You are your membership - why Rotary owns Allala's views

One rather angry Rotarian in El Paso commented on this blog that the group doesn't have to own Allala's views on the baseball park if they let her in.  He couldn't be more wrong.  They not only own her view, but they are in fact the new bullhorn her stance on El Paso's progress. 

There's a reason why public people - those who are either seeking the public's attention or are in a job or position that draws their attention - go through the process of resigning from every single thing they've ever belonged to after bringing shame upon themselves.  They realize that their actions will have to be defended by the group if they don't resign.  Some persons are actually kicked out before they can quit so that the group can distance themselves from the negative public image brought on by their disgraced member. 

The idea here is that by accepting an individual, you are accepting their whole being.  If a major part of that being is Allala's stance, and tactics used to relate that stance, on the baseball deal - the group welcoming her is validating and promoting her actions and thoughts.  Thye are a part of her persona both public and personal and the Rotary club can't say "well, we like this part of her, but not the other."  There's a reason why they have a membership process - to keep people out whose words and actions the club does not want to own. 

By admitting Allala, they are saying that she is not only right, but they support her efforts.  When you take on a controversial person as a member of your organization, you bless their actions. 

I wonder how Paul Foster feels about their embracing of Allala.  Several Rotary members have reached out to me and let me know that he provides some kind of facility for their meetings and some kind of parking as well.  Someone also told me he was a member.  After what she said about him in public, I have to wonder how he must be feeling about the Rotary's support of her words against him.

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And before you people go on telling me that I'm full of shit, let me tell you from experience how I'm right. 

What groups was I a member of in El Paso?  NONE.  Nobody wanted me.  Lots of people privately came to me for advice or other information for their groups, but they all admitted that they couldn't have David K in their club, on their board of directors or even my name in their email box.  My views expressed on this blog make it impossible for a group to embrace anything other than my public persona created on this blog.  It doesn't matter if it's a fishing club or the local democratic party - nobody wants to own my thoughts and feelings.

Is that fair?  You bet it is.  Don't feel a bit sorry for me.  I knew that opening my mouth meant closing a lot of doors.  I had to choose which direction I wanted to take because once you grab the microphone and express your opinion - it's done and you can't go back.  

If I had a dime for every person in El Paso who ends an email to me with, "you know I like you very much, but please do not tell anyone I talk to you" I'd still be poor, but I'd have a lot of dimes.  I don't mind it, though.  I'm the creator of my own burden.  Hell, it has burdened my wife who has lost jobs and friends over things I've written or said.  For that, I'm sorry, but she makes a choice to stay with me and in that same breath owns everything I do and say as a matter of loving me.  I appreciate that greatly.  Anybody will stand next to you when it's easy.  It's the people who are still there when it's hard who are special. 

 

Comments

[Gossip Girl]

As Groucho would say; " I refuse to belong to any group that would have me as a member"!

[Rotten Peppers]

David; Rotary does not own her views any more than she owns Rotary. My spouse belongs to that Rotary chapter as do several friends, some of who are very "vocal" like you and are sometimes on opposite sides of issues. It is a service organization and not a political one, though political people sometimes join and are even invited to speak there.

Since I have only recently begun to read your blog, I have no idea what your past offenses were to the local Powers That Be but I take your point that organizations which depend on broad membership and private funding usually don't want to rock the boat by seeming to endorse radical views when they admit a member or officer who espouses such views. Apparently, Rotary is more broad-minded here and Allala is the proof.

Jesus, do people hate each other in this town, though!

[David K]

Rotary is making a stand on the baseball park by having her. I think I explain why pretty concisely above.

It's a do-nothing group to begin with, now they've got Allala calling the shots around there. It would have been better to fold than to bow to her.

[ex-rotarian]

Rotten Peppers: It is one thing to take a stand and to be vocal, it is entirely another to make public defamitory and infamatory remarks. Rotary supports civil discourse but by their very tenets, they oppose libelous remarks made in public that were meant to gain the attention of the media. She does not belong in any Rotary club.
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

[Lslsls]

Ex-rotarian: EXACTLY! There is no way she can stand up at the beginning of every meeting and truly recite this pledge because she cannot abide by it! There's lots of tape of her villifying citizens of this community, elected officials and city staff. Her accusations were false, deceitful and just plain mean.

But hey - Rotary Club has a process and they went through it - so be it. Those that object can always attend a Rotary meeting someplace else in El Paso instead of the Downtown club - there are several to choose from.

The fun part will be finding out who sits at the table with her.

[M Morales]

She is corrupt.
she puts herself out there as the savior of the poor, disabled, the elderly but it is a scam. she will rip off all of those she says she represents. Good luck to the Rotary. I agree with DK. You are gonna get what you deserve.