The Journal Register (Medina, NY)

Opinion

July 8, 2010

VALLEY: Here's a few pointers for you

MEDINA —  

When something of a major consequence goes wrong, it’s funny how quickly there’s a finger-pointer ready to place blame on someone. I’m talking about those people whose knee-jerk reactions result in unfounded accusations before any analysis or reasonable investigation has been made.

It happens all the time. The lack of compunction leads one to believe that these individuals have come to the conclusion that finger-pointing is a problem-solving method (if not, at least, a therapeutic one). I, on the other hand, am of the belief that premature accusations do not solve problems, they just muddle them.

Several recent examples come to mind. First, I offer you North Carolina Republican (and congressional candidate) Bill Randall.

Randall, who considers himself a “Tea Party” type of guy, has made remarks that the worst environmental disaster in this country’s history was intentional. He claims that the Obama administration and BP were in collusion to cause the Gulf-region’s horrific oil spill.

Nice try, Bill, but as Joe Garagiola sarcastically said in the movie “Major League” (when the pitcher threw the ball into the dugout instead of anywhere near home plate): “Just a tad outside.”

Randall further stated that he had “no evidence” that his claims were true. Really? Color me surprised! And he added, “I’m not necessarily a conspiracy person.”

Well, I’ve got news for Mr. Bill: You say you’ve got no evidence, but you think that the president of the United States is responsible for the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf? Well then, yes Bill, you are a “conspiracy person.” Your accusations are not only the definition, but the epitome of what you claim not to be. Move over cynicism, there’s a new sheriff in your mind and it’s called paranoia.

Some Democrats were just as guilty when they blamed George W. Bush for Katrina and 9/11.

Locally, a sad story involving the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old is what I would consider another case of misplaced finger pointing. Attention was focused on the school system for dismissing the young man for “wandering the halls and insubordination.” I agree that a reassessment of the system’s policy should be undertaken — as was promised by Superintendent James A. Williams — but I don’t understand why the school, alone, is signaled out as the culprit in this case.

I’m not willing to let the school off the hook, but to hear a community activist direct his accusatory tirade of “that was a preventable death” to the school system is another case of attacking the symptoms and not the disease.

Here are some other questions that should be asked: Where’s the public outrage at the murderer? Where’s the outrage at the mayor, City Council and chief of police for allowing the streets to be like a war zone? Is that the schools’ fault?

We are all a part of a community that has — over the past few decades — witnessed the decay of civility. Violence has usurped decency and common sense.

No one deserves to be at risk of being shot, but it’s not just the schools’ responsibility for a much larger problem that, for some reason, is not being addressed in this incident.

Years ago, the schools’ purpose was to the teach. Period. When did they add 24-hour guardian to the curriculum? They weren’t paid in those days to baby-sit and pander to students who showed up without the supposed home-taught skills — like respect and discipline. Nor were they in charge of making our streets safe, and thus, not held accountable for something beyond their reasonable control (in the outside world).

All in all, it’s a terrible situation when a young man is gunned down by some punk thug. By all accounts, this young man was far from a “troubled kid.” He certainly didn’t deserve such a fate. But before we accuse a particular “system,” it’s helpful to understand that we are all a part of that system — and one even larger than that.

And that’s the way it looks from the Valley.

Text Only
Opinion
  • confer There are bobcats in our area

    In recent years, local residents have had the chance to witness some interesting animals within our borders. Among those that generated the most press and most talk were the black bears that frequented the area for a couple of months. The beasts elicited either fear or appreciation, depending on one’s perception of bruins. More often than not, the former emotion ruled the day.

    January 12, 2012 1 Photo

  • Governor needs to stay on point

    Last week in the governor’s State of the State address, Cuomo said he’s taking on a new job. He’s going to be an advocate for the kids. In fact, Cuomo went so far as to say that he’s going to be the only advocate that kids have.

    January 12, 2012

  • confer CONFER: A warning about the WARN Act

     

    Entrepreneurship has always had its basis in the understanding and handling of the unknown. No business owner has ever known exactly what his customers want, what the markets hold, or what his competitors are doing. But, they’ve always had a good idea about what might happen and, from the theoretical standpoint, what should happen.

     

    September 27, 2011 1 Photo

  • tom valley VALLEY: I'm amused by the little things

    Am I the only one amused by the fact that few (if any) people have ever seen a woman in a dress like the ones in the fashion section of a newspaper? I’m talking about the illustrated apparel — designed by people with one name — that’s supposed to be what people will be wearing in the next fashion cycle.

    September 22, 2011 1 Photo

  • confer Recognize our hometown heroes

     

    If you haven’t driven through Holley this summer, you’ve missed quite a sight. The light posts and electrical poles throughout the village are adorned with Hometown Heroes banners. Each one recognizes someone from the village who is actively serving in the military. The attractive banners are 72 inches tall and about half as wide and each one is adorned with a large photo of the serviceman/woman along with his or her name and branch.

     

    September 20, 2011 1 Photo

  • tom valley VALLEY: Inactive seniors and over-reacting juniors

    Have you seen the commercial on television where the young gal who is at the age where she knows everything there is to know about life and the world says something to the effect that a recent study had shown that older people tend to live less of a social life than they did in the past?

    September 15, 2011 1 Photo

  • tom valley VALLEY: The other side of a tragedy

     

    In late June of 2010, I wrote a column about my friend, Dave Cook. Back then, Dave and his wife, Carol (and daughter, Chelsea) had been through a Hell-ish scare when a liaison with the U.S. Marine Corps had left a message about their son, Sgt. Trevor T. Cook. Trevor was serving in Afghanistan at the time.

     

    September 7, 2011 1 Photo

  • confer CONFER: The real story behind your power bill

     

    As long as the Public Service Commission allows a pending rate change from National Grid — and there’s no reason they wouldn’t — the electric company’s customers will see significant savings come Jan. 1. The bill for the typical household/apartment will be nearly $9.50 lower per month, while homeowners with families (who use more power) drop by almost $16. That’s $114 and $192 in extra spending money per year. Not too shabby.

     

    September 6, 2011 1 Photo

  • tom valley VALLEY: Don't take offense to this

     

    I was making a delivery last week in my Napa pick-up truck when I noticed another truck several car lengths ahead of me. At first, I thought that it, too, was a work truck, because I could see a large sign across the tailgate.

     

    August 31, 2011 1 Photo

  • confer CONFER: N.Y. should tax public pensions

    New York residents are excluded from paying state taxes on the first $20,000 of their retirement income from private pensions. If they happen to be former government workers, though, things are quite different: Local, state, federal and military retirees don’t pay any state tax at all on their publicly-provided pensions, whether it’s $20,000 or $80,000.

    August 19, 2011 1 Photo

Featured Ads
House Ads
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
AP Video
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight 'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party 79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Front page
Seasonal Content
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Photo of the Day
Royal Wedding Live