So Now the Elections Are Winding Down

by Ron Rowe

Oct. 2008, VIEW Issue 7: Two thousand years ago, a Greek philosopher said, speech is the gift of all but the thought of few. What tremendous power for good or ill, the spoken word has, yet how little thought most of us give to the words we speak. We talk at each other without pause to listen, a wise man once said.

Energy follows thought; how true, speech is a living entity. It is said everything that is spoken during the day echoes on for eternity. We really should be awed and humbled for the privilege of speech. All of us possess this awesome power in our voices; the tragedy or blessing is that we don’t realize it.

Now that we are nearing the end of our national elections, it’s fascinating to listen to the political speeches and interviews; how the politicians dodge, fog and weave rather than answer a direct question. The difference between the politicians is in their intent, attitude, sincerity, the essence of their message and the life force or energy. Listening to the polished and practiced speeches they bombard us with on television, with their dull impassioned voices, their eyes blazing with insincerity, their hearts hardened by personal ambition, do they speak for truthful communication, or self aggrandizement? It is an endlessly distorted medley of babble that flows from politician lips. Perhaps Robert Burns was right when he said, “What you are, speaks so loudly I can't hear what you say..."

I do not include all local politicians. I have listened to all five candidates for city Council and I do believe they have the future of Ojai and its residents in their minds and thoughts. It is sad in these days of declining moral and ethical standards, when the general norm is, what’s in it for me that only a small minority of people have the courage of their convictions to stand up for ideals of morality, honesty, decency and doing the right thing. We admire those who stand tall, true blue, and strongly lead a Path, where you know their word is their bond and you can count on them to stand behind their honesty and their words and deeds. People with these high standards will never betray a friendship or confidence and will always do what is right and honorable. You can count on people like this to be there, to lend a hand and a kind word when needed, not to lie or slander you when you have given so much of your time and confidence to them.

Ah well, such is life and such are people. Hopefully, we grow with experience good or bad, and so, we give honor and thanks to Ojai’s dedicated public servants, people like the city council members and those five who are campaigning for the upcoming two vacancies. They all give freely of their time and talent in service to the Ojai community, a grateful thanks to all of you from the residents of Ojai.

Advice to politicians, the tongue weighs practically nothing, but so few people can hold it. Politics is looking for trouble, finding it and misdiagnosing it. Then applying the wrong remedies... If you board the wrong train, it’s no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction. Conceit is God’s gift to little men. God grant me patience, and I want it now. Find the facts then feel free to distort them. We cannot all be successful politicians; someone has to line the streets and applaud.

Advice given by Roman Emperor Augustus, All power is fleeting. Shakespeare wrote, Man, proud man dressed in such brief authority plays fantastic tricks before high heaven as make the angels weep. Bruce Coville wrote, Withholding information is the essence of tyranny. Control of the flow of information is the tool of the dictatorship... So citizens, stand up and vote for truth.

The rural town of Pillsbury, South Dakota has plunged into constitutional chaos after every one of his 25 residents forgot to vote. Mayor Darrell Brudevold said, "We normally get a few people to vote, but this year, nobody voted." He has appealed to state elections officials for help. So, don’t forget to vote, residents of Ojai.

Thanks to Alaska oil wealth, every man, woman, and child in the state will soon receive a check for $3,269 -- $2,069 as their cut of the state’s annual oil revenues, plus a special bonus to offset soaring fuel costs. Last year’s payout was at $1,654, according to USA Today, and I thought it was thrifty spending and planning by Governor Palin, it was oil...

Over 20 percent of Excel Energies 1.4 million customers in Minnesota and Wisconsin are behind on their bills due to high energy prices. Excel disconnects over 650 customers daily.

People in Patina, India would not pay their taxes, so tax officials sent teams of dancing eunuchs to humiliate delinquent business owners. The shame of having sari clad she/males in full makeup, dancing in front of their business establishments; it’s a powerful incentive to settle your delinquent, overdue tax bill. Tax collectors received over 425,000 rupees in overdue taxes in the first few hours. Taxman Atul Prasad said, "The eunuchs are proving useful collecting back taxes." No, I don’t think it would work in Ojai.

People in the town of Lundy, England are being asked by the town council to share a bath with a friend because there is a severe shortage of water. Visitors are being asked to bring their own water and be prepared to share a bath. The mayor hoped it would rain soon. Now that’s a good idea for Ojai, share a bath with someone who doesn’t share your politics.

Also, dozens of women in drought-stricken Nepal and India, shed all their clothes to appease angry rain gods. The villagers were desperate after days of prayer and fasting failed to produce rain. The ladies vowed to remain naked until it rains. Now that’s another good idea for Ojai residents. Love makes all things beautiful; Love makes all things real; Love cures everything, may I say, not toothache or arthritis, with apologies to actor/director Gai Jones.

Bill Gates remains the richest man in America with $57 billion. Eighty-nine percent of U.S. billionaires lost money in stocks and were too poor to make the Forbes 400 Richest Americans list. I do feel their pain...

Surprise, John Hendricks of Salt Lake City phoned police saying his wife of five years had disappeared. When police found her a month later they found the woman was a man. Husband John was astonished claiming he never knew she was a man. Come on, John, you should have been suspicious when she wanted a toolset and electric saw for Christmas.

The sun has set over the yard arm, eight bells have sounded, time for a good glass of Merlot. To people seeking the truth, have you ever given thought to what you would do with it if you ever found it.

- Rev. Ron Rowe, Ojai

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RELATED ARTICLE: Wine And Roses, Feb 2010, #23

SOURCE: Oct. 2008, VIEW Issue 7
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