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Nevertheless, I would like to take this opportunity to point out that
almost every time that any concerned individual expresses thoughts,
about this town, that don't conform with the current, often blindly,
perceived political direction of the Town Hall et al., there are
detractors who maliciously attack that "messenger". No matter how
factual; no matter constructive; and no matter how crucial to the
continued functionality of the Town of Norfolk, as a small efficient New
England town, the messenger is addressed with palsied denigration. The
messenger is merely pointing out the outstanding flaws, errors and
infractions that are presently being practiced or supported, in the
operation of our town government.
Those messages are not unfounded,
and they often carry the hopes that his words will arose the awareness
of other townsfolk, who may still be unknowing, but otherwise would not
be too sheepish to speak out. It should be of particular interest,
for everyone to note that while the messenger is usually attacked with
whatever mindless and inappropriate insults the belligerents can
imagine, the message, per se, always remains unchallenged. If they
think the message is so wrong, why don't those in opposition present the
facts and figures to debate the message, instead of resorting to
senseless weak-kneed name-calling?
Is it fear; or ignorance, or the realization that the truth is being
boldly told, which works some of these detractors into such a frothing
frenzy? Are they members of close-knit groups who are afraid of losing
some of their perks, or their positions, or perhaps some of the freebees
that they've been finagling from the rest of the resident taxpayers,
since they've lived here? Are they defending the misguided direction
that our town management has taken, because they see promises of future
personal enrichment, by helping to promote some of the Town's more
ambitious policies? Regardless, my own feeling is that the answer, in
most instances, is simply that a general portion of the unsuspecting
town population, has been misdirected, by ill-advised propaganda, for so
long, that the misconceptions are now being touted--or taken for
granted--as unquestionable facts. Possibly, it may now have become
difficult for many to be able to see beyond their own preconditioned
notions.
I'm not going to speak for the other "messengers", who have sporadically
posted, in good faith, on Norfolknet; I'm sure that they're very capable
of doing that for themselves, but several times, in the past, I've
thrown down my own gauntlet, so that anyone discontent with what I've
had to say can pick it up. It's still a standing offer.
If you can
intelligently disagree with any of my contentions and are capable of
wholesome debate, bring your arguments into this forum. If you're
sincere and have the stomach for it, let's look at your concepts in the
light of day, to see how valid they really are. Even though I may only
be in a position to check in at Norfolknet, once or twice every week, or
so, I'll be waiting for you.
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