Opinion published in the Townsman's April 3, 2008 edition
Sometime in 2002 the Woodstock town board adopted, with one abstention, a resolution calling upon the Congress of the United States to rescind the Patriot Act. It also called upon Town agencies, in particular the library and the Woodstock Police Department, to NOT obey the Act. Copies of the resolution were sent to congressional representatives and the president. There was no response from any of the entities, and the U.S. still has not rescinded the Patriot Act.
In early 2003 the town board, with one abstention, adopted a resolution calling upon the United States government to NOT invade Iraq. Copies of the resolution were sent to congressional representatives and the president. Not only was there no response from any of the entities, the U.S. invaded Iraq.
In 2004 or 2005 (how the years melt together) the town board, with one abstention, adopted a resolution calling upon the United States government to GET OUT of Iraq. Copies of the resolution were sent to congressional representatives and the president. There was no response from any of the entities, and the U.S. stayed in Iraq.
Not long after, the town board, with two abstentions, adopted a resolution calling upon the United States House of Representatives to impeach President Bush. Copies of the resolution were sent to congressional representatives. The president was spared the embarrassment of opening a copy of a resolution from the Woodstock town board calling for his impeachment, but certainly he heard about it. There was no response from anyone, and an impeachment bill never even got a two- minute discussion in the nation’s capitol.
Not discouraged, after President Bush got re-elected the Woodstock town board, with two abstentions, adopted a resolution calling for the impeachment of Bush and vice president Cheney. Copies of the resolution were sent to House representatives. There was no response from any Representative, and the two-for-one impeachment bill never even got a one-minute discussion in the nation’s capitol.
Then, from shear doggedness, the Woodstock town board, with two abstentions, adopted another resolution calling on the United States Government to GET OUT of Iraq. This resolution, crafted at the table by councilwoman Liz Simonson when the one she grabbed after a three second search on the internet failed to attract a third vote read; “Whereas we are sick and tired of the war in Iraq, and no longer support it, [italics mine] therefore be it resolved…etc.” It just shows you how people think when they get tired. And why shouldn’t councilwoman Simonson be tired? Copies of the resolution were sent to congressional representatives and the president. There was no response from any of the entities, and the U.S. not only stayed in Iraq, it increased its forces.
Maybe you get the picture, but the Woodstock town board will not be denied. As of this writing they entertain a resolution calling upon the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to enter into negotiation with the Dalai Lama concerning the disposition of Tibet. I suppose after getting NO response from its own government it only makes sense for the Woodstock town board to depend on the Chinese for one. The Chinese have certainly been responsive to our requests for substantial loans.
The proposed resolution says in part, “Whereas, the Dalai Lama of Tibet has a bond of kinship with the town of Woodstock…” and then makes its request to the PRC after listing a series of justifications.
Having had the privilege and honor of greeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama on behalf of the people of Woodstock, I could not agree more with the sentiment of the Woodstock Town Board. But I am both surprised and alarmed by its expression.
I am surprised by the pronouncement of three members of the town board, who have in the recent past publicly and strenuously objected to the Tibetan Buddhists’ expansion of their monastery on Meads Mountain in Woodstock. Liz Simonson at a town board meeting not long had stated that she would “never support” any act that would “legitimize” the KTD monastery. Councilman Jay Wenk had posted a sign at the end of his driveway that informed the passers by “KTD IS NOT A GOOD NEIGHBOR.” When Ed Sanders (the famous Fug) warned the town board of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s (then) rumored possible visit to Woodstock (on September 21, 2006), the estimable Sheila Eisenberg, wife to councilman Chris Collins, jumped to her feet and demanded that the town board do something to “stop him,” this suggestion raising no stated objection by her usually ever so attentive husband.
So here, potentially (the vote on the resolution has not occurred by the time of this writing) are three council members calling upon the Chinese government to tolerate a Tibetan autonomous region in their country when these same three members have established a record of opposing a Tibetan monastery in their own town. I'm surprised; aren't you?
What alarms me is that by adopting this resolution, considering the success of previous Woodstock town board resolutions that flew into realms far beyond its responsibility, it dooms the perfectly good sentiment.
I recently wrote to His Holiness. I sympathized with what has to be extremely stressful times for him and his people. I sent a photograph taken the day he visited us that captured the joy of that special moment. I wished him the best and expressed the hope that the picture would, if only for one moment, remind him of the joy he has given others. I am very glad that there is bi-partisan support in the Congress and by President Bush for the Woodstock town board’s proposed resolution calling for dialogue between His Holiness and the PRC. I’ll let you know if he writes back.
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