When I attended college, several centuries ago, the last thing on anyone's mind was the future. It was a different time, when the focus was on developing a well-rounded education instead of manufacturing prospects for the corporate world.Now that I'm an old fart, some local journalism professors invite me to speak to their classes about blogging. I won't mention their names because I'd hate to see them fired. I always accept. Aside from the ego rush, I always learn something from these young, fresh minds. I respect them, too. These students know the newspaper industry is dying, yet choose to concentrate in journalism.
Last night's class was a three hour marathon, and the professor had my blog all set up on a projector so we could go back and forth about different stories. Most of them are unfamiliar with local politics. Tabulae rasa. That quickly changed after three hours on the blog. Their jaws dropped when they saw local officials like Julio Guridy, who objected to video during an Allentown City Council candidates' debate. They were disgusted by an audio tape of Charles Dertinger and AFSCME union members trying to take on Ron Angle during a County Council meeting.
What they loved most was my birdhouse "interview" with Northampton County Executive John Stoffa, back when he was running for re-election. I use quotation marks because neither Stoffa nor I knew that his son, Jeff, was quietly videotaping us. As the journalism professor noted, these small vignettes often provide a deeper glimpse into a person than you'd find in a lengthy column. In Stoffa's case, it reveals a man with an unusual way of looking at things. An anti-politician. His honesty and decency is the real story, and those are rare qualities in anyone, to say nothing of an elected official.
Ironically, the young minds inspiring me were in turn inspired by a seventy-year old man who wants to build 500 birdhouses. I see no politician, in either Northampton or Lehigh County, who takes his simple and nonpartisan approach to government. "What is the right thing to do?" is the question he always asks his cabinet.
10 comments:
The right thing to do is make a deal with Ron Angle to get yourself elected, while lying to union members in the process.
Christ Ohare, did the "Professor" at least tell the students you are Stoffa's Minister of Propaganda.
If it isn't Dent it's Stoffa, with you. What a mancrush.
You forgot to add that they pay me, too. People like you will never understand people like Stoffa, but it was nice to see that young and fresh minds get it.
These kids represent probably 95% of the public. Things would be a lot different if anyone gave a damn as to what was happening locally.
I wonder if all the outgoing Council members will take their birdhouses into exile with them, or leave them behind?
"John Stoffa. Birdbrain man"
His approach is simple, I will give you that. He hasn't done anything in four years and looks to only raise taxes in the next four. It doesn't get much simpler tham that. If it got any simpler the entire Administration could call off sick for a week and no one would notice.
Then start your own "I hate John Stoffa" blog. I'm sure readers will flock to your banner, as they did during the campaign.
Hey give John a break. He renamed the fourth floor the third floor. You think that was easy.
It took three committee's and a year long study. Could you do better?
In fairness, John ensured Lehigh County residents got cabinet positions. He is a one man jobs program for Allentown and Lehigh County.
The above comment is posted by former Reibman hallwalker Bob Daday, who lost his marbles when Stoffa stopped him from soaking the taxpayers with unemployment.
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