You aren't surprised that an English major is interested in words, are you?
The word for the day is bias.
Dictionary definitions:
1. Noun: A slanting or diagonal line cut or sewn into fabric
2. Noun: A mental leaning or inclination; partiality; prejudice
3. Verb: To influence; to prejudice
Prejudice, of course, is kind of a dirty word, and bias is hardly any better.
Here's the irony, though: Bias is inseparable from the human condition. Claiming "No bias" is either naive or disingenuous--another wonderful word that deserves a visit to the dictionary. (I don't have the copy for the blog's first Community Journal ad, so I HOPE it doesn't claim "no bias"! If it does, I'm copping a plea and claiming naivete at that time.)
Every one of us is biased. Personally, I am biased against liars, whiners, and people who justify their own possibly ill-conceived actions by saying, "Well, X did it."
I am also biased in favor of the Second Amendment to the Constitution. Why? The First Amendment lays claim to our freedom for us. The Second Amendment gives us the means to stay free. (Think Libya)
Not all of my friends agree with me on the Second Amendment. In fact, when I told one of them that I had read that crime rates were lower where people have the right to bear arms, he responded, "Even if that's true, I don't want to believe it."
How about you? If you have children, I bet you are really biased against pedophiles and child pornographers. Not only that, but I also bet you are absolutely unapologetic about that bias. I share it.
So, if we're all biased, how do we travel these torturous paths? By being honest enough to do two things: First, to examine what our biases are and ask ourselves whether, truly, cast up alongside the wisdom literature of every faith, they incline us to ethical conduct. Second, by letting people we deal with KNOW our biases--if we are interested in honest, forthright relationships with them, that is.
Actually, there's a third thing about dealing with our biases. That is to refrain from wrapping them in the flag, the Bible, or bad science and putting them out there dressed up like residents of the moral high ground.
In this blog, I work to do the three honest things and avoid doing the three dishonest ones.. Opinions as to my success will differ.
About This Blog
The purpose of this blog is to give an accurate account of what is said during Public Comment at Mantua Township Trustees meetings.
Trustees' decisions are in the official minutes, available on request from the Mantua Township Fiscal Officer, Jodi Thompson, at 330-274-8443. The Township charges 10 cents per page. FAX, 330-274-8447. E-mail, fiscalofficer@mantuatownshipohio.gov. The minutes are also posted on the website after they have been approved. That means that there is usually a two-week lag between a given meeting and the minutes being available to read on the website.
Since meetings are the first and third Thursdays of the month, there is a three-week wait during months with five Thursdays.
Other items of interest or the writer's opinions will be included from time to time, clearly identified.
This is not a forum or chat room, but a source of information, so it is closed to outside input.
During the time I have been doing the blog, the posts have expanded to become very detailed accounts of the meetings. Doing that is time consuming, to say the least, and I am going to try to return to the public comment focus, with background and perspective (and the occasional pointed editorial comment). Such additions are usually enclosed in brackets. However, since some extended accounts of the meetings reveal significant things--and character--better than I could by commenting, there will probably still be a fair amount of semi-transcript. (Sigh.)
My thanks to the readers who have found the blog, and to the ones who from time to time tell me that they value it. You have encouraged me when the tedious work of keyboarding has made me wonder why I am doing this. Then you have reminded me, and I am grateful.
Trustees' decisions are in the official minutes, available on request from the Mantua Township Fiscal Officer, Jodi Thompson, at 330-274-8443. The Township charges 10 cents per page. FAX, 330-274-8447. E-mail, fiscalofficer@mantuatownshipohio.gov. The minutes are also posted on the website after they have been approved. That means that there is usually a two-week lag between a given meeting and the minutes being available to read on the website.
Since meetings are the first and third Thursdays of the month, there is a three-week wait during months with five Thursdays.
Other items of interest or the writer's opinions will be included from time to time, clearly identified.
This is not a forum or chat room, but a source of information, so it is closed to outside input.
During the time I have been doing the blog, the posts have expanded to become very detailed accounts of the meetings. Doing that is time consuming, to say the least, and I am going to try to return to the public comment focus, with background and perspective (and the occasional pointed editorial comment). Such additions are usually enclosed in brackets. However, since some extended accounts of the meetings reveal significant things--and character--better than I could by commenting, there will probably still be a fair amount of semi-transcript. (Sigh.)
My thanks to the readers who have found the blog, and to the ones who from time to time tell me that they value it. You have encouraged me when the tedious work of keyboarding has made me wonder why I am doing this. Then you have reminded me, and I am grateful.
Principles
Two ideas guide and support me:
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
______Attributed to Edmund Burke
GOOD PREVAILS.
Those ideas are also the reason I have been doing the blog since late February 2011.
I have discovered that a transcript is almost impossible to do and that verbatim accounts are usually not absolutely necessary. When in doubt, I check against a recording.
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
______Attributed to Edmund Burke
GOOD PREVAILS.
Those ideas are also the reason I have been doing the blog since late February 2011.
I have discovered that a transcript is almost impossible to do and that verbatim accounts are usually not absolutely necessary. When in doubt, I check against a recording.
