Skip to main content

Do No Harm


 
There are many, many jobs involved in running a local political campaign. For every person you can see handing out literature or working at the polls, there are numerous others working behind the scenes at tasks you probably haven’t even thought of. Candidates must martial their volunteers strategically. 

That’s why they probably don’t have a specific election category called “Watching election signs at the polls after dark.” Nobody has that many volunteers. And besides, why should this even be necessary?

Why, indeed. 

Alas, Early Voting in Howard County has been marred by political vandals who are stealing and/or destroying campaign signs at voting sites. Perhaps I should simply be grateful that no one has of yet been threatened with a machete, but - - come on! - -  asking people to respect the other side’s candidate signs seems like a pretty low bar to me. 

People used to make fun of Howard Counth for our Choose Civility campaign. We’ve moved on from that, and with good reason. Still…Could we at least focus our efforts on making and encouraging good choices? This kind of behavior smacks of disrespect and not just from one candidate’s team to to another. It’s also part of a growing “the end justifies the means” sort of violence that seeks to make polling places and the very act of voting feel less credible and less safe.

If you really have faith in your chosen candidate, how does destroying someone else’s property show that? It doesn’t. It shows insecurity, fear, and possibly a sense of entitlement. “I get to have my say. You don’t.” If your campaign is doing this, or you are “ignoring” evidence that your volunteers are doing it, I sincerely hope that everyone in the county finds out what kind of a person you are. You should wear the truth about your behavior like campaign gear. 

That would be enlightening for the rest of us. Depressing, yes. But educational.

Today is the last day of Early Voting, Then it’s on to November 5th. Do me a flavor, will you? Do no harm. 

*****

Local HoCo shopping recommendations: what about local craft fair and seasonal second-hand markets? Here are some suggestions for this weekend.

Abiding Savior Lutheran Church Holiday Bazaar Sale, November 2, 8 am to 12 noon. 10689 Owen Brown Rd, Columbia, MD Proceeds will support Columbia Community Care, the Liberian Community, and Abiding Savior ministries. Please contact the Abiding Savior office, asic@abiding-savior.org, if you have any questions.

Jewels for Hope - - a sale of gently worn jewelry and scarves. November 2, 8:30 am to 12 noon.  Glen Mar Church, 4701 New Cut Road, Ellicott City, MD. This event directly benefits (100% of proceeds) HopeWorks - Howard County Maryland's Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center. Admission is FREE with a suggested donation of $5.00. Thousands of items are for sale with prices starting at five dollars

Howard County Crafts Spectacular, Howard County Fairgrounds, November 1-3, beginning at nine am each day. A craft show featuring over 375 artists and crafters. Free Gift wrapping, package check, Free parking, Free courtesy shuttles back to your vehicle, Free door prizes every 15 minutes throughout the weekend. Magic Shows on Sat. & Sun at 11am and 12:30pm. Admission $5 or $7 for a multi-day pass. Children under 10 Free.

Oakland Mills High School Craft Fair this Saturday, November 2, from 10:00 to 3:00. There are always a lot of local artisans selling nice gift items, event benefits the OMHS PTSA. Come visit, see, and buy various works of art from our community members that are unique and one of a kind.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Getting Fresh

One of my favorite days in the Spring comes when this year’s list of Farmer’s Markets is released. That happened this week. New this year are markets in Old Ellicott City and the “Merriweather Market” which, according to the address, will be located here . I mistakenly thought at first glance that it was in the new-construction part of the Merriweather District. I find the name confusing considering its actual location. I’m going to guess that this market is an initiative of the Howard Hughes Corporation because the name seems chosen more for branding purposes than anything else.  Alas, the market in Maple Lawn is gone. The thread on the markets on the County Executive’s FB page will provide you with quite the education in who actually runs the Farmers Markets vs what people often think is going on. Short answer: they are not  chosen nor run by the county. Each market is an independent entity, sometimes started by community volunteers, other times supported by local businesses...
1 comment
Read more

They Can Wait

This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday.  Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was  "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018.  2018 .  But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest.  In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...
1 comment
Read more

What Kids Are Thinking

  It’s a Monday in February, and if you guessed that a lot of Howard County students have the new cell phone policy on their minds, you’d be right. It will mean big changes and it will be stressful, no matter how much good we hope it will do in the long run. But on this particular Monday cell phones might not be top of mind, as amazing as that seems. Some kids will go to school wondering if they or family members will be seized by ICE. Some will fear that their parents’ employment will be purged by the ongoing rampage of Elon Musk and his cronies through Federal Government. Some fear heightened and renewed racism as programs that supprted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are vilified and destroyed.  Some worry that it soon won’t be safe for them to use the bathroom in school anymore. It goes without saying that some kids fear going to school every day because of the prevalence of school shootings.  And look! Here’s something new to fear. That old hate group, Libs of TikTo...
1 comment
Read more