Stopping To Think

For Ourselves

To the Editor:

I write this with some trepidation as I realize my actions might have repercussions for me and my family given the negative and personal verbal floggings that regularly grace our letters pages of late.

The level of discontent in our community has reached significant proportions. I think it is playing a role in not passing a budget referendum for our town and school’s daily functioning. I believe that much of this has been fostered by a handful of very vocal citizens, quite possibly with their own political aspirations. It is a shame that convenient truths and incomplete pictures have continued to be put out there on a regular basis, creating confusion about decisions that have already been made and about which there is little impact that can be effected, like it or not (e.g., the town hall). The majority of the financing/bonding for the town hall project has been completed and from what I understand there is not a feasible option for turning back the clock. That time has passed and as they say, “Elvis has left the building.”

Did these folks realize that their advocacy would help push our community in this direction? A witch hunt-du-jour mentality has arisen and it’s time to look at the facts and not allow ourselves to be led down the primrose path without stopping to think for ourselves. We need to realize the negative implications that such adversarial behavior can have. It is time to regroup, reassess and, with a more humble stance (particularly important), try to move forward and have a more positive impact. Listening to answers that we don’t like and assimilating that information into our future behavior is a wonderful trait of homo sapiens.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I want to believe that we all try our best. We all make mistakes, and I am the first to admit that I have made many. It is not easy to put oneself out in the public eye in any capacity and misunderstanding may abound despite the best of intentions. For those who will continue with the same-old, same-old, please be careful what you wish for. The seeds you sow today may grow into poison ivy. Your actions may be backfiring and this impacts us all. It is a shame that we will all have to give up programs for our families and children and services for our community due to failed budgets.

I would instead prefer to move forward into the future as an intact community.

Sarah Beier

7 Yogananda Street, Newtown                                        May 23, 2007