"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 2 May 2013

The Play's The Thing

 A comment last week  said it must be hard to maintain objectivity at Council and  everything is depressing.

It's not hard . Nor is it depressing.  There has never been a time when Councillors were so much exposed under the microscope. It takes getting used to. And living  up to.

I  have an advantage. I know stuff  other Councillors do not.  

For example ,when  spectator benches are full and many choose to be belligerent, others are there to hear and understand the right way of things. 

Councillor Gallo commented this week, people have a right to represent their interest.  Of course they do. 

Councillors have the same right but they also have a responsibility  to  reflect different perspectives.

A  modern Canadian community is not a medieval oligarchy. We have no ruling class.

Council  is political theatre.  Supremely authentic .

The play is perfectly cast. Each writes and delivers his own lines . He plays his own role without flaw.

Says  exactly what he intends.  No time or opportunity for re-writes. 

The  Mayor is the lead character.  If he fumbles, he fails and the  play brcomes jagged  and hard to follow.  

But the fault is clear.  

My determination to be frank and free without fear or favour, makes mine a pivotal role and puts others at a disadvantage. Clumping together in  a majority is an exercise of power.  But the audience does not neccessarily  have a postive view of it. 

Critics abound  

The list of characters is complete  with  the  notable exception of romance and sex. 

The  wise one, his nemesis,  the victim, the  foolish one, the scurvy knave  all have parts.

The hero's role  has the potential to shift from week to week.

Thisplay has a four year run with an option for  an extended booking.
It's real.
It's contemporary history.
It calls for skills that must be learned.
It's an incredible privilege.
An opportunity to make a  difference.
And well worth while. 

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Trying to fill your cast list is great fun. But " Wise One " has me stumped especially since you later referred to " his " nemesis .

Anonymous said...


This is by way of an aside to your post, more a matter of prop or scenery.

There is no doubt that the new cell tower is an eyesore all in white. It contrasts with its entire background.

But if it were painted a shade of grey-green it might appear to be a more natural thing.

Perhaps someone could bring this to the attention of Bell. Their agreement would be somewhat of a public service.

Anonymous said...

Danse Macabre. I can't see too many taking this show on a lengthy run. Not on my list. But there are likely plenty of others with lists of their own. Hopefully some new faces auditioning for the parts ?

Anonymous said...

That particular audience will likely never return. They, or some of them, plan to produce a play of their own. We can all write the script for that one. An expensive production that never opens.

Anonymous said...

Ah, but you have one of the best seats in the house. Especially with the streaming residents get little feel for body language & behind the scenes' drama. It's better than nothing but not by much.

Anonymous said...

Given the way our council spends $, the taxpayers are already in the cheap seats.

Anonymous said...

Ugly tower! Take short drive north to the Rogers tower on Bathurst at old Bathurst. There's uglyyyy!!
Gives a new perspective on the neat tidy white one.

Anonymous said...

Ballard's web-site has received a house-cleaning in the twit department. I didn't hang about to see if his pole poll was still intact.

Anonymous said...

I have been wondering what other plans King might have for those lands along Bathurst. It certainly isn't going to see them revert to farmland or remain idle. There is a lack of shopping along that stretch for people who have to use that road several times a day. That is an area ripe for in-filling and those in Aurora are not apt to be consulted given the recent past. They may wish they had been less confrontational.
Karma?

Anonymous said...

And fluoride was a communist plot.