The Statesman?

One of my neighbors dropped by yesterday for tea and produced the following quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.:

"Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right."

"So, Sam," he asked, "Where is your man with regard to the impending demise of the business his daddy built? Is he a coward, pragmatic, vain, or is he a man of conscience?"

Naturally, I defended you as a man of conscience. To which he responded, "I very much doubt that Sam. You are no doubt familiar with John Maxwell's Law of Magnatism which says that 'who you are is who you attract'?" I replied in the affirmative and warned him to be civil as I could see where this might be heading.

"Well then Sam, how do you account for an Amway/Alticor General Counsel like Mike Mohr? If Dick truly is a man of conscience, a man dedicated to doing the right thing; certainly he would not let such a person anywhere near his business. And a person like Mr. Mohr would not be attracted to people of character and integrity.

As a man of character, certainly Dick would not stand idly by and allow such a loathsome, nefarious individual to ruthlessly destroy the people whose only crime was to say 'Look! The emperor has no clothes!'. Tell me Sam, is that the mark of a man of conscience? Is that the kind of behavior we might expect if he were elected Governor and given even more power?

Is it the the mark of a man of conscience to employ a person, who by his insidious behavior (cloaked in robes of 'legality'), demonstrates his utter lack of conscience?

Is it the mark of a man of conscience to stand by while his minions misuse the law to exact a twisted kind of personal revenge?

Is it the mark of a man of conscience to allow the hired help to ruin the reputation of not only his biggest business, but also of his family?

Is this the kind of leadership we can expect of your friend Sam?

Why doesn't he just call a truce? T'would be a statesmanlike gesture to be sure! One wonders. Look Sam, if Dick can't or refuses to lead in a simple matter like his business, how are we to believe that he can lead or manage the affairs of state?

To what hope can we cling? From what bold acts of leadership may we draw assurance that Dick is up to the job? Are we simply to take his word for it? I think not!!

Sam? Sam! Sam, can you hear me? Sam are you OK? Sam....?"

"Huh?" I heard myself saying as I was roughly shaken. "I must have lost consciouness there for a moment! Terribly sorry old man. Please, indulge me. You were saying...?"

He just shook his head, picked himself up and strode toward the door. "I wrote it all down Sam. I lost you about halfway thru and fortunately, I had written what I wanted to say to you on the offchance you threw me out." He tossed a page of wrinkled foolscap at me. "Please review my notes and write a post to Dick for me Sam. He needs to hear what I have to say. And be sure to tell him, I'm not the only person who feels this way!"

Apparently, I did black out for a few seconds there Dick. But I was SO angry! And then I realized that he did just offer an opinion - wrongheaded as it may be. But, out of respect to both him and you, I did in fact post his comments above.

Please Dick - just lead. That's all I ask. Many Michiganders are asking as well.