Just a Few Words

We had the company of good friends and family members this holiday weekend.  Their visits offered opportunities to dine out and to chat into the small hours, about books and movies and religion and a social event (so-called) that we attended together yesterday.

The so-called social event was a meeting, rancorous at times, that centered upon the refurbishing of a building purchased some while ago as a gathering place for the members of several clubs having interests that might in a perfect world be called common.  But as with most such meetings, where large egos and intransigent attitudes hold sway, the opposing sides held forth in lengthy pronouncements and disquisitions over the right way or the best way or the wrong way to approach the multifarious problems facing the group and to address solutions that might prove in the end to be workable.

The committee charged with the task of running things came under fire as not having been properly constituted, as not being transparent in their dealings, as not having sufficient, or even any, accountability towards the membership of the clubs in question, as acting dictatorially, etc. etc.  On the other side, the critics were upbraided as being singularly unjust in their criticism of a hard-working committee whose members were serving, indefatigably, assiduously, and to the best of their ability, in the best interests of the aforementioned critics.  And in a voluntary capacity, to boot.

At times the arguments became heated and strident; challenges were met with counter-challenges; shouted accusations replaced civil discourse; and the persistent pounding of the president's gavel added to the general din. One could be forgiven for suggesting that the scene reminded one of a parliamentary session in an uncivilized Third World locale.

When the emotions reached an unbearable level, resignations were offered. Spouses of committee members, irate at the iniquitous treatment accorded their mates, forbade their continuing to serve in any capacity whatever, now and forever.  Faces reddened with passion, voices broke, tears were on the point of being shed.

A lunch break provided a period of calm, as the attendees refueled for the afternoon session.

At the appointed resumption time, in an increasingly chilly room as the afternoon shadows started to lengthen, the assembly continued its deliberations. Well-meaning persons stroked ruffled feathers, speaking in gentle tones to the injured parties, some still holding inelastic views, and in this wise they attempted to foster a return to correct parliamentary procedure, and a move towards the slow process of healing, if indeed that were possible, given the level of acrimony so far displayed.  

Whether resignations will be withdrawn, whether newly agreed-upon procedures will actually be put in place to the satisfaction of all, or whether proposed reforms will take hold, only time will tell.