Occasion: Inauguration 2015

There’s nothing Pollyannaish in the inauguration of a new set of elected officials. The old guys are still around carrying old issues gift-wrapped in new cover. The casino cabal is back in both chambers, eyeing to improve their “tiptoe” into an art while new ones brave finding their way around.

The guys and gals looked their best and took their “oath of office.” The inaugural event is like the first day of class when you’re ready to make all As, yank the intramural trophy in debate and sports competition from your opponent, then show your report card at year’s end.

The propped up inaugural prose was intended to lift our hopes, though we know the score thoroughly: suspect hope versus reality. It isn’t all milk and honey but a day where hope springs eternal. Behind the assertive hope is “we the people” who look forward to brighter days.

The commitment to revive the 902 Talks is a hopeful start, given the persistent fiscal crisis at home. With a woefully dizzying economic depression where “stagnancy” has become a broken record, a step in this direction is imperative. Must demonstrate commitment to good governance in the usual spout of indigenous self-government.

Even I wish to take a sabbatical of sort to simply watch tidal shifts go in and out of the lagoon. Let it be and let’s see what the new set of elected officials could do during the first year beyond stagnancy and redundancy. Must honor your true north, especially in these troubled times. Start by solving basic infrastructure deficit to cure fiscal deficit!

I’ve been to eight inaugurations and have listened to towering speeches on a myriad of issues that quickly faded into the horizon. Basically none of the hopeful promises made were factually accomplished nor did any of it last at least through the inaugural ball.

Imagine if each promise could be placed in a savings account since 1978. We’d be filthy rich rocking and rolling 24/7. For now it’s all rolling and dangerously wobbly trying to keep our balance while puking on the deck.

No worries. It’s all part and whole of the fallacy of a democracy that is at best protracted, at worst frustrating. Each of you is tasked to improve salaries and wages, jobs for the jobless and opportunities for upward mobility based on real academic and professional competency versus Pinocchio’s longish nose.

The torch to improve the lot of the multitude is officially on your side of the court. Run with it and bring us closer to brighter break of dawn. We’d be waiting at the goal line. Si Iku.

From JR’s notebook

I’m encouraging open and civil discussions among our people in order to promote an understanding of issues before us. We begin by learning to separate people from issues. In other words, stay clear of personal attacks or ad hominem. State your agreement or disagreement on, e.g., an issue one may have raised in his presentation.

It’s a healthy exercise so we get to hear from our people what their views are on issues that matter to them individually or collectively. Not saying your piece is itself self-betrayal. In my case, I’d like to explore your point of view. It fosters healthy debate and greater clarity on matters of importance affecting our community.

In a provocative article “The Argumentative Jew,” author Leon Wieseltier said, “…disagreement is not only real, it is also ideal, at least in the unredeemed world, which is the only world we know.

“In the millennia of disputations, even mistaken opinions are not without legitimacy. Minority opinions are not obsolete opinions: They are preserved alongside majority opinions because their reasoning may one day be useful again.

“As long as argument rages, we accept different perspectives and become more thoughtful. In our constitutional government, appeals about the law go all the way to the Supreme Court, righting wrongs, inspiring the rethinking of cherished positions.

“High school debate teams offer young people one of the most rigorous ways to test their reasoning when they learn to defend both sides of a question, even if they have a firm belief in only one side. They learn how to see the flaws in their own arguments. In brief, let’s shift from the usual aspersion to issues. It’s important to learn how to agree and disagree in healthy fashion.”

Let’s say you disagree with me, I definitely welcome your viewpoint in that it’s good to find out your point of view. Disagreements must take to another level of discussion where clarity is reached why we disagree. It’s a healthy exercise!