It seems that everyone is angry these days. For many, politics—from the national down to the local level—took on a more substantial and even dire note this last year.
Selecting a president from two candidates who couldn’t be more different and the local residential growth control and City Council races fostered some uncomfortable discourse. Hostility became routine on the national level. We saw some of that creep into the local scene, which is unusual for us.
I don’t have to say anything more about national politics—just go to any digital news outlet and you can see for yourself. In this case, I feel I must say digital because there is something happening virtually every few hours. If you are intently following the goings-on in Washington, a lot can happen before that morning newspaper shows up.
At the local level, I have to say that starting last year, with the happenings of the Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Trustees, we have been exposed to new lows in our treatment of each other. Activities of some on the school board was almost like a preview of what we’re seeing in the White House right now. Threats of impeachment, news media exposure of comments made, attempts at censuring, public outcry, denials, obfuscation, shifting of blame, retractions, apologies, etc… Wow, that was unpleasant.
I don’t know if it will be ongoing, but we have seen some of the unpleasant behaviors continue locally to this day.
I was recently at a city council meeting where a respected member of the community chastised city staff and loudly pronounced that either they were lying or didn’t know who to contact on an issue that had generated some passionate feelings. I don’t remember seeing this kind of behavior before.
I don’t think that kind of behavior belongs in Morgan Hill. This is not the Morgan Hill way, and I hope we all actively work to curb this kind of behavior in the public place.
Last weekend, I got into it with a neighbor of mine. I was working in the driveway late Sunday when I heard a terrible blood curdling cry for help, which turned to a whimper and then a moan into oblivion. Of course I grabbed a flashlight and went to see what happened in my backyard. Through the trees I saw two sets of eyes and heard a loud guttural response. Not to be deterred, I focused the flashlight right on the eyes and let them know that I heard what had just happened. That was when a loud yell in my direction really got my attention and I started the scramble in the other direction.
That loud yell was the snarl of a mature mountain lion, and I think I disturbed its dinner.
Being the polite neighbor that I try to be, I promptly backed away and tried to allow him to eat in peace, until we went to get the video camera…
Whether it’s paid staff, City Council, a commission, grocer, neighbor or mountain lion, let’s remember that we are all in this community together, and it is us who set and maintain the tone of behavior that is acceptable. There is no police enforcement of civility; that’s up to us. And remember to let your neighbors finish their meal before disturbing them.
John McKay is president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, city planning commissioner and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance.
