Of strange vibrations

Reverend Jesse Jackson was all over the tabloids for fathering a child with a co-worker. How could he preach morality and engage in an adulterous relationship? With his Billy Goat behavior, I’m convinced he better start selling pencils. Seesussss!

• • • • •

The islands fronting the hotel district area has stirred sentiments for and against it. Businesses with hardly any parking space are the hardest hit. Their concern about the loss of business is legitimate. But then it’s the usual “planning by” eventualities rather than “planning for” the future.

Yet, there’s the intent behind the emplacement of that facility: to turn the area into a friendly walking business center. Still, this doesn’t resolve problematic parking spaces for biz owners and customers. If anything, parking will remain problematic for as long as the entire venue isn’t given major facelifting.

To do anything of significance, the local government must deal with landowners in the acquisiton of properties. It’ll entail a long and uphill battle to acquire the entire area. And it could be a nasty undertaking too. Land was, is and will continue to be an emotional issue especially here.

• • • • •

Our work ethic was once very strong. We were disciplined to work and appreciate the value of a dollar by earning it the old fashion way: hard work!

Too, it used to be that most of us are capable of doing small home repairs. Somehow we’ve lost our marbles and developed an attitude of royal misfits. We now call upon guest workers to do it for us for a fee.

But it is guardedly comforting that we’re coming back to roll up our sleeves to buckle to doing what needs to be done! Eh, locals can do from A-Z so stick to getting rid of long lunches and siestas.

Kick the new potato couch culture and move right back to being an industrious person both at home and in your respective community.

• • • • •

In a rape case, the prosecution used a former rapist as a government witness. On the stand, the defense brought up a pile of convictions, looked at the witness straight in the eye and recited in quick succession:

“Sir, have you been convicted of larceny?”

“Yes!”

“Grand larceny?”

“Yes!”

“Robbery?”

“Yes!”

“Spousal abuse?”

“Yes!”

“Involuntary manslaughter?”

“Yes!”

“DUI?”

“Yes!”

“Rape?”

“What’s that?” Quizzed the stunned witness. Oh, seesuss, sir!

• • • • •

At the heat of a Senate debate a year or so ago, a senator (outside the chamber) related: “JR, let me tell you my honest truth….” A minute later he voted against the very issue I’ve sought support for.

I left the venue disgusted and wary that anyone who says “Let me tell you my honest truth….” is a pathological liar. The statement itself is illogical in that I’ve never heard of an “honest truth”. The truth is the truth is the truth `til dooms day come. Seesussss!

• • • • •

In one vicious debate over revenue in the local coffers, the budget officer related to the House Appriations Committee: “Mr. Chairman, the deficit spending under discussion is only on paper. Real cash flow is okay”. It doesn’t follow, does it? Deficit spending means you’re spending in advance of collection, yeah? Nice try, sir! It sounds reasonable given the accrual accounting system, but still a very fluid assertion, yeah?

Strictly a personal view. John S. DelRosario Jr. is publisher of Saipan Tribune.