In his book The Joys of Yiddish, Leo Rosten gives the following example of the word “chutzpah” which Merriam-Webster defines as “nerve or gall.” A person on trial who, after murdering his mother and father, begs the judge for mercy because he is an orphan. Of course, this example is fiction.
Last week Representative John Rutherford (R-FL) provided an actual example which should become the new standard. The March 10 edition of the Fernandina Beach News Leader included a picture of our congressman participating in “Read Across America” Day by virtually sharing a book with a third-grade class at Jacksonville’s River City Science Academy. The book he chose was One Vote, Two Vote, I Vote, You Vote, part of the Dr. Seuss Learning Library. NOTE: The book, though authorized by the Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. was written by Barbara Kiefer in the style of Dr. Seuss and published in 2016.
For those unfamiliar with the book, it focuses on the importance of voting as the way society makes choices. From pages 8 and 9:
Voting gives each of us
our very own voice.
It allows a large group
to make ONE single choice.
Can you choose NOT to vote?
Yes, but that’s a sure way
to lose your own voice
and to not have a say.
The item or person
that most of us select
will wind up the winner—
the one we elect.
On page 10 the author selects a presidential election as perhaps the single event in which voting is most important.
The biggest of all of
America’s voting events
chooses our president
and vice president.
It takes more chutzpah than Rosten ever imagined for Rutherford to choose this particular book after voting NAY on H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2021, which according to the bill’s text is designed “to expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and implement other anti-corruption measures for the purpose of fortifying our democracy…”
This was not a one off. His March 3rd vote against H.R. 1 followed his January 6th challenge of the certified electoral votes in six states which resulted in Joe Biden’s election. So, let me suggest that Mr. Rutherford, if he chooses to continue to use this book as a teaching prop, edit page 9 to make it more consistent with his personal philosophy and actions, as follows:
The persons with the most votes
after the results are disclosed
will wind up the winners—
unless they are a Democrat the GOP opposed.
For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP