Editor,
Just a short letter about OPA GM Bob Thompson. Our members read and hear a lot of drivel about the abilities and leadership Bob displays, so I thought they should hear this:
Last Saturday was the day of OPA’s annual collection of furniture, bedding, etc. from lot owner’s homes. This event in itself is commendable, as most folks have no way to dispose of this unwanted, heavy junk. Saturday was a very rainy day, and I was pleased to see Mr. Thompson on the truck and helping the Public Works crew lift heavy furniture into the truck. I watched as several homeowners yelled their thanks and cheers to Bob.
Mr. Thompson does a great many good things for Ocean Pines, and clearly is willing to go the extra mile to serve us.
Tom Sandusky
Stop bullying in U.S., local politics
Editor,
In the past few years the media has given a substantial amount of attention to different types of bullying. Children in school are reminded to respect their fellow classmates and not to belittle or tease one another about size, ability, or appearance. Parents are reminded that if they try to bully referees when they question their decisions, they are subject to being removed from a game.
Drivers who tailgate are technically bullying by trying to assert their importance and power over the driver in front of them. Even bumper stickers can send negative bullying messages…which is insulting to tourists who spend money at businesses in the community.
A couple of years ago I actually saw a bumper sticker that said, “My child beat up your honor student at _____Middle School.” That parent certainly isn’t sending a positive message to his own child as well as to anyone else who reads that.
There are endless examples of cyber bullying on Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social media. An app called After School started out as a chat room for teens, but it eventually turned into a bullying site. Even though it is not an actual physical confrontation, apparently some users of social media feel that it is their prerogative to belittle or bully the person who made a comment with which they do not agree.
Not every opinion that a person may voice deserves or commands a rebuttal. A friend of mine used to tell her two daughters, “You can think anything you want, but that doesn’t give you the right to say it.”
Many parents try to control what their children do on the computer, which is in the child’s best interests, but some parents have also been known to bully other parents on Facebook about a conflict that arose in a sport or classroom situation, and, instead of trying to resolve it privately, resort to publicizing the problem to the entire community while trying to get other parents to take sides.
That used to be called “throwing your weight around.” Whatever you choose to call it, it is adult bullying.
Perhaps the place that bullying is most prevalent everyday is what happens politically on international, national, state, and local levels. Russia’s presence in the Ukraine is an example of one country bullying another. North Korea’s threatening South Korea and other nations with missile tests and hydrogen bombs is bullying.
Threats by ISIS and Al Qaeda against other nations and religions are examples of bullying. Nationally, it is rare to see politicians work “across the aisle” anymore. The Congress and the Senate bully the President. Our local representative, Andy Harris, has a reputation for voting “No” or taking the opposite side on almost every issue. Surely, there must be an occasional bill, which deserves a positive vote. Maryland is a great state. We deserve a better representative in Congress than Andy Harris.
Politicians are elected to serve. When there is name-calling, grudge carrying, and perpetual obfuscating, very little gets accomplished. Most parents wouldn’t tolerate that behavior in their children, and yet, it seems to be “the new normal” in the current political scene. Donald Trump is exhibiting the very kind of behavior that most parents and teachers try to get their children or students to avoid – encouraging physical confrontation, bullying and belittling others. This is a great country; we have our problems, but electing a bully and a demagogue will not solve them. America deserves better than Donald Trump.
Locally, officials in the Ocean Pines Association need to be reminded that they were also elected to serve their constituency, solve problems, and work to improve life for everyone in the Ocean Pines community – not to pursue their personal agendas or vendettas. There are a few board members in the OPA who need to start practicing civility.
They held the entire Ocean Pines community hostage for three or four years by insisting that Sandpiper Energy pay a franchise fee to the OPA in order to convert the community to natural gas. Ocean Pines has been bypassed and delayed due to bullying behavior by some members of the OPA for no good reason other than stubbornness. Sandpiper is a public utility offering a service for which consumers must pay.
OPA board members need to be reminded that they were elected to make this community a better place to live and to solve problems as they arise. They were not elected to manage the day-to-day operations in Ocean Pines. That is the job of the general manager.
Lately, some of the arguments have deteriorated to physical threats or insisting on having the last word on every issue. These individuals are not being good examples of community leaders and are not doing the job that they were elected to do. Insulting each other only perpetuates conflict. This is a great place to live. The community deserves better behavior and leadership from the OP board.
There are issues and problems that need to be addressed, but that must be done in an intelligent and adult manner. Electing bullies to the OPA association does not solve problems or get things done. Ocean Pines residents should carefully select three individuals in the next election who will serve the community in a positive and intelligent manner. We deserve better behavior from our elected officials.
Jean Fry
Ocean Pines