[Vision2020] Keeping the election civil

[lfalen]

Thanks Bruce and Gerald
Roger
-----Original message-----
From: jeanlivingston jeanlivingston at turbonet.com
Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:07:40 -0700
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] Keeping the election civil

> 
> Pasted in this message is a letter to the editor from tonight's Daily
> News by Gerard Connelly, with which I wholeheartedly agree.  My
> on-line comments on the DN's web site follow the letter.
> 
> Bruce Livingston
> 
> 
> Monday, October 1, 2007 - Page Updated at 12:00:00 AM
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Refrain from personal attacks
> 
> Recently two letters to the editor in the Daily News contained gross
> personal attacks against members of the Greater Moscow Alliance that I
> believe deserve a response.
> 
> One writer, in reference to the newly passed housing ordinance, stated
> that the only thing the GMA cares about is profit. Another writer
> stated that GMA members are "evil" and "hate children."
> 
> I happened to serve on a board whose sole purpose is to care for and
> support Latah County residents with disabilities, with two GMA
> members, including Steve Busch, GMApresident.
> 
> Busch (as well as many other GMA members) has for decades contributed,
> with great generosity, his money, time and energy to many
> organizations and causes in Moscow for the benefit of children, the
> disabled, the elderly and the poor. He is absolutely one of the best
> human beings that it has ever been my privilege to know.
> 
> I may not always agree with Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney but, like Busch,
> she is highly intelligent, of impeccable integrity and generosity and
> I believe her sole motivation is what she sincerely believes to be in
> the best interest of the citizens of Moscow.
> 
> I implore readers of the Daily News and writers of letters to the
> editor to speak out on the issues on a level of mutual respect and to
> refrain from personal attacks and judgment of other's motives.
> 
> L. Gerard Connelly, Moscow
> 
> 
> I commend Gerard Connelly on his request that people refrain from the
> personal attacks in this upcoming, very competitiveelection.  I, too,
> have the greatest respect for my neighbor, Steve Busch, and our Mayor
> Nancy Chaney.  They are both great people who sincerely believe that
> their vision of what is best for Moscow is right, even though they
> disagree in that vision not on everything, of course, but in some very
> significant ways.
> 
> Attacks on people who have a different vision are uncalled for.  I
> don't believe that anyone at the GMA or the MCA or our city government
> or any of our candidates is "Evil" or "hates  children" or "doesn't
> care about the poor because they opposed a Wal-Mart." 
> 
> The MCA and the current council have been hit with a continuous mantra
> that we are anti-business and anti-growth, and while I disagree
> strenuously with that notion, I can live with the fact that others
> disagree with our vision.  That is what elections are for.
> 
> In the same way, I have some significant differences with my friends
> in the GMA, and I would hope that we candisagree amicably, but
> respectfully.  
> 
> Kudos to Gerard for saying so.
> 
> BDL
> 
> 
>