Opinion
Black's campaign letter 'made decision very easy'
By Robert J. Guerra, Ashburn
[October 13, 2005] As a relatively new resident of Loudoun County, I have read the many opinion pieces in your paper regarding the candidacy of Richard Black and his opponent, Mr. Poisson. I am a fiscal conservative and have some specific thoughts about the role of government in allowing me to achieve my goals and ambitions based upon my willingness to work hard. While I take my responsibility as a citizen to vote for the most effective candidate seriously, I do not want government involved in my private life.
On Oct. 1, I received a letter from Mr. Black, the incumbent, seeking my vote and explaining why Poisson is unworthy of it. To start, Black points out that there is only one adjective to describe Poisson. "Liberal." Now, that adjective is defined in the dictionary as "not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox or authoritarian attitudes, views or dogmas; free from bigotry." Heaven forbid that we'd have a leader in our local government that is free from bigotry or thinks that traditional authoritarian views might not keep pace with the times.
Black goes on to clarify that Poisson has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood, that bastion of liberal thinking that a woman has a right to privacy and that Black should decide for her whether she is to bear a child, perhaps out of wedlock or as a result of incest or rape. Apparently, Black has a plan to raise these children for us, or will be able to tell that woman how to provide for that child. He, not she, should make that personal decision.
He goes on to say that Poisson "... endorsed boys kissing each other in public school plays." While that is not really what happened in the play, nor does it appear to be Poisson's position, let us not be distracted by facts when exaggeration so much better supports our case. Every description I read about the play was that there was no real kiss, but the implication was made that two boys kissed. Yes, let us deny that homosexuality exists and shelter our children from the realities of the world. Let us not allow art and entertainment to expose some of the realities of the world. Let us not allow art and entertainment to expose some of the realities of life as it really is in this relatively new millennium.
Last, but not least, Black points out that Poisson worked for a very influential senator on Capital Hill. Now, that experience might just lead to the possibility that if Poisson is elected, our local government representatives might have a firm understanding of how inter-governmental issues are most effectively dealt with. As we learned from the Katrina disaster, it is better than local and federal government wait for disaster to happen and then point fingers at and blame each other for the failure of government.
Black, thank you so much for your letter. You have made my decision very easy. Let us move Loudoun County back to our founding "established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian views." Let's make sure that everyone thinks the same way. If they disagree with us or have a view that varies from ours, let's call them unpatriotic, or worse yet, liberal.
[Originally published in Loudoun Easterner, October 13, 2005]
- extreme. ineffective. dick black.