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Column suggestions just fall short
(by Barbara Christian - November 18, 2009)
WINDOW ON MAIN STREET, BY BARBARA CHRISTIAN
Column suggestions just fall short
Over the years, you folks have been kind enough to offer suggestions about what would be good subject for extrapolation in this space.
But to be honest -- and we don't mean to sound ungrateful -- often the subject matter just doesn't make for very good column material, particularly when there is no affinity between the writer and the proposed idea.
For instance, I am an animal lover who hates to see any creature suffer at the hands of any human, whether by neglect, indifference or meanness. Maybe that's why several people asked that we write about the birds that were gunked up by a sticky repellent used by a downtown building owner trying to discourage unwanted critters.
But after stating what a bad idea that was and how the practice should be stopped immediately, there isn't a whole lot more to say on the subject. In fact, the folks who wrote a letter to the editor after witnessing the gunk's cause and effect on birds they helped did a fine job of expressing concern.
There have been other suggestions for columns. A local merchant called one day to ask that we support allowing the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre to build a lighted marquee in front of its River Street playhouse.
We agree. Such an eye-catching addition is just the thing to draw attention to this village gem. See what we mean? Sometimes the subject is best served by brevity. But columns take up a whole lot more space than that.
Recently, this same merchant suggested we declare Chagrin Falls the most beige place on Earth. He explained it's because everyone is painting their storefronts beige. He wanted to see more pink and mint green. We reminded him that this is not Miami Beach, and, besides, our review of the town's exterior decoration found a lot of red and even some powder blue.
Sorry about that, my friend, but, if you are not invested in an idea, it doesn't make much sense to try to defend its validity.
Last week, my office voice mail included two column ideas from readers and for a change. One of them advised us on a subject we should not write about again: Rush Limbaugh. The caller said we were wrong about Rush being a bigoted windbag, when he does not have a race-baiting bone in his body.
But how could we not point out that Mr. Personal Responsibility will not take responsibility for a career-long record of saying irresponsible things which directly led to two of his most public and personal disappointments. Facts are facts. First, he was booted out of his dream job on ESPN for his questionable comments about quarterback Donovan McNabb. Then his partners kicked him to the curb when he became a detriment to their quest for NFL team ownership.
The other message was from a gentleman who, following the Nov. 3 defeat of the Chagrin Falls police station bond issue, proposed a way to save the village money while giving the police department the additional space it needs. He wanted us to say the village could remodel the former post office on West Washington Street after it takes the property by eminent domain from the doctor who operates a clinic there.
We thank him for passing that along. However, we'll let him make that proposal himself. We're not that brave.
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