Published: March 09, 2007 09:51 pm      

Reader: Let’s all raise the bar to encourage better behavior

Recently citizens were hurt and outraged by comments of the Mayor and some members of the Clinton City Council that were recorded on open mics during a break between meetings. Even without hearing the words, watching the non-verbal behavior of some of our leaders wasn’t inspiring.

Furtive glances towards the audience followed by hand-to-mouth conversations would leave most observers convinced that the conversations were not about a recent great meal or hopes for more promising weather in the future.

Many in the community are disappointed. Some of that disappointment would have or could have been mitigated by a simple, sincere apology. So far, we have heard nothing. Perhaps the Council and the Mayor ought to review one of the numerous DVD copies that seem to be making the rounds.

I frequently watch the council meetings. When I thought about it I realized that rudeness and insult aren’t confined to one side of the table. Frankly, the way some citizens present their problems and their ideas is simply inappropriate. Sadly, some good ideas get lost because they are attached to and embedded in a bundle of sarcasm and insult. That approach certainly is not a good way to get the receptive ears and the open minds of the decision makers.

I have some suggestions.

Mayor and City Council members, keep your blunt hurtful comments to yourself. Watch the DVD, some of you don’t present yourselves in a good light. Raise your behavior. You are role models.

We Clintonians need to improve our behavior if we use the opportunity to speak at council meetings. Let’s leave the snide remarks and insults at home. The lesson learned in kindergarten is sound — you really do get more with sugar than with vinegar.

To help us move ahead, the Mayor should raise the bar at the council meetings. If speakers get off track and move into insult rather than issues, like a good umpire, she should have them take a seat.

Often we complain about our elected officials. We seem to have a hard time getting people to run for office. Is it any wonder? We treat them like dirt. Let’s not hesitate to let them know when we disagree or when we have some ideas for how the city should conduct business, but let’s do it with more class and consideration.

The Clinton Herald could play a constructive role in helping our community move forward. In many communities, letters to the local newspaper are a great forum for community dialogue, a great vehicle to encourage though and debate. In those communities the local newspaper maintains an editorial prerogative of editing out mind-closing comments and insults that might be embedded in letters they receive.

Many of us would love to contribute ideas and take part in the dialogue about community issues. Why don’t we? Why do so few participate in the forum as it is now? We don’t because we are turned off by the poor behavior that occurs and is tolerated on the part of some letter writers. Debate of ideas is one thing, getting into a mud wrestling pit is another.

I wish that the Clinton Herald, our true hometown newspaper, would raise the bar.

Great ideas are not confined to the offices of the civic, city and business leaders. Great ideas and creative solutions can emerge from anywhere. If there was a more comfortable forum for ideas and suggestions to see the light of day, there would be more community participation and we’d potentially could see some solutions for some of our community challenges.

We all need to make some changes if we are to build a more caring, considerate and successful community.

For instance, some of us need to do a better job of cleaning our walks in the winter. Most do, yet some consistently let nature take its course.

This community, this place we call home, is increasingly covered with throwaway trash. I regularly walk on the riverfront over the noon hour. It has become the exception if I don’t spot a rat or two scurrying about. Rats love and thrive on mess. It wasn’t that way in the past. Let’s all try to throw our junk in trash containers.

Let’s get out of the habit of clogging up our storm sewer system by blowing leaves and grass clippings on the street. In the past that behavior was the exception. Now that seems to have become a community norm. All we are doing is needlessly wearing out our city workers, depleting the city budget, and contributing to a tax increase which pleases none of us.

Let’s be more considerate of pedestrians and not make a game out of attempting to beat them out of their right to cross safely at corners.

Several years ago a Character Counts program seemed to be taking root both in the schools and in the community. I haven’t heard or seen much about that. Has it gone dormant? If it is in hibernation perhaps we need to wake it up.

Rudeness and various forms of inconsideration have been rampant throughout out community. Think about it and look around, we have let things slip. We all need to take some time and consider what each of us can and should do to make this a better community. Every single one of us can make a meaningful contribution.

I’m working on my list of changes that I’m going to make to be a better community citizen. Give it some thought and work on your own.

Let’s all raise the bar.



Brian Tugana,

Clinton