A commentary on my own blog. I did not intend this to be
purely a political oriented blog when I first began posting 6 years ago.
Instead as noted in the masthead it was to be multi-focused, but also giving a
concerned citizen a forum to express his/her opinions; hence the term
“potpourri”.
Thanks to the 1st Amendment I can do so, and
thanks to that Constitutional right every one of us has the right to speak out
even if what is said is contrary to our basic beliefs. One can preach sedition,
or hatred of those of different faiths and even violence without fear of legal
reaction. Where too much is; is not clear.
That is most important at our Council meetings in the
commentary periods. However it should not be acceptable in a civic venue for
the presiding officer to permit or condone vicious personal attacks or threats
on other individuals or ethnic/economic/religious groups.
Too often there are a group of individuals that use the
right to address the Council to turn and harangue members of the public. The
Council is not the place for the soap box orator. There is always a danger for
inflammatory comments to escalate and get out of hand with unfortunate
consequences.
Nor is the Council the right forum if there be one to
deliberately make false statements about a political rival. Robinson-Brigg’s
distorted comments about passed actions of then Councilman Mapp Tuesday night
were a disgrace. Worse were echoes from other speakers who followed.
The 1st Amendment does not extend to reader
commentary in blogs. The blogger has control and responsibility over what is
posted. Anonymous comments as well as those signed do not have to be printed.
Libel and/or slanderous remarks can be the responsibility of the blogger.
Most of us are very liberal in posting remarks, even those
that are critical of ourselves. However, there are individual ground rules; and
I for one will not post anything that I feel is outrageously false or libelous
or is socially indecent.
It is sad that when it comes to Plainfield politics we get
many that fall into that group.
So please do send in your comments; sign them if you are proud
of your thoughts. Anonymity should be the resort of those who have a genuine fear
of retaliation; either at work or socially.
Thank you, Bernice. You tell the truth and the misleading comments on line and at Council meetings is a shame. I truly do not know how some people sleep a night. I hope the truth will get you and that should help voters make wise decisions about Plainfield's future.
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DeleteAbove deleted due to a typo;
DeleteI hope this complimentary comment was meant for me not Bernice although she well deserves it.
Heather Von St. James. If you send your question to this blog, I will no post it if it has nothing to do with the blog but answer it by email to the address you provided. Are you a resident of Plainfield? If not where do you live?
ReplyDeleteSorry, Doc. Thank you for your consistent, honest blogging.
ReplyDeleteI for one wouldn't allow "anonymous" comments from the Jerry / SRB / Ash Heap of Humanity Crew ... all they do is support the known idea that they are either milking the public cow and riding the gravy train or one of their buddies are..
ReplyDeleteMy only hope is that the New Dems and Dems who possess voting intelligence have finally seen the error of their ways...Calling out the evils of Jerry Green all year long and then when the election is knocking on the door screaming "VOTE THE PARTY LINE" ... " KEEP THE CITY MOVING FORWARD BY KEEPING ALL THE DEMCRATS IN OFFICE ( including the ones who a couple weeks before the primary went out of their way to highlight their unprofessional ways and stymied our efforts to move the city forward ) .. They all say they CAN'T support people from another party...and the answer is I WON'T support people from another party because I am a Democrat. That useless national idealogy that has NOTHING to do with The City of Plainfield .. this city exists out of time and the people in office would be better off starting to remember that.. They want to drag it kicking and screaming into the modern age.. STAND UP AND SUPPORT REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS FROM ANOTHER PARTY FOR A COUPLE ELECTION CYCLES.. Suddenly the State Democrats and Union County Democrats will take notice.. Jerry's clock needs to be cleaned from above and all the useless posturing from the reasonable members of the community will accomplish nothing.
It would be a pleasure after this primary to see the New Dem's openly STATE vote for me, vote for xyz, but there is no way I can ask you to vote for abc as they don't have the interests of this community as the reason for them being in office, they only serve themselves. A couple interviews in the local papers will start lighting some fires under Jerry's ass when the state Dems catch wind of it.
Doc, Everything you said a blog should not be about is done by Alan, Bob, and others. They make personal attacks, refer to people outside of their name.How come when the attacks are directed towards people who don't live on the hill it is ok?Horrible things are said by Williams and you know they are horrible, yet you never say anything about it.If another council person acted like Williams they would be disgraced in the blogs. .C'mon Doc. you are better than that.
ReplyDelete7:28PM Get off of it. Williams to my knowledge has never said anything that was not true. Sharon has done a little distorting of facts sometimes 180 degrees. Reid has been rude to Williams at the Council meeting.Get off that blind 1st/4th ward bigotry and stop automatically condemning every one who is critical of our dysfunctional government. As to who does or does not live on the hill; Jerry Green among others is 2nd ward hill arfea.
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