kingsolver.
Are we in Ashfield any different than this? When citizens insult each other do we just turn our heads. When public records are thrown out on a whim do we just turn our heads? When police officers intimidate citizens, do we just turn our heads? How many people know that smoking cigarettes is an illegal act for a police officer or fire fighter in the state of MA. These are just a few of the illegal acts up here in our small town. When will these things be investigated? Who is held accountable for their actions? Why are we afraid of bringing up truths? Why are we afraid of investigating and examining ourselves as a town? And why are we afraid of listening to someone with a different view point? May we find the Peace in our lives that is so needed in this time of darkness and may we all learn to listen with our hearts open and our minds clear. It is not a crime to hold each other accountable for our actions.
Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Ricki Carroll
Thursday, December 10, 2009
A Call for Civil Discourse
A couple of weeks ago, I phoned someone in town who is on the other side of the controversy over John. We had a long, cordial conversation and, in the end, agreed to disagree. After the Dec.2 Select Board meeting, I sent her an e-mail on one of the matters we’d discussed. In the e-mail, I made a minor error in fact – I referred to Ms. Levitre’s complaints as being about sexual harassment rather than harassment of a disabled person.
The person I’d e-mailed passed the e-mail on to a former select board member, who, on the basis of that minor error, wrote: "David. What you seem to be dealing in is propaganda, lies and innuendo. If you base your assumptions on ignorance of the facts, and then draw conclusions based on your own bias, of course you will end up where you are. Your lack of moral center in these entire proceedings has been astounding. Please do not continue to degrade yourself any further."
I took some umbrage at being called a liar and propagandist with no moral center, even if the accusations were couched in the language of concern for my well being. (“I was so sorry to hear you’re a lying sack of manure. Is there anything I can do?”) But there’s something larger than a personal attack going on here.
You can never resolve a controversy if you treat the people who disagree with you, not as opponents who need to be convinced or at least respected, but as enemies who must be shouted down and publically humiliated. There are honest and intelligent people on both sides of the recent controversy who sincerely believe they are doing what’s best for Ashfield -- I was trying to talk to one of them when I made the phone call that started this exchange. I’m calling on these honest people to turn their backs on the sort of attacks that refer to opponents as “a lynch mob” or “an ignorant crowd,” or even a lying propagandist with no moral center. Until we start treating each other with respect, we’re never going to be able to move forward as a town.
To sum it up, one of the complaints against John was that he fostered a culture of intimidation. John’s gone now, but that culture is still with us.
Respectfully,
David King
The person I’d e-mailed passed the e-mail on to a former select board member, who, on the basis of that minor error, wrote: "David. What you seem to be dealing in is propaganda, lies and innuendo. If you base your assumptions on ignorance of the facts, and then draw conclusions based on your own bias, of course you will end up where you are. Your lack of moral center in these entire proceedings has been astounding. Please do not continue to degrade yourself any further."
I took some umbrage at being called a liar and propagandist with no moral center, even if the accusations were couched in the language of concern for my well being. (“I was so sorry to hear you’re a lying sack of manure. Is there anything I can do?”) But there’s something larger than a personal attack going on here.
You can never resolve a controversy if you treat the people who disagree with you, not as opponents who need to be convinced or at least respected, but as enemies who must be shouted down and publically humiliated. There are honest and intelligent people on both sides of the recent controversy who sincerely believe they are doing what’s best for Ashfield -- I was trying to talk to one of them when I made the phone call that started this exchange. I’m calling on these honest people to turn their backs on the sort of attacks that refer to opponents as “a lynch mob” or “an ignorant crowd,” or even a lying propagandist with no moral center. Until we start treating each other with respect, we’re never going to be able to move forward as a town.
To sum it up, one of the complaints against John was that he fostered a culture of intimidation. John’s gone now, but that culture is still with us.
Respectfully,
David King
An Open Letter to the Selectboard Chair
Dear Mr. Murray,
I felt last week's Selectboard meeting was the beginning of CHANGE. Issues long awaiting attention are beginning to surface, and I felt they would be dealt with.
Your statement to Channel 22 and the Recorder that the people are exhausted and the town is depleted is not true, at least in my case, as I have the right to speak only for myself. I and others have been attending meetings and putting forth effort to stay with the problems plaguing Ashfield for many months now, and I am feeling energized that change is happening.
The resignation of John is only the surface as I see it. There are many other problems as important throughout the police department, town hall and now the assessor’s office. For instance: the breaking of the elections law, the missing e-mails, abuse of power, Seth Cranston's alleged harassment issue with a former assessor's clerk for which the town is now paying unemployment and the fact that the harassment was known of by a former selectboard member and other assessors who did nothing about it. If you remember, or perhaps you were not on the board then, but, during a selectboard meeting, Cynthia Cranston demanded from Dave Deherdt a promise of a "zero tolerance policy" towards harassment.
The harassment class, which I believe you attended, makes clear that a person aware of harassment is as guilty as the perpetrator if they do not expose the problem. Therefore, the selectboard had a responsibility to do something. I feel that Emma did the right thing in bringing up this issue--she exposed a problem. Her letter contained no names. Seth stood up and outed himself.
As for the police department, I feel Kristina N. has acted with intimidation, i.e. five uniformed police (off duty?) at a selectboard meeting amongst the citizens. I feel she is insubordinate during the meetings, and I question her right to speak, since she is not a resident of the town. I do not feel confident in the police department at this time. I feel we, as a town, need to take our time in finding a well-qualified police chief with outstanding references who has had no prior relations with Ashfield. Perhaps Kendal Chow should be asked, as a man with 23 years experience, to help with the choosing of a new chief. I am sure that his experience and knowledge would be a great asset. And in the interim, perhaps he should be asked to step in as the acting chief.
You have obtained much information through your interviews and investigations. I hope that you will honor those that have come forth and stepped up to the plate with valuable info. This information will help the process of cleaning house and correcting all the improprieties that have been going on for many years in this town.
I trust, Ted, as you were elected by citizens of this town, that you will do your job with respect for all the taxpayers and those concerned citizens. I would like to see a zero tolerance policy in all the town governments, and transparency as well. We, the citizens, have the right to know.
Sincerely,
Karen Sullivan
I felt last week's Selectboard meeting was the beginning of CHANGE. Issues long awaiting attention are beginning to surface, and I felt they would be dealt with.
Your statement to Channel 22 and the Recorder that the people are exhausted and the town is depleted is not true, at least in my case, as I have the right to speak only for myself. I and others have been attending meetings and putting forth effort to stay with the problems plaguing Ashfield for many months now, and I am feeling energized that change is happening.
The resignation of John is only the surface as I see it. There are many other problems as important throughout the police department, town hall and now the assessor’s office. For instance: the breaking of the elections law, the missing e-mails, abuse of power, Seth Cranston's alleged harassment issue with a former assessor's clerk for which the town is now paying unemployment and the fact that the harassment was known of by a former selectboard member and other assessors who did nothing about it. If you remember, or perhaps you were not on the board then, but, during a selectboard meeting, Cynthia Cranston demanded from Dave Deherdt a promise of a "zero tolerance policy" towards harassment.
The harassment class, which I believe you attended, makes clear that a person aware of harassment is as guilty as the perpetrator if they do not expose the problem. Therefore, the selectboard had a responsibility to do something. I feel that Emma did the right thing in bringing up this issue--she exposed a problem. Her letter contained no names. Seth stood up and outed himself.
As for the police department, I feel Kristina N. has acted with intimidation, i.e. five uniformed police (off duty?) at a selectboard meeting amongst the citizens. I feel she is insubordinate during the meetings, and I question her right to speak, since she is not a resident of the town. I do not feel confident in the police department at this time. I feel we, as a town, need to take our time in finding a well-qualified police chief with outstanding references who has had no prior relations with Ashfield. Perhaps Kendal Chow should be asked, as a man with 23 years experience, to help with the choosing of a new chief. I am sure that his experience and knowledge would be a great asset. And in the interim, perhaps he should be asked to step in as the acting chief.
You have obtained much information through your interviews and investigations. I hope that you will honor those that have come forth and stepped up to the plate with valuable info. This information will help the process of cleaning house and correcting all the improprieties that have been going on for many years in this town.
I trust, Ted, as you were elected by citizens of this town, that you will do your job with respect for all the taxpayers and those concerned citizens. I would like to see a zero tolerance policy in all the town governments, and transparency as well. We, the citizens, have the right to know.
Sincerely,
Karen Sullivan
Celtic Concert
Traditional accordion legend John Whelan will perform at the Ashfield Community Hall this Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Whelan is a seven-time All-Ireland Champion who moved to the U.S. in 1980.
He will be accompanied by New England musicians Liz Simmons and Flynn Cohen. Tickets are available locally at Elmer’s and at the door.
He will be accompanied by New England musicians Liz Simmons and Flynn Cohen. Tickets are available locally at Elmer’s and at the door.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
O Christmas Tree
Our family tree is symbolic of our support for our community this year. No perfectly shaped tree. It's a Charlie Brown tree with a crooked top, sparse branches and, as Elmer would say, rather "poor." However, I will enjoy it because to us, as it struggles to stay upright in the stand, it's symbolic of our struggles as a town.
Grace Lesure
Grace Lesure
Neither snow, nor wind, nor...
In spite of the weather, the Select Board will meet tonight at 7 p.m. An agenda has not yet been made available.
Ruth Julian
Ruth Julian
Monday, December 7, 2009
Endorsement of Alan Khazei
Tomorrow is our opportunity to choose the Democratic candidate for Senator Kennedy’s seat. Last week we managed to catch a televised debate among the four candidates. We decided by the end of the hour that Martha Coakley was too rigid and Steve Pagliuca was too rich.
That left Mike Capuano and Alan Khazei, so we visited both websites. Capuano’s website was all flash and dazzle—clearly the design of people who don’t even know that some potential voters still live in dial-up land. We waited 10 or 15 minutes for the site to download and filled out the form requesting more information. The Capuano campaign never responded.
Alan Khazei’s site was much more dial-up user-friendly. I easily found a place to send in my questions, with high-speed internet access at the top of my list. The deputy policy director of Khazei’s campaign responded with a detailed e-mail that included a firm commitment to increased funding for broadband access in our area.
We were also impressed that, of the four campaigns, only Alan Khazei spared us the constant badgering of robo-calls.
Don’t forget that the polling place has been moved from Town Hall to Sanderson Academy to provide greater handicapped accessibility. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Ruth Julian
That left Mike Capuano and Alan Khazei, so we visited both websites. Capuano’s website was all flash and dazzle—clearly the design of people who don’t even know that some potential voters still live in dial-up land. We waited 10 or 15 minutes for the site to download and filled out the form requesting more information. The Capuano campaign never responded.
Alan Khazei’s site was much more dial-up user-friendly. I easily found a place to send in my questions, with high-speed internet access at the top of my list. The deputy policy director of Khazei’s campaign responded with a detailed e-mail that included a firm commitment to increased funding for broadband access in our area.
We were also impressed that, of the four campaigns, only Alan Khazei spared us the constant badgering of robo-calls.
Don’t forget that the polling place has been moved from Town Hall to Sanderson Academy to provide greater handicapped accessibility. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Ruth Julian
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