1993 public letters
A "real democrat"
This "real democrat" shakes his head in dismay at the most recent shenanigans of the old guard of the Town of Thompson Democratic Party in their last dying efforts to hold onto power. Recently, a small group of so-called Democrats put their seal of approval, or endorsement, on a candidate for Town of Thompson Supervisor whom they believe will serve their interests. They call themselves "real Democrats," implying that the remaining 3224 party members in town are something less. Who do these guys think they are One wonders whether "real democrats" eat quiche. Why the exclusiveness? Who decides who gets into this club?
After moving into the county several years ago from across the Upper Delaware, and marrying my good wife Carmen, we both registered to vote Independent because it seemed to us that the local Democratic leadership, as then constituted, was corrupt to its core. We wanted no part of it. This was hard to accept since my family has been made up largely of Democrats for generations. The extent to which crime and corruption has taken hold of our local government has since begun to become publicly evident as a result of many lawsuits, indictments, criminal convictions and ongoing investigations.
Rather than swearing allegiance to a particular party, a "real democrat" is a populist like Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, F.D.R, and many others, regardless of what parties they may have belonged to. A "real democrat" is nothing more or less than a patriot. A "real democrat" stands above partisanism. More than one of my ancestors shed their blood revoting against royal tyranny, and again later to ensure that citizens of this union of sovereign states would be free from personal bondage. They were "real democrats." Deep respect for this heritage causes me to wince at the secret deals even now being worked out by local party hacks, in the name of democracy, but which actually strick at the very fiber of participatory government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Incumbent supervisor John Barbarite has my vote and active support in the upcoming primary and fall elections because he sincerely cares about the REAL, EVERYDAY HUMAN BEINGS who live and pay taxes in the Town of Thompson and County of Sullivan. His opponents have big bucks behind them. Fat-cat lawyers and big corporations do not own this government. The people do.
During his current administration, Supervisor Barbarite has risked some politically sensitive stands in support of what he believed was right adn in the interest of his constituents. I may not have agreed with every minute position, but I have always admired his backbone and courage. Not only is he honest and hard-working, but he presents a realistic grasp of modern governmental management, funding, and how to work effectively to reform the system from within. He continues to battle against unjust taxes.
Barbarites two opponents are well-intentioned and good people, experienced as councilmen. But they have unfortunately not yet displayed the proven leadership qualities essential to an effective Supervisor.
Sullivan County needs more grass-roots elected officials like John Barbarite. All citizens of the Town of Thompson should be "real democrats." REGISTER and VOTE on September 14. Take part in the process.
Vote for John Barbarite, and new Democratic committee members, if you want to see democracy in the rightful hands of the people.
The River Reporter, Narrowsburg, NY, 07-29-1993
[and other newspapers about the same time]
A missed point
Permit me to thank Eleanor C. Cole (3/15) for responding to my column titled "Media must protect young victims of abuse." But, she seems to have missed the point of my initial article. While I wholeheartedly agree that sexual abuse victims have nothing of which to be ashamed (as posited by Ms. Cole) for having been abused, that was not the subject of my article, though I did say as much in the last paragraph. (By the way, I did not write the headline to which Ms. Cole took exception.)
The article concerned the identifying of children by the news media withough their informed consent. Perhaps no laws are violated by such disclosures, and perhas some public purposes are served, but at what cost? It is not necessary to violate children's privacy in this manner.
Admittedly, few laws govern what a free press may disclose about a person, so long as it is true. Much of what it comes down to is subjective editorial judgement or gut feeling. As a grown child-victim myself, my feelings on this issue are clear and personal, as well as professional. I respect the judgement of the TH-R editor, but I am troubled by what seems to be a certain lack of public mindfulness in the area of children's privacy rights. Any decision to publicly disclose should be the child's, not a parent's or the media's. Disclosure to law-enforcement authorities is quite a different matter.
Ms. Cole is correct that much is wrong with our child welfare system. But, in virtually any individual case, it is my belief that private and confidential advocacy in a closed and confidential setting is more likely to serve the child's legitimate best interests (particularly in cases of bitter custody disputes where one or both parents' judgement may be clouded) than publishing details identifying the child.
Not that real-life cases should not be reported in the news. They should. But, real children's names are irrelevant to the intelligent formation of public opinion, dialogue, or policy. Child protection is the job of society, not just two or three professions.
If it seems that publicizing parties' names in the media is the last or only hope a child or family members may have, perhaps an aditional objective third (or fourth) opinion can help reframe things or off er a new perspective -- whether to the family, service providers, or to the court. But identifying children in the media seems foreign to anything constructive, and can only hurt. Of course, well-intentioned opinions may differ on this.
Thank you for considering this important issue.
The Times Herald-Record, Middletown, NY, 04-24-1993
We're all vulnerable
Congratulations to the Democrat for hitting the nail on the head with your recent editorial ("Don't Try to Forget," 2/5/93) about the proposed Village of Monticello Human Rights Commission.
We are fortunate to have a village board and a police department with the wisdom and foresignt to look past the recent so-called "tempest in a teapot" toward preventing any future discrimination or interpersonal abuse by government officers or officials. Hopefull, the local law, as finally adopted, will be broad enough to provide effective protection to all people from any type of official discrimination or abuse which may occur within the village, rather than singling out just the police department or limiting the proposed commission to examing complaints of certain types of discrimination.
We are all minorities in some sense and therefore vulnerable.
The Sullivan County Democrat, Callicoon, NY, 02-12-1993
Equal by law
It is my opinion that the Village of Monticello police officers who displayed Nazi and racist drawings and symbols on their lockers should be fired. This would be a lesson to other police officers that they should respect the law and the people. It is a shame these kinds of expressions are coming from people who are on the public payroll.
I've lived here 20 years and I pay taxes. The law should be equal to all people. America doesn't say you pay taxes only if you're equal. All the money comes from the same pile. More than anyone, the police should respect the law. The officers who hung swastikas and related symbols on their lockers should be fired or resign in disgrace. They should never have come to be police.
Equal taxes are paid by people of all colors and religions. Equal protection under the law is the least we are due as citizens, no matter what our ancestry, religion or level of physical ability.
The village board should reveal the names of the offending individuals immediately, and thereby restore the dignity and honor of the Village of Monticello Police Department.
The Sullivan County Democrat, Callicoon, NY, 01-26-1993
Enforcing human rights
Please permit me to clarify some of the statements attributed to me in The River Reporter's 1/14/93 article, "US official gets earful about racism of police." I am certain that my extemporaneous oral comments at the meeting did not single out the Village of Monticello Police Department, as the published excerpt of my two lengthy oral statements in the recent article may seem to suggest. I discussed criminal sentencing patterns as illustriative of a different mindset of law-enforcement in the Catskills, compared to other regions. My comments concerned the deep-seated nature of racism and ethnic prejudice in American culture. These twin-relics of barbarism (to borrow a phrase from history) are part of a paradigm which may eventually be fully reformed, but there is a long way to go. What I was trying to convey at the meeting was the idea that apparent racist and elitist attitudes evident in two or three individuals on the Monticello police department are reflective of real-life society. Racism is an evil which must be confronted by people of good will in all contexts.
To publicly affirm its commitment to human and civil rights, I urge the Trustees of the Village of Monticello to adopt a local law creating a Human Rights Commission, and that members of this proposed municipal body be appinted by (but not removable without good cause) the Village Board. I have read and generally support the Village Manager's proposed law, subject to a few specific suggestions which I have submitted to the Village. The draft law will reportedly be presented at the January 20th meeting at 8:00 p.m. in Monticello.
Racism and other forms of social bigotry or abuse, no matter what they form, but expecially when they occur in official government settings (like police stations), are evils which must be contested energetically by all people. The creation of an effective village or Monticello Human Rights Commission should concern not only Jews and African-Americans, but our entire diverse community.
Thanks to The River Reporter for covering this issue thoroughly.
The River Reporter, Narrowsburg, NY, 01-21-1993
03-24-1998