“May I speak to Janet?
“You have the wrong number, sorry.”
“Well, while I have you on the phone … blah, blah, blah.”
“Important issues in your …”
I didn’t wait to hear the rest of the spiel. I hung up; well, I tried to hang up to shut off the unwelcome, unsolicited opinions. I could hear the drone of the voice as I struggled to find the button.
The name of a new book forthcoming by a celebrity came to me and I realized it was one of those all-purpose responses that people seemed to blurt out on most every occasion: sorry, not sorry. The sarcasm usually oozes from every syllable, although I was aware that the actor was not using it in that manner. She had spent most of her career as a social activist and she was sincerely taking ownership of her choice to make a difference in the public arena. I could understand why she chose it. She could have explained it away with a glib remark but she was serious.
Now after this Election Day, I think that phrase can be used by both Jane and John Q citizen for the stand they take, in order that they can best serve their community. Locally our school board election generated a lot of interest and the candidates all believed that their platform was the best for the community. If their willingness to put themselves out in the public eye was based on their sincere interest in ensuring the best education representing our community, then it was great that they joined the fray.
There were just four seats open on the Meeker School Board, so I was surprised to see the number of candidates who decided to run. Even now that the election is over and the results are in, I applaud all of them for being willing to take a more active part in the education of our children. I hope that when they are asked why they spent so much time and energy in entering a race that might prove to be unsuccessful, they feel comfortable saying “Sorry, not sorry.”
By DOLLY VISCARDI – Special to the Herald Times
