As the year draws to a close and our historical custom of reflection surrounds us, the most striking presence has been COURAGE and HEROISM.
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Ordinary, anonymous citizens came together to oppose something they knew was just plain wrong. They sacrificed their anonymity and endured venomous attacks, criticisms, catcalls.
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More than a thousand signed recall petitions to replace a tyrannical board.
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One truly heroic Middleboro Mom stood before a crowd of orange-t-shirted, out-of-town goons and was booed for her public tears.
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One cowardly Middleboro elected official gavelled truth and opposition to silence while allowing cheers, disruptions, signs, supportive out-of-towners like Bob Saquet to ramble endlessly and the ever-present photographer climbing over furniture.
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Five arrogant elected officials decided they knew best the future path of Middleboro and followed like mindless Bobble Heads a scheme that appears hatched by the former Town Manager and Wayne Perkins to avert the fiscal train wreck they created.
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One frail tribal elder heroically questioned tribal finances, a question the state and feds noticed. She was shunned, isolated and expelled for her heroism.
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Amelia Bingham's courage should stand as a lesson to us all about our personal values about 'doing what is right.'
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Ordinary anonymous citizens have crossed Middleboro's borders to offer support, speak out in protest and join the fight to circulate the facts of this flawed endeavor.
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The Regional Task Force has courageously shunned Middleboro's participation.
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Rep. Tom Calter courageously spoke to the facts of a casino presence on surrounding communities and the flawed Middleboro Agreement.
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Middleboro's other reps and state senator instead chose the cowardly path of campaign support.
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An arrogant Middleboro official foolishly challenged Middleboro's Reps. to pledge support, even as his career and image are imploding. (Some may remember that he defended a convicted rapist by saying 'everyone has skeletons in their closet' and criticized the League of Women Voters for their impartial analysis of casino gambling.)
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Middleboro Superintendent and School Committee lacked the courage to gather the facts and make an informed decision, as did the Police Union and others. The Casino Study Committee defined itself, as did its chairman.
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Ordinary anonymous citizens around the state are speaking out, participating and recognizing flawed public policy.
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Organizations have stepped forward to analyze and publicize the flawed figures.
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The greatest cowardice were those too intellectually lazy to examine the facts, review the flaws in the Agreement, reflect on the future or step away from the cheering crowd.
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The greatest heroism arose from those willing to speak Truth to Power and endure the daggers of criticisms because they're winning.
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Let's make the New Year filled with COURAGE AND HEROISM of those willing to speak against well-funded international investors and campaign contributors. Let's fill the year with TRUTH.
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Best wishes for an enlightening holiday season.
6 comments:
Those upset by the message in your blog need to face that they are part of the problem in this town. Obviously you are read by the dark hole forum, because they are already prattling on about you. Too bad they don't peer more closely. They might see a reflection of themselves.
the ever-present photographer climbing over furniture
What?
Too kind! Too kind!
He was like an obnoxious monkey hanging from the chandelier!
He was a nuisance and offensive.
You're just too sweet!
Thank you for writing.
Merry Christmas
jacquie,
Few moments of grace blessed the last year like yours at that public spectacle.
We watched and re-watched that moment endless times.
Those were NOT Middleboro residents.
They arrived together with matching chairs.
They booed at the appropriate times.
They departed together.
International casino money in action!
Invited by the Town Moderator?
Political prostitution at its worst!
But your GRACE prevailed!
Thank you for that MEMORABLE MOMENT amidst the casino corruption!
Only Amelia Bingham has suffered more.
Didn't all those out of town goons arrive in MSM Shuttle Busses? Why is he upset? He's part of the problem. Weren't they from the Lakeville IBEW?
Who paid you, Mike? Glenn Marshall?
In my opinion, the two highlights of that meeting were 1) the NO vote on question 3 and 2) The feeling of admiration for Jacquie's passionate and sincere speech.
My low points were 1) everything about articles 1 and 2 and 2) needing to restrain myself from retaliating against those who sunk so low as to boo Jacquie during her above mentioned speech.
It is because of those such as Jacquie and others (I hope you know who you are) who have the
courage to rise up for what is right that gives me hope for not only the future of Middleboro but for the hope of our society.
Grace was a very appropriate word.
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