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"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled..." |
Plainfield Dem chair Jerry Green may have done the Board of Ed campaign of candidates Rutherford-Jeffers-Bellamy an incalculable favor this past Saturday.
When I wrote on Friday of Danny Dunn's unseemly attack on the team at least week's Council meeting (see here), the attack seemed inspired by Jerry, who is promoting his own slate of candidates (Horn-Ortega-Center).
I suggested the Rutherford team would have revenge of sorts by holding its second Fish Fry brunch at a Kenyon Avenue home not far from Dunn's house.
Seems that someone -- Jerry Green? -- thinking to play a trick, produced a flyer purporting to be from the Rutherford team inviting recipients to the Fish Fry. The flyer was then distributed to residents of the Park Hotel and the YMCA's homeless shelter.
Now, it is no secret that Jerry despises the services rendered by these two Plainfield institutions to those on whom Fortune has not smiled as well she has on Jerry himself. He has ranted and raved for years on wanting to get rid of these residents.
So, from Jerry's point of view, this would be an appropriate dirty trick -- one in which he could snicker up his sleeve. After all, who in their right mind would think of inviting Parkies and the homeless to take part in the school board elections?
On the contrary, those who chose to attend after the ruse was explained to them were greeted warmly. They were not looked down upon or despised for their misfortunes.
Rutherford may also have known something which eludes Jerry Green (and not just the human decency issue) -- many of these people are registered and do vote (Jerry should check the voter rolls for 123 West 7th Street in the Third Ward.)
I was reminded of a rabbi's parable, perfectly appropriate for the situation --
He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them, “When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him, and he who invited both of you would come and tell you, ‘Make room for this person.’ Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”Perhaps that blessing will also include the results of the November 4 election?
He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you make a dinner or a supper, don’t call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps they might also return the favor, and pay you back. But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind; and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.” [Luke 14:7-14, World English Bible.]
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