"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

Saturday 13 September 2014

Please think again

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Toronto..Act 3":

We have an improvised sign on the front door:
No Politicians Please
If we don't already know you from your work in town forget it

Moderate comments for this blog.
**************************

This is not the tradition in Aurora. We respect people who put their names forward to serve.

They  mostly finance campaigns from their own  resources. They spend many hours tramping streets and climbing steps.

It doesn't cost anything to be civil.

Without candidates we would have no democracy.

My first campaign was three years after coming to live in Aurora and five after arriving in Canada.

I was never completely mobile. I campaigned  by telephone. I called every home on the voters'

' list and . made two call backs if I didn't find anyone home.

Of all the people I spoke to, there were never more than three rude responses.

Aurora is a great town. We need to maintain  and restore the traditional standard of dignity and civility.

I have signs to place in lawns.

Financial donations would be much appreciated.

My phone number : 905-727-6457

E-mail address.: evelyn.buck @ rogers.com


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

The idea of a sign like that works for me. It is not being rude because no one person is being denied an opportunity to campaign at a residence. Perhaps that individual has learned enough through watching council meetings and reading the Auroran to draw up a list of preferred candidates. There has be plenty of time to check most of those running for pluses and minuses.
This is totally unlike the last election when residents were actively seeking new blood.

Anonymous said...

The note says " Please ". It is not offensive, just defensive.


Anonymous said...


I'm not sure how much I respect someone who puts their name forward seeking public office.

Respect is something that has to be earned, along with trust. Simply signing a piece of paper and ordering a bunch of lawn signs does neither.

No one is forced into being a candidate in an election. The decision is personal and made willingly. I agree that there are those rare individuals who seek office in order to attempt to set right some perceived injustice. It is these few that merit our thanks and appreciation, and who truly believe in democracy.

You can barely call the Harper government a democracy, even though you can tick a few boxes.

The news out of Toronto yesterday has the suggestion of a plan made some time ago. It is not unusual to have family dynasties in politics. The Roosevelt's, what was intended by Robert Kennedy, the two George Bush's and now two possible Clintons.

But I would argue that trading one Ford for another is akin to dealing is used cars; neither comes with a warranty that will stand the test of consumer acceptance.

If the voters in Toronto are so stupid as to accept this car deal they will have four long years to face the consequences.

I'm not sure if a traditional standard of dignity and civility still exists. I hope it does for all our sakes.

Happy campaigning!


Anonymous said...


From THE MANTLE OF COMMAND

"Gloom had meanwhile descended on Washington in the aftermath of the British surrender of Tobruk.

In the sticky heat, sixteen of the most senior British and American military staff officers met on June 21, 19423. They had intended to discuss offensive strategy, but they now switched to defense: addressing the ramifications of the collapse of the British in North Africa, and the possible fall of Churchill as prime minister.

The President's response, however, was different - indeed, would go down in world history. At the British Empire's nadir of shame, with British Empire soldiers refusing to fight - the number of those surrendering at Tobruk increasing to thirty-three thousand in subsequent hours - the President turned to Churchill and said: "What can we do to help?"

Where are those today who ask: "What can we do to help?"

Anonymous said...

Where are those today who ask: "What is this, book club?"

Anonymous said...

21:30 In answer to your query, I believe the # of volunteers at Hoe-Down was about 250-70. There is no shortage of willing hands to do the scud work.

Anonymous said...

8:59 And get free tickets to a major entertainment event.

Anonymous said...

According to a Steve Hinder tweet, there were 670 volunteers working at the Hoedown.