My View by John Cordsen
The true measure of leaders
Leadership is more than standing at a crossroads and screaming that something must be done. Any idiot can do that. True leaders lead. They lead by being out in front and offering clear, concise visions – something the masses can wrap their minds around. They offer more than “we need a new plan.” They have a plan, right down to the most minute detail and the freely share it to all who ask.
Leaders are also up front – they are people everyone can go to because everyone knows who they are. They have names. They don’t hide behind blinds or anonymity and snipe at those around them.
Most towns also have gadflies – those people who know exactly what’s wrong and are not afraid to point it out. They just don’t offer any realistic fixes that are equitable to the masses – only to a select few. Many, though, are at least not afraid to stand behind their opinions – publicly – with their names. Those are easy to at least respect.
I’ve known a couple of major gadflies during my career. One we will call Jack, and the other D. Jones. Both were well known in their respective towns and neither liked me because I didn’t see everything their way.
Jack took me to task more than once on his blog site and Mr. Jones penned a number poison letters to the editor pointing out our differences. A couple of things these two gentlemen had, though, were the courage of their convictions and their facts straight. The issues they had with me were as clear as a CU-Nebraska football game. We just saw things differently and I can respect that even if I didn’t like it.
But when a nameless faceless entity goes on the offensive, one would at least like to see accurate information.
A recent blog (which shall remain nameless because that’s apparently the way they want it) took great pains to point out some of the paper’s faults as far as the current conflict between this blog, its authors, and the Town.
It’s true that there are a few letters that never make it in the paper. They find the cutting room floor for a very limited number of reasons.
People, you just can’t call someone a crook in print. It’s not prudent and could result in a lawsuit against not only you, but the paper and its editor. Also, if the “facts” presented are patently wrong, it’s gone. Despite what some of the more knowledgeable think, I don’t hold letters simply because I don’t like what’s in them. If that were the case, a good number would not get printed.
It was also pointed out how inappropriate it is for the paper to run a column from the Town – no mention was made of the school column so it must be okay. How could we run the Town column? Well, unless I have missed the mark, the Town does represent the legally elected governing body of Estes Park. I guess that doesn’t matter though.
Both the Town and school columns were supplied after we made the offer of space in the paper. They are to inform the community of what’s going on through the eyes of those in charge. At the same time we made an offer of another entity to supply a regular column on its happenings. All three entities received the same simple request – provide a positive forward-looking column that informs and touts what each particular entity is doing. Not too complicated of a request. However, one entity chose to use its space to attack the Town – not what we requested, and not what the column was intended for. It didn’t make it.
Finally, dear bloggers, with your infallible information could you at least tell us which Town committee or committees Bill is supposedly on. He was surprised to learn he was on any and hasn’t attended one meeting. He really needs to know so he can attend. I would hate to see my publisher kicked off before the Town has gotten a return on its investment.
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