Matthew 7:12 ..................................

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Socrates: Do to others as thou wouldst they should do to thee, and do to none other but as thou wouldst be done to. As translated by Earl River 1477.

Jesus, at the Sermon on the Mount: All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.

Otherwise known as the Golden Rule, these or similar words appear, not only, in the New Testament, but also in the Talmud, Koran, and sayings of Confucius. In everyday life we see the wisdom of this at work any time there is interaction among our fellow human beings.

To a certain extent I write this in answer to the comments from both Ray and Peggy concerning my last post.

If I seem to be defending the SSVFD or it's leadership, as an observer at most of the public meetings (FSAB and Council meetings), it appears to me that they are simply responding in like kind (do ye even so to them) and I don't think I'm the only person with that opinion. When they perceive a threat they reciprocate. You can see that in the comments referenced on OBXAlert.net. I don't feel that their initial reactions were like that, but you have to remember that what we see now is the culmination of a process that began nearly two years ago. I firmly believe that any reasonable person dealing with this situation would have reached the limit of their patience by now, Town Council members included.

Like Mayor Pro Tem McDonald stated when another member of the Council protested that the SSVFD was acting like an independent vendor:

If you treat them like a vendor, they'll act like a vendor.

How do we arrive at a reasonable solution to this problem? Who should break this cycle of threat and counter threat? In my opinion, it is up to the Council to put a stop to this. They need to quit concentrating on the minute details of the contract, step back and take a look at the overall situation. The leadership of the SSVFD may be responsible for a component of the community, but it is the Town Council that is responsible for the community as a whole.

They need to take control of the their discussions and take the first step by silencing any vitriolic ranting or outrageous statements from their own membership that will produce anything but a good result. If the majority of the Council sits silently while even one of their members is allowed to spout threats and half truths, that silence may be interpreted as approval by the audience. If not approval, then the silence creates an unknown. The unknown produces fear. Fear results in defensive action. Together the perception of approval and the atmosphere of fear results in this cycle of threat/counter threat that prevents both parties from arriving at a mutual agreement.

Maybe I'm naive or I've over simplified the situation, but I truly believe that instituting the Golden Rule is key to resolving the issues between the SSVFD and the TOSS.

To be fair, I have spoken privately with several Council members, and they certainly don't realize and do not intend to appear unconcerned or arrogant. I believe their inaction and seeming approval comes from a misplaced sense of propriety and courtesy in regard to their fellow Council members. They are simply unaware of the appearances and perceptions of their audience. In fact, now that I am an observer, I find myself wondering if I didn't exhibit the same behavior and produce similar perceptions while seated as a Council member.