On Blackwell's arrogance [See
Blackwell ignores Congress here]
Mr. Blackwell: We have been following with great interest your peculiar involvement in managing the election process in the recent and lamented Ohio presidential elections. We have observed in awe, and indeed continue to do so, your behavior throughout, and following, the elections - behavior widely reported in Ohio media. We regret to inform you that at least two of your fellow citizens find you a disappointment and an embarrassment. As citizens we understand several things about our government and its structures and processes. We understand the role of Secretary of State of Ohio, and we grasp the intent the election laws in our country, and we revere the ethical practices under which this nation has conducted its civic business and (for the most part) its elections. Finally, we realize the importance of the rule of law and the necessity of civil society in a democracy. Sadly, it is our opinion that you do not. We find it appalling that you took the irresponsible decision to ignore the Congress of the United States by refusing last week to meet with the House Administration Committee when they ask you to do so. Is there something wrong with discussing and (perish the thought!) solving the irregularities in the November election - particularly those documented in Ohio? Please, as an elected official in Ohio, will you issue a public statement to the citizens of this state explaining why you did this? Call a press conference and tell us why it was good for Ohio, why it is right for a citizen of the United States to refuse to speak to the Congress of the United States - an institution, incidentally, which the founding fathers, in the final analysis, found far preferable to the executive office. We are trying to fathom the reasons for that arrogant and untenable decision you made - i.e. not to appear before the House committee. We posit situations and conditions to ourselves trying to give you a plausible excuse. But we are not able to find a solution that answers. For example, when the House Administration Committee was meeting last week and asked you to appear, you were in Washington, DC. So, we have had to rule out the possibility that you were considering the cash-strapped condition of Ohio's budget and did not want to burden it with travel expenses. We thought that perhaps, like Godot, you were detained. But surely that would have been reported in the press, would it not? Then we thought, maybe he never received the request, so we have written to the committee asking them how they contacted you. In the meanwhile, would you mind sharing with us what prompted your less than wise decision? As citizens of the United States and the state of Ohio, and as informed observers of the current and previous presidential electoral processes and their respective irregularities, we assure you that, were we elected public officials, one office with which we would not want to have our names coupled is Florida Secretary of State. Yet you, Mr. Blackwell, don't seem to mind that company. For you and Glenda Hood, the current (and we fervently hope and devoutly believe the last) Florida Secretary of State, were chastised publicly for your callow and callous disregard of civil behavior - a practice that the electorate in a democracy expects of its elected officials. A member of that committee reportedly described your and Ms. Hood's joint lockstep behavior in this way: "the arrogance of those secretaries of state not to be here today is an affront to those who elected them to office," (n.b., Mr. Blackwell, he is talking about the citizens of the state of Ohio - even those of us who would never, never in our least rational moments have considered you a worthy candidate). Now we understand that the committee plans to meet with the secretaries in Columbus and Florida; possibly issuing subpoenas. Way to go. Do you read the Greeks, Mr. Blackwell? Probably not, but in case you do, may we offer you a reminder from the nation that invented western democracy? Hubris is not a character trait recommended for cultivation in any human, but most particularly not in civil officials - time and again, the wise words of Greek philosophers and artists have admonished us to govern our actions in a considered and conciliatory manner and never, never to act out of overweening pride. The Greeks may leave you cold, but you can read this same advice from another source familiar to you: Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs: 016:018 ). So the Greeks don't get you there, and you find our bible quote to be inept. Okay, then find yourself a quiet space with soft light. Now, light yourself a candle - scented or otherwise - grab your favorite beverage, throw on some tunes, and hang on to a nice pad of paper and a pencil - you don't have to hug a tree or crunch granola, so don't panic. Just sit with yourself and think about who you are as a person, and who you wish to be. Remind yourself of the persons who were heroes to you when you were a child. Imagine that your mother, or the person you respect the most, was with you when you pulled the Washington caper - and then ask yourself what she or that other person would think of you. Don’t hold back, just do it: Could be interesting.from Cool Cleveland readers Christine Sell & James Hilliard csell@stratos.net (:divend:)