Yolanda Begum Looks to Karma As Campaign Signs Destroyed

 

by Jim Barton on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 1:24pm

The typical campaign sign, made out of corrugated plastic, covered with a thin plastic veneer, then stapled to a wooden stick is vulnerable. In the darkness of the night, supporters of an opposing campaign can lift them out of the ground and toss them into the bed of a pickup in seconds. One candidate for commissioner last spring lost so many signs, he vowed to run without them next time. He will probably rethink that, but it underscores his frustration.

Last night Yolanda Begum sent me a picture of one of her campaign signs, mutilated by a knife or cutter. Actually, the picture looks more ominous than simply removing the sign as it could be viewed as a veiled threat. Ms. Begum sent a short note along with the picture:

"People do bad things - and when you do, the world often revisits the wrong upon them. The trick is never to let this kind of thing get to you - and you have to find the path to peace. The way to that path is to make a lesson from the wrongdoing. In this case, the lesson is that while others may seek to do such wrongs, I know that my volunteers and staff never would do this to others and that we work towards a democratic and kind method of campaigning. A way in line with the forefathers of this country - that we work to put issues before the voters. This action, while ugly in its bad sportsmanship, is on the shoulders of those who did this. We will move on."

While a candidate can set the tone for the campaign, is it possible to control the actions of every single supporter or hanger-on? Of course not! Malicious mischief occurs every night in Brownsville, most of it not associated with politics. I'm not sure any of us can take any solace in karma or as Ms. Begum puts it: "People do bad things - and when you do, the world often revisits the wrong upon them. " My experience in life seems to refute that. Pedophiles, swindlers, even murderers frequently take their crimes with them to the grave. While their body decomposes, the hurt they caused lives on. Some of our own region's most corrupt leaders keep getting re-elected. An afterlife of suffering is a theory that balances things out in people's minds, but there is no evidence for it. As for this nation's founding forefathers, we've glamorized their lives. You probably wouldn't have enjoyed living next door to some of them.
My cynical viewpoint is that the Begum campaign actually benefits from having signs cut or the criticism that she speaks English with a pronounced Spanish accent. People do not like perceived dirty tactics. Any attempt to disqualify Ms. Begum on the basis of her accent does not set well either with an overwhelmingly hispanic population. If I played a leadership role in the Erin Hernandez Garcia campaign, I would discontinue that approach immediately.