Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:27:10 -0400
From: Lesley Landis
Subject: On asking questions
Q: “Why do you ask so many questions?”
A: “Because that’s how I learn things.”
This exchange is from a story that is told often in our family. It occurred when one of us was young, but questioning and learning doesn’t stop at childhood. So I’m perplexed when people who ask questions are ridiculed and held up as bad examples.
My husband, Randy Voller, chair of the local Democratic Party, asked School Board Chair David Hamm, about the Board of Education’s nomination of the Board of Commissioners for an award. It was a reasonable question because the platforms of the Democrats and Republicans differ on so many issues surrounding public education, charter schools, vouchers, funding cuts, and a host of other issues that are important to the community. Mr. Hamm answered him in detail and Randy thanked him for the information (that part was left out of the notes that were posted). So what’s the big deal? Why all the drama from The Conservative Voice in today’s Chatlist?
I expect all of us and our leaders to ask questions, to gather information and to seek to better understand points of view so we can think critically and be more effective in our decision-making. That’s how we move forward and isn’t that a good thing?
Lesley Landis