The whole world seems to have sighed with relief after the U.S. presidential elections. For many, the election of the former nonprofit community organizer Barack Obama (previous Blue Avocado article) was a cause for celebration. For others, at least the news frenzy and suspense was over. (One Blue Avocado reader commented, "We are discovering how depressed we have been for eight years.") In many community nonprofits, people see hope and despair, ignorance and generosity every day. It’s nice to see the emotional balance tip, at least temporarily, from depression to hope.
Hope itself is a kind of happiness, it is sometimes said, and as Thanksgiving arrives we can be thankful for this kind of happiness, and for the benefits of community. In this issue of Blue Avocado, we visit a Crow Indian Reservation, and track a turkey from egg to table as it goes past all the nonprofits that touch its path along the way. Our popular Ask Rita column tackles the issue of someone drinking at work; the Board Cafe column takes on nonprofit embezzlement, and we sum up the sign-offs used by readers. Kind regards (I think that’s the reader suggestion I liked best), Jan Masaoka
Wanted to give a little balance to your editorial. The last eight years has been the greatest period of growth and prosperity for our organization, and I have heard this from other peer groups. I think a lot depends on what the mission is, how it is run, and where you are located.
It distresses me that you cannot keep political biases out of your newsletters. I have great respect for President Bush. I have met him and he is a decent man, and he is a hopeful man. He did much to further the idea of nonprofit work, which I think you overlook. Sadly, I think you will not find the current president-elect to be the "messiah" you hope for as he turns from his campaign rhetoric to the reality of everyday political life. Those who were not "hopeful," as your newsletter puts it, should look around at the prosperity of our country–even if we are in a recession, our country is blessed with plenty that is unheard of in other parts of the world. What other country could spend such astronomical amounts of money on a presidential election–or blow $2 million on a Chicago election-day celebration?
I appreciate resources such as yours, but not when they are tainted with political bias. That’s what political blogs are for. If your resource has turned into yet another one of those blogs, then count me out.
Your current issue quotes a reader, saying, "We are discovering how depressed we have been for eight years." I am certain that is a true statement. I believe a great number of people, looking for some sort of grant, award, or other hand-out, felt exactly that way about GW Bush, preferring a liberal democrat controlled government. Don’t misunderstand; George Bush has proved to be a big spender and free with taxpayer money, I hold his fiscal policies in no high regard. However, you fail to mention the immediate economic depressing economic effects felt at all financial sectors as soon as polls indicated an Obama win. It appears most people are still selling prior to the end of the calendar year so as to avoid the certain capital gains increases. It is, of course, a bit more complex, but this is nevertheless an accurate depiction.
I clearly understand the "hope" that Obama’s brand of socialism brings. If you look back at the Russia of 1917 and read the writings of Vladamir Lennon, you will find, absent the typical Lennon rant, identical economic philosophies.In fact, so much hope existed in the October Revolution in Russia, that it gave a sense of security to the people who then were massacred to the tune of 26 million at the hands of of Lennon’s heir – Joseph Stalin. These people had no idea what was coming, they only knew that they had been promised equal footing with the rich . . .they actually expected that to happen. What they got instead was an oppressive, totalitarian government run by a man with severe insecurities and ego. Whether you accept the premise or not, these same narcissistic principles are found in your new President.
My point is this: Be careful with your sunshine pump, I think you may find sludge in its bilge.
Respectfully, Tom Fosko
In your "Thanksgiving Day – 11-15-08) editorial, you stated, "It’s nice to see the emotional balance tip, at least temporarily, from depression to hope." Further, you quoted a Blue Avocado reader as saying, "We are discovering how depressed we have been for eight years."I object to this for two reasons. 1) It offends me that you appear to be speaking for a majority of non-profit managers and directors in referring to this 8-year-long state of depression. 2) You are using this Internet forum as a way to further your personal political opinions and objectives.
Let me state unequivocably that you do NOT speak for US. WE are made up of many "I"’s who each have our own perspective on both the conduct and result of our recent presidential election. Furthermore, as the President of a non-profit that historically and currently has received NO Federal taxpayer support, I am MUCH more concerned about the local and state elections as those are much more likley to affect our ability to raise funds for our organization. Our State Assemblyman is our best friend, politically speaking.As the editor of this E-Newsletter, you, of course, are entitled to express YOUR opinion, Jan. My husband gave 20 years of his life to service in the Marine Corps, starting with three tours of duty in Vietnam, to ensure that you and I have that right. When you couch your words so as to appear to be speaking for ME, however, I must object. I, for one, have experienced not one moment of "depression" as the result of our leadership in Washington during Bush’s tour of duty. This is not to say I agree with all the policies and programs Washington has pursued, including those of our Congressional leaders. But, if I used my own position as President of our small, local non-profit to advance my personal politcal agenda, my directors and our volunteers would take me down, not just one peg, but several pegs. It’s just not appropriate, even though it may be my constitutional right to do so. — Nancy Layton, President, Mountain Disaster Preparedness