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| Is this the face of civility in Charlestown? |
Hint: There’s more to it than mere politeness
By Linda Felaco
Twice now, in as
many town council meetings, the Progressive Charlestown blog as a whole, and
indefatigable blogger Will Collette in particular, has been denounced from the
dais for an alleged lack of “civility.” Indeed, at the most recent council
meeting, these denunciations even inspired Jim Mageau, who I think will agree
with me is not exactly known around town as being Mr. Civility himself, to
point out that civility is also in short order on the website of the
Charlestown Citizens Alliance. So what exactly does it mean to be “civil,” and
where has Progressive Charlestown fallen short?
The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word “civil” as follows:
civ·il
ADJECTIVE:
- Of, relating to, or befitting a citizen or citizens: civil duties.
- Of or relating to citizens and their interrelations with one another or with the state: civil society; the civil branches of government.
- Of ordinary citizens or ordinary community life as distinguished from the military or the ecclesiastical: civil authorities.
- Of or in accordance with organized society; civilized.
- Sufficiently observing or befitting accepted social usages; not rude: a civil reply. See Synonyms at polite.
- Being in accordance with or denoting legally recognized divisions of time: a civil year.
- Law Relating to the rights of private individuals and legal proceedings concerning these rights as distinguished from criminal, military, or international regulations or proceedings.
Let’s examine the first two definitions: “Of, relating to,
or befitting a citizen or citizens”
and “Of or relating to citizens and their interrelations with one another or
with the state.” Is not the highest duty of a citizen in a democracy to
participate in government and keep informed about government actions? Is that
not the raison d’être of Progressive Charlestown, to inform the Charlestown
citizenry by reporting on the actions of Charlestown government? A prime
motivator for the creation of Progressive Charlestown was the shortage of
coverage about the goings-on in our town.
The next two definitions
are “Of ordinary citizens or ordinary community life as distinguished
from the military or the ecclesiastical”
and “Of or in accordance with organized society; civilized.” Again,
nothing here that does not apply to Progressive Charlestown: The blog is not
part of the military, and, as a form of electronic media, is surely a part of
organized society. Indeed, Progressive Charlestown does not confine itself to
merely reporting on the activities of town government; we also report on life
and activities in our community, as a resource to citizens and visitors alike.
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| OK, maybe it's not civil to compare a town leader to a children's book character. But it's satire. Get over it. |
Indeed, it’s only
when you work your way down to definition number 5 that you find the meaning of
“civil” that our esteemed town leaders claim we’ve violated: “Sufficiently
observing or befitting accepted social usages; not rude.” Apparently, exposing the foibles and
missteps of town leaders is considered rude. But what exactly is so “civil”
about the words and deeds of those very town leaders who are denouncing
Progressive Charlestown for its lack of civility?
Is it civil to heap
praise and salary increases on an employee one month and fire him the next
(i.e., the “Kill Bill” campaign)? Is it civil to collude with outside organizations to steer
town tax dollars in their direction (i.e., Y-gate)? Is it civil to undermine the hard work of town commissions and
attempt to dilute their influence by making outsiders and outside groups
“stakeholders” in the areas under their purview (i.e., the battle for Ninigret Park)? Is it civil to initiate
major initiatives without the involvement of the responsible commission (i.e.,
the Platner-Gentz
Affordable Housing Deconstruction Act)? Is it civil to publicly berate the superintendent of
schools because “the rent
is too damn high” while at the very same meeting voting to give away an amount
of tax dollars roughly equivalent to the “too high” Chariho increase? Is it
civil to offer a modicum of tax relief to struggling homeowners only on
condition that they be willing to expose their finances to a panel of fellow
citizens and beg for mercy?
Is it civil to publicly and repeatedly berate a local
business owner for choosing
not to cancel his mother-in-law’s 80th birthday party after being
told he couldn’t serve beer and wine on the patio of his establishment? Is it
civil to not only oppose a resolution championed by our own
state representative but to call it “onerous”?
On Monday night,
Council President Tom Gentz exhorted those of us who “have influence” with Will
to rein him in. Well, Mr. Gentz, whatever influence I may have over Will, I
will not be using to further your agenda. I will continue to cheer on his
efforts to expose the rampant hypocrisy that this present town council reeks of.
And, as Cliff Vanover threatened last year when the
council was debating the use of open space bond funds to pay for our lovely new
beach pavilions, I will
work hard for your defeat in November. Consider that a promise.