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Clipping and Saving
There is one good thing to be said of a life lived with more than
its share of risks-you end up with a lot of memories. I have been
clipping and saving some of those memories from the last year to
amuse and inform some future nieces or nephews. My two girls swear
that children are not in their future. Hopefully, it's a little
too early to tell.”
Among those clippings peeking out from their manila blanket are
interesting tidbits earned through a political campaign. Leafing
through I had almost forgotten that I had signed the ethics pledge
for the League of Women Voters which says, "I PLEDGE to conduct
an informative and issue-oriented Campaign…I ALSO WILL NOT
use or permit the use of any campaign material or advertisement
which misrepresents, distorts, or otherwise falsifies the facts
regarding my opponent(s)." As noble as this effort is on the
part of the League, I am not sure that we are going about this the
right way. The flood of mud from every corner tells me that we are
focusing on the wrong person. The person we really need to target
is the voter. How about this idea: Before entering the booth on
election day, every voter must sign a pledge NOT TO VOTE for any
candidate that can't stand on his own two issues and sullies the
American political system by misrepresenting, distorting or otherwise
falsifying the facts regarding their opponents. Talk about stopping
on a dime. I can already feel the chill blowing through the boardrooms
of Madison Avenue ad companies and local power broker's backrooms…and
backstudios. Sad to say, there was one candidate in Henderson County
who failed to sign and return the League of Women Voter's Ethics
Pledge.
Here is another receipt that evokes an interesting memory, a cable
television commercial. Believe me, it isn't as glamorous as you
think. It might be a red carpet moment for those national candidates
with a retinue of assistants, make up artists and hairdressers,
but for the grassroots candidate on a budget, it's drive yourself
there, lipstick in the girl's bathroom and mumbling a 30 second
script that seems as complicated as the Gettysburg Address. Unlike
the $200,000 plus price tag for national commercials, locally produced
ones are very affordable. The initial shoot is $300.00 and you can
run it for a week on several stations more times than anyone but
your mother cares to see for $500.00. Stardom, anyone?
There were only two glitches from my brush with celluloid fame--a
headstrong computer printer that kept printing in the middle of
filming and having to find a school library in an adjacent county.
Being a school teacher by profession, it seemed only obvious that
I would want to use a school setting for the commercial. I had already
made it clear to the producer that this was not going to be a "kissing
babies, adoring family" endeavor and that I wanted something
that treated the voter intelligently. I called our school superintendent
to ask permission to use one of our libraries for a backdrop. I
carefully explained to him that I would not identify the school
and that I would choose a time that would not interfere with school
activities. Well, it took less than three hours for a united front
of three to let me know that they didn't think that was in the best
interest of Henderson County Schools. In a rather intense discussion
with our school system's lawyer, I pointed out that these schools
were taxpayer supported facilities and were dedicated in part to
teaching and promoting the American ideals of democratic government.
Government, you'all means politics.
Isn't it just a tad hypocritical to demand that all students salute
the flag every morning and then deny a citizen the opportunity to
record his/her message so that the very system they are pledging
to uphold can continue? It's simply amazing how many citizens don't
realize that politics and democracy are in the same shoebox. What
is equally amazing is that school systems only miles apart can have
a totally different understanding of the democratic process. I am
most thankful that this neighboring school system was more attuned
to the meaning of democracy and happy to oblige.
I might add that I feel just as saddened for school officials as
I do for the many gated communities in Henderson County who fly
the biggest American flags and yet refuse to allow independent candidates
to collect signatures. Something is amiss.
Fortunately though, things are not amiss in places like Riverwind,
River Oaks or Mills River Village. Now there are some great hospitable
communities. They were polite if they didn't want to sign my ballot
petition and enthusiastic when they did. Many stopped to chat and
one gentlemen even strolled with me for a bit. Tucked away on a
Riverwind back street, I discovered a wonderful artist. In true
Riverwind fashion, she invited me inside to see her art. (I was
so impressed that I later took my youngest daughter Julia by just
to absorb her "joie de vivre.")
There are a few more thoughts on this political adventure that I
would like to share with you but the Editor's ruler is headed for
my knuckles. So, I will tuck my memories back in, close the manila
cover carefully and turn out the light until we strike up a conversation
again.
(Rest assured The ladies shall rise again. If you are a women who
has an interest in community affairs, please join us, the Council
for Women, for dessert and coffee at our regular meeting January
13 at 5:30 p.m. held at the Unitarian-Universalist Church located
off Kanuga Road.)
To my readers: If you ever wonder if I get
comments on these columns, I do occasionally. What are your thoughts
on the matter?
Email
Eva
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opinions stated in this page are those of Ms. Eva Ritchey and do
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