Ord Talk

A Different Perspective

Tom Kruml brought up an interesting topic in the September 2009 Ord Public School meeting. Sensationalizing!

Yes, from what it sounds, as Mr. Kruml described it, the first paragraph of the letter that he had read pertaining to the current school bond issue must have been truly sensational. So much so, that he considered slitting his wrist. Wow. Since Mr. Kruml was criticizing sensationalism, and felt that it was a bad thing to do, was he really serious about having thoughts of doing harm to his own body?

No folks, I don't think he had those thoughts, and truly if I did, I would think he would be very much in need of professional help. Very interesting and confusing approach to the subject of the letter, to say the least though. However, considering the fact that several of those items he mentioned in the first paragraph, are a reality, I think a moment of pause is due.

One thing that many times we fail to realize, or we realize and just need to be reminded of, living in a small rural community, is the impact national happenings has on our community in many areas. To try and overlook those things and not consider them in our day to day lives can be something that comes back to haunt a small community. None of us are immune from paying and also receiving benefits from national programs through taxation. Currently, we have military troops involved overseas, and yes, we aren't personally dodging bullets in Ord, Nebraska today, but there are many loved ones from here that are or have recently been there. Would anyone dare to say, that this does not impact our local community, because it is a national issue? I think not. National debt, employment stats and money issues, ie. massive bank failures, all need to be addressed as to the impact on local individuals, especially when you are asking the community to fund a project. Thinking these realities do not have a bearing on local issues and projects is, in my opinion, a gross oversight. The length of time that the community has to bear the burden of paying for a project and usefulness of that project can determine the weight of each of those realities.

Ridiculing individuals or groups that are honestly looking for facts and using common money sense in their judgment, especially when they are the very ones paying for part of the bill, is similar to "biting the hand that feeds you". Public servants, sometimes, seem to lose sight of who they are working for. True, they are not working for a particular group, nor particular individual, but all of us as a whole. However, care should be given, to the impact a public decision may have on each individual collectively. Taxation without proper representation, can be a very tricky subject sometimes.

As I have been working on this commentary, letter, whatever one would like to call it. I have been trying to decide, why I have a need to express my thoughts. I realize that this writing may be taken as a "anti-bond" propaganda whatever one would like to call it, and I suppose, it is partially. However, I am going to strongly agree with Mr. Kruml. "Sensationalizing" is detrimental to our community as a whole, and I will stand with him 100 percent on that. Did I try to point out that he did the very thing that he was criticizing, yes, I kind of did. I hope that if he reads this, he will accept my criticism as constructive.

In closing, I would like to give a thought on "sensationalizing" which has hit home for me. Once, possibly twice in recent days, I have heard the statement made by OPS staff and administration that, Ord High School enrollment is "up" this year. I believe the number I heard was 263, for enrollment this year. Which is truly "up", by a total of, yes, one student. Enrollment was 262 last year. So, given the great increase, and having that rate of gain annually, by the school year 2041-2042, we shall be up to the enrollment that we had in 2004-2005, of yes 295, which was lower than the year prior to that. Now, if the 263 is wrong, all my "sensationalizing" will be totally ruined and will lose all its impact and I will just need to find something else to be sensational about.

Clay Burgess

Monday, Sept. 21st, 2009