Publius, please accept this as an article submission.
In honor of Father's day......
I would like to take this opportunity to look at two aspects of Father's Day. First our Town Father's; our board of selectmen...
This blog has been roundly criticized among the elected officials in town for casting the light of public scrutiny upon their actions. And with measured success. This blog has served as a forum for public discussion that because of the documented actions of some of our public officials, can not take place in public. This and other sites like the Atkinson Taxpayers.org site, with their repository of public documents, has been invaluable in showing th people of Atkinson just how corrupt our town government was. For all of our predjudice against builders and developers, it has been town employees and their willing accomplices serving as elected officials who have given this town it's problems.
And what about our current board? It is my observation that Mr. Sullivan's heart is in the right place, he is evidently an honorable man trying to do the right thing, while not inconveniencing the execution of town government. Mr. Friel, to my observation, has been reasonable, well informed, eminently prepared, and has not been one to make a hasty decision, without the appropriate research. All in all, in my humble opinion he has tried to do the right thing, and has largely succeeded. He has been a welcome change in a board that has had more than it's share of problems in recent years.
And my second issue;
Have you ever noticed how father's are portrayed in the media?
The last HONORABLE TV Dad, was Bill Cosby! Most Dad's are portrayed as incompetent, ineffectual, invisible, or just plain not in the picture. This does a disservice to the Men that choose to be Dad's.
Anyone can be a Father, that can happen by accident, but it takes effort to be a Dad! You can not be an accidental Dad. A Dad is far more important than a Father. And it is a position of honor, that the media, by ans large, does not recognize. It is my opinion that these popular images of Father's rather than Dads harm society as a whole.
Dads, you perform a societally necessary job. Keep doing it, and keep doing it superlatively. Happy Father's Day!
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ATKINSON's Vietnam HONOR ROLL as VOTED and PASSED by 2005 Town Meeting and re-approved at Special Town Meeting Sept. 12
EDITORIAL-
A voice of compassion, an example of fairness and reasonable government.
One who believes in the strength and comfort you, your children and your family can draw from good government leadership.
A person who knows Atkinson is our home -- our most important possession that must be preserved and protected through fair taxes and sound community planning and where our children must be safe to grow to become a new generation of leaders.
One who knows that the citizens of Atkinson are all neighbors with her leadership to be dedicated and responsive to all.
One who believes that when those from Atkinson have served our nation and honors are deserved, those honors must be given.
In Valerie Tobin, we now have a leader we know we can entrust with these responsibilities because they are part of her character.
It is our honor to endorse Valerie for election to Atkinson’s Board of Selectmen.
Just a note for those who wish to count the deer.
In January 08 this blog had 16,000 hits and 1,500 unique visitors (for the month).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
EDITORIAL-
"I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense . . ." [TP, 1776]
We take no small measure of umbrage at such a hostile official act against this BLOG’s patron. Therefore, a timely Editorial comment is both appropriate and necessary.
Discussion of Atkinson’s financial direction, from any viewpoint, is fundamental and encouraged and we will always attempt to limit and correct errors.
However, Righteous indignation towards purported error of such inconsequential nature is not appropriate.
The ENTIRE car deal is problematic. If it was caused by poor judgement, improper exercise of authority, neglect or mistake or even specious reasoning, this will never trump the facts that the entire questionable transaction started and ended within a very small circle of confidants.
We find the entire circumstances surrounding the disposition of the police Cruiser highly irregular at the least and the "explanations" somewhat trifling and exhaustive of our intellect.
Mr. Consentino: It’s time to go. Being Chief of Atkinson’s Police Department is NOT a birthright. That is a fabled legend of yesteryear.
Historically in Atkinson, police chief appointments were made "under the hand of the selectmen" for terms of one year at a time, as was also the case in the beginning of Mr. Consentino’s assorted and discontinuous stream of appointments to this position.
Your only remaining credential established on a claim of indispensability has faded.
So time is neigh. Plan a graceful exit, Clean out your desk, Accept the gratitude and tearful sentiments from some. We plan no editorial recriminations. It is time. Thank you for your service, We wish you a long and happy retirement. Bon Voyage.
LETTER
"To All Atkinson Residents,
I am writing to ask for your help. A member of the Atkinson Police Department needs our help. I am here to ask for your help in Corporal John Lapham's fight for his life. As you are aware, John has been diagnosed with Leukemia. He has been once again hospitalized with an infection that is threatening his life. He is one of the bravest people that I have ever met. He has never asked of anything from the residents of the town. Now is our chance to step up and help both him and his family out. As everyone is aware John has been out of work for a few months. His family has been busy helping John to get better. He needs our help, and I am hoping that this town can step up to the plate and help. From the moment that I met John, I have admired him. He does alot, but never asks for anything in return. He has helped so many people in this town. I for one am one of those people. Please help him.
There is a fund set-up in his name at TDBanknorth in Plaistow. Any amount will help John, while he is out of work. It would be great if this town could help ease a burden off his wife.
Thank You
Also if anyone would like to send a card, please address it to:
John Lapham
c/o Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Ctr.
Inpatient mail
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
United States
Please show Corporal John Lapham, that this community can stand up and show our support to those in need. I for one, miss John and can not wait until he can get better and return to work. Please show him that we support him. "
3 comments:
couldn't help but notice that you made no comment about Mr.Childs. you also come across as an unhappy "dad". sorry that you feel that way...happy fathers day
And Happy Father's Day to you,
No Not unhappy, I just feel that society gives "Dads" the shaft. We as a group are deserving of the same respect bestowed upon Mothers on Mother's Day.
There is a reason the media downplays or ignores the importance of fathers. Doing so requires going against the feminist orthodoxy that women do not need men and the single mothers are just as good a mother and a father.
Massachusetts family courts tree fathers as just a check book.
my father was completely screwed up in the head about the fatherhood. Because he had no father, he grew up believing everything would be perfect if he just had a father. He was very good at appearances. And he had a fit any time something happened that forced him to see that all was not perfect. He wanted all jocks and all straight A's from his kids. Instead, he got me. Athletically I excelled at humiliating him. Likewise academically. Perfection had to be attainable. After we "had a father."
As a father now, I do my best not to repeat the mistakes of my father, and also accept that my father was not all bad.
My father died on the eve of father's day in 1997. Surrounded by his children.
I spent the next day in emergency room with my wife who popped a 103.5 fever.
Today, nobody died and nobody went to the ER. It was a good father's day.
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