Civility
This past weekend, a former elected official asked me which airport in D.C. I use. I replied, "Almost 100% of the time I fly into Reagan National." He recoiled and said, "I never say the name of that man, I just say ‘National Airport.'" I launched into my much-worn speech about my fear that if we continue this political tribalism, we will enfeeble this nation for our children and their children. But unfortunately, I don't believe I converted him. He went into what must be a much-worn speech of his own, a sort of, "look what they do" response.
Preachers tell the story of the passion play, presented in a big city park during the holy week of the Christian tradition. As the actors processed up a hillside, the young man portraying Christ carried a heavy cross. At the top of the hill, a hostile spectator confronted the man portraying Christ and yelled out, "This cross myth is so hokey pokey that you look like a buffoon." The actor laid down the cross, walked over to the heckler, and punched him square in the mouth.
Yesterday, as it sometimes happens, I was on television for a little bit to talk about the issues of the day. I was on two very different shows, with two very different hosts, and two different audiences. I like to do that—to talk with people who think differently than I do. And my staff told me that many of you called my Washington office to say thank you. One man said that he didn't agree with me on much, but he liked seeing me on a channel he watches. It meant something to him that I was willing to do that. It means a lot to me, too.
Although these weekly missives are intended for 435 Members, this writing is directed more to the 58 newly elected Representatives.
A young rooster, feeling his oats, challenged the ruling rooster. The fight was a blood-letting; they fought savagely. Finally, the older rooster slipped away, defeated, into the hen house. The conqueror, full of exuberance, made his way to the top of the house. He began his victory strut, crowing at the top of his lungs, "cock-a-doodle-doo!"
I shall never forget the question someone asked our sixth grade science teacher: "Mr. Freeman, why is it that we can't kill all the flies around our House?" The teacher responded that there are way more flies than people. Each female fly, he said, lays about 150 eggs, three times a month during the summer. The eggs hatch and bring forth similar numbers and the beat goes on and on and on.
TIME TO PAY UP
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Congressman Cleaver explains that the Kansas City Royals were obviously the superior team in this year's World Series |
This witty English saying has been quoted for at least 400 years.
"A stitch in time saves nine" means that a small rip in a garmet, should be repaired quickly or it will become a spacious tear. A one inch, almost unnoticeable snag, might become a nine inch unruly breach tomorrow.
THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS – WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE SAID??
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