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Numbers Do Count
North Miami Beach, FL January 12, 2001 Aaron H.
Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on issues, ideas and reflections on the times. Published now and
then, Opinions pro or con are welcome.
YOU SEE, NUMBERS DO COUNT
In thinking about the withdrawal of Linda Chavez as candidate for a
position in the Bush Cabinet I find the fact that numbers do count is a
reality. In the past when in meetings I championed some dearly held wish I
was told by older campaigners that you should check over your shoulder to
see how many were behind you backing you up. And this is very true. When
you are in a contest of any kind it is rare that only people who share your
convictions will be present. You have to count on those and be aware that
others will be in your face to say no to your ideas or work to reshape them
into something you did not intend.
In fact, you can count on any idea you put forward to generate a lot of
negative response simply because there are those who cannot do this simple
thing. What they can do is to take some basic material you bulk up for them
and then remove parts of it and shape it into something quite different than
intended. It is disheartening to note that what you consider noble and
needed is frivolous and hurtful to others. That some "others" who oppose do
this just for fun sometimes should be of no concern. What is important is
that others view the world with different backgrounds, eyes, and
experiences. They are not like you. If they do not like you that is an
even greater handicap.
Numbers count in voting for it eventually comes down to counting hands,
heads or ballots. I would prefer going into a contest knowing how it will
turn out. Seasoned politicians do this regularly. They lay the groundwork
for a vote by assiduously preparing the way as a farmer prepares the soil he
will seed and then nurture through a growing season to see what he hopes is
the crop he planned to reap.
You can cast seeds into the wind and see what results or you can count them
and carefully place them where they will come up to give you the support
your future may depend upon. Numbers do count. Cultivate them. Carol's
Evaluation: 8 out of 10. Carol also says: "This is not going anywhere."
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