Middletown Council Grows Up!
I went to the Council meeting tonight expecting to see what seems to be a never-ending brouhaha that has been going on for years. Imagine my surpise to see quite the opposite!
Councilpeople who treated each other respectfully. While disagreeing, they did so with dignity, kindness, graciousness, and civility! Well, shut my mouth. What the heck has gotten into the White Knght lately? He's really come into his own & become an outstanding member.
Councilmen Silveira (the White Knight), and DiPalma (He tries harder), were actually listened to & neither marginalized nor demonized.
Councilman Sylvia (the Inspector) was polite, tolerant, and showed signs of flexiblity. The zingers were gone. He limited his "trash talk" (thank you, God) and had a NEW TOPIC (drains). There may be hope yet.
Councilwoman Mello, who sometimes has difficulty keeping her motions clear, accepted help gracefully, acknowledging her difficulties. She also avoided the funsport of marginalizing Silveira & DiPalma.
The Prez, Rodriques, acted like a leader. He tolerated no zingers from Councilwoman "Mother Theresa" Santos directed at the White Knight. He kept a long night's agenda moving along. He set the example by thanking & complimenting everyone, even when he disagree. He could only make one committee appointment when two citizens had applied and complimented and thanked both for applying. He said that it was a difficult decision.
Huzzah! More details will follow but I am currently sleep-deprived. Will this behavior continue? I certainly hope so. What next - they might actually try compromizing instead of it's either left or right. So what that it wasn't your idea - put your imprint on it and make it better. Give compliments & you may be surprised to actually receive some back. Try working as a united group - you don't all have to be chiefs.
No one really cares who likes who, who is related, past occurences, blah, blah, blah. It's interesting but not relevant. Remember what you learned in kindergarten:
"Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people (words DO hurt).
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK."
Maybe there is hope for the local Dems after all. And if there is hope for them, it's better for all of us in Middletown.
Councilpeople who treated each other respectfully. While disagreeing, they did so with dignity, kindness, graciousness, and civility! Well, shut my mouth. What the heck has gotten into the White Knght lately? He's really come into his own & become an outstanding member.
Councilmen Silveira (the White Knight), and DiPalma (He tries harder), were actually listened to & neither marginalized nor demonized.
Councilman Sylvia (the Inspector) was polite, tolerant, and showed signs of flexiblity. The zingers were gone. He limited his "trash talk" (thank you, God) and had a NEW TOPIC (drains). There may be hope yet.
Councilwoman Mello, who sometimes has difficulty keeping her motions clear, accepted help gracefully, acknowledging her difficulties. She also avoided the funsport of marginalizing Silveira & DiPalma.
The Prez, Rodriques, acted like a leader. He tolerated no zingers from Councilwoman "Mother Theresa" Santos directed at the White Knight. He kept a long night's agenda moving along. He set the example by thanking & complimenting everyone, even when he disagree. He could only make one committee appointment when two citizens had applied and complimented and thanked both for applying. He said that it was a difficult decision.
Huzzah! More details will follow but I am currently sleep-deprived. Will this behavior continue? I certainly hope so. What next - they might actually try compromizing instead of it's either left or right. So what that it wasn't your idea - put your imprint on it and make it better. Give compliments & you may be surprised to actually receive some back. Try working as a united group - you don't all have to be chiefs.
No one really cares who likes who, who is related, past occurences, blah, blah, blah. It's interesting but not relevant. Remember what you learned in kindergarten:
"Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people (words DO hurt).
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK."
Maybe there is hope for the local Dems after all. And if there is hope for them, it's better for all of us in Middletown.
No comments:
Post a Comment