Fascism - here in Century Village?

Stewart Richland

Hello Mr. and Mrs. Century Village and all our residents around the globe.

  

Century Village: Dave Israel’s version of George Orwell’s 1984!

The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns, as it were, instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish squirting out ink.  (George Orwell)

It is now common knowledge that a campaign banner that was attached to the synagogue on Haverhill Road has been taken down.  This action had been instigated by a complaint made by the UCO president  Dave Israel.  Phyllis and I met with the supervisor of the Palm Beach County code enforcement agency to discuss their action.

They told us that a person named Peyton Israel had filled the complaint and wanted code enforcement to remove the sign because the complainant felt it was an “eye sore!”   During our discussion we were told that the generic term used to identify banners that conveyed messages were called, “Snipe Signs.”  This type of advertising is found all over Palm Beach County.  Since these signs are posted without  a permit, they will be removed.  However, this agency is so understaffed that under normal conditions, the banner  most probably would have remained untouched for months.  However, they informed us that  a formal complaint had been made, with a copy to our County Commissioner. the banner had to be taken down post haste.  We complied with their request one hour later.

This event is so similar to the concerns about Captain Queeg (Humphrey Bogart), who launches his famous inquiry about fruit, (who stole the straw berries) alarming Keefer (Fred MacMurray) and others,  about  the erratic behavior, of the captain in  The Caine Mutiny, 1954

Now the porridge begins to thicken.  Our commander-in-chief, clicking the keys of his computer to explain away his actions because he had  been  unmasked as the “snipe” in the complaint, attempts to justify his actions. 

According to William Safier’s Political dictionary a “Snipe” is a noun that used to describe a candidate’s poster slapped up on”free space” such as fences, walls and poles.  He also tells us that this splendid word has often been overlooked in political etymology.

• A “snipe” also is (a) a bird with a long thin beak that lives in wet areas (b) a contemptible person (c) to shoot at someone from a hidden place (d) to criticize someone or something in a harsh or unfair way.

The above is a multiple choice question – who are we describing here?

     .  Shakespeare’s use of the word snipe is:  A snipe is a horrible person or someone who disgusts you. Its where the word sniper comes from because in Othello,  Iago was a back stabber and snipers shoot you from where you cant see them or know its coming. I need to translate the Shakespearean insult  "thou brazen, eye-offending, egg-shell".   Anyone know?????????????

Lets now examine Dave Israel’s  interpretation of Orwell.s News Speak and his motivation for wanting Phyllis Richland’s campaign sign taken down.

When Fascism takes over, the first thing the leader does is shut down the opposition press.  Next,  the “leader” replaces all modes of public communication with his own propaganda machine.  Opposition rallies,  advertising  (posters and banners) are verboten.  Verbal responses at Assembly meetings are met with insults from the podium,  slamming down the gavel,  or having the speaker removed by the “brown shirt, or black shirts,” (take your pick).

In every “isms” (Communism, Fascism, Totalitarianism)  must control all forms of communication.  That is what has happened here in Century Village.  First step was to end the time honored tradition of having political rallies at the club house and pool areas.  This arbitrary action was taken by our president to minimize the impact that opposition candidates would have on his re-election. 

Fascism demands that all opposition to the leader to be eliminated or at least minimized.  The way the nominations committee is approaching the up-coming March 2016 election is a perfect example of how this philosophy works.  First, you have the committee begin its work as close to the election date so that the time allotted for presentation of candidates is minimal.   Incompetent scheduling to say the least!   We were told that lots of “things” were going on in the club house,  and we had to “take what we could get.”  You wait until the last minute to request space in the club house to hold a forum for the candidates to be introduced to the voting delegates.  Since the club house theater is in constant use the amount of time scheduled for this  event results in limiting candidate debate or rebuttals.  In addition,  this shrinks the allotted time for candidates who are running for the Executive Board to a two minute time slot.  These candidates will hold office for two years and the nominations committee  are only allotting them two minutes to speak.  No wonder the competence of the current Board is highly suspect.

When it was proposed to distribute handbills at the club house to inform residents of the upcoming election and candidates forum, our President said, “there will be blow-back by the card players, they don’t want to be harassed with this stuff pushed in their face.” This is a recreational facility no political campaigning.

You schedule  publication of candidate biographies to be printed in the UCO Reporter as close to election time so that voters do not have time to digest the information.  To add insult to injury, the UCO Reporter fired their photographers and now are under the gun to find someone who will do this for them or even better have candidates submit their own pictures.  It was suggested that some photos were in their files and will be resurrected for this purpose. 

We were told that Channel 63 was camera ready. Fine!  No schedule has been prepared for candidate interviews, when it will be aired and at what time. Again planning by the seat of their pants.

At a recent nominations committee meeting, I expressed my concern about the limited venues available to candidates use here in the Village.  I said that I was putting up posters on Association bulletin boards.  Barbara Cornish replied that that she had seen some of the posters and thought it was a good idea.  My problem however, is that many mean-spirited people take the posters down.  During this discourse, our President, sat quietly, and did not say a word.  I assumed by his silence on this issue, putting posters up on Association bulletin boards was “OK.”

Now I read on his blog: “And by the way, stop polluting our Association bulletin boards.”   By the way, referring to pollution, have you read some of Dave Israel’s blog postings and Reporter articles? All I can say in reply is: “KEEP CALM AND SNIPER ON!

All of this explains why the Century Village Messenger was started and why it is the only forum left in our Village where truth is considered a very precious commodity.

When you are dealing with this type of Fascist oppression you sometimes have to close your eyes, count to ten, remind yourself that his time in office is  close to an end, and just smile at the dumb-ass and walk away.

All I have left to say to Dave Israel is clearly defined in the cartoon below.