Page 4 Thursday, January 22, 2004 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION

The ABCDICTIONOPQRSTDECEPTIONUVWXYZ Scotch Plains – Fanwood Letters to the Editor The Westfield Leader TIMES — Established 1890 — — Established 1959— Westfield’s Rob Ratner Counters DD The Official Newspaper of the Town of Westfield Official Newspaper of the Borough of Fanwood DDTM and the Township of Scotch Plains Le Poidevin’s Presidential Politics Diction Deception Member of: Member of: Press Association In her histrionic attempt to slime deny the existence of global warming or New Jersey Press Association • National Newspaper Association Below are four arcane words, each National Newspaper Association Scotch Plains Business & Professional Association MoveOn.org, America’s fastest-growing other scientific realities. They don’t ap- Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce Fanwood Business & Professional Association grassroots political movement, Michelle point extremist ideologues as federal with four definitions – only one is cor- rect. The others are made up. Are you Periodicals – Postage Paid at Westfield, New Jersey Periodicals – Postage Paid at Scotch Plains, New Jersey LePoidevin has again publicly displayed judges, permit business cronies to defile the embarrassing consequences of prat- the environment, squander the Clinton sharp enough to discern this deception of P.O. Box 250 • 251 North Avenue, West P. O. Box 368 • 1906 Bartle Avenue diction? Westfield, N.J. 07091 tling about issues of which she obviously budget surplus or reduce income taxes Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076 hasn’t the slightest knowledge. Yet, this for the wealthiest of the wealthy. If you can guess one correctly – good Tele: (908) 232-4407 • E-mail: [email protected] • Web: www.goleader.com • Fax: (908) 232-0473 brand of rhetorical sputum is, in a way, It’s also unthinkable that a saint would guess. If you get two – well-read indi- vidual. If you get three – word expert. If POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the offices of the newspapers at inevitable. After all, in the absence of any foist a right-wing religious fruitcake like facts that could conceivably justify the John Ashcroft on America as Attorney you get all four – You must have a lot of P. O. Box 250, Westfield, New Jersey 07091 wretched policies of their incompetent General. In his relentless assault upon free time! PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. and un-elected leader, the only weapons the Bill of Rights, Ashcroft has repeat- All words and correct definitions left at the Republicans’ disposal are fren- edly demonstrated why he was so re- come from the board game Diction Michelle Le Poidevin Horace R. Corbin Fred K. Lecomte zied lies and the Pavlovian demonization viled in his home state that his last Deception. A&E and EDUCATION PUBLISHER MARKETING DIRECTOR of Bush’s critics. attempt to attain electoral office resulted Answers to last week’s arcane words. Suzette F. Stalker David B. Corbin Michael L. Bartiromo While I read her poisonous little dia- in his being defeated by a dead man. 1. Reliction – Land left uncovered by COMMUNITY ASSISTANT PUBLISHER & SPORTS MARKETING & PRODUCTION tribe and tried very hard to imagine that This, by the way, was a singularly unique the recession of the sea Lauren S. Pass Karen M. Hinds Robert P. Connelly deposing Mother Teresa, rather than achievement. After all, it took a live, 2. Rectirostral – Having a straight bill ASSIGNMENT EDITOR OFFICE MANAGER MANAGER, BUSINESS SYSTEMS George W. Bush, had been MoveOn.org’s though barely animate, Al Gore to beat or beak goal, I just shivered at her brave and the pants off George W. Bush in 2000. 3. Deave – To confuse or stun with Ben Corbin noble battle with the ungodly hordes of MoveOn.org is composed of ordinary SERVICES noise SUBSCRIPTION PRICE evil Commie scoundrels who would dare Americans who are revolted by the con- 4. Boreen – A lane leading from the One-year – $28 • Two-year – $52 • Three-year – $76 • One-year college (September to May) – $20 defame this saintly woman. Well, that cept of government of, by and for the main road fantasy evaporated just as fast as you can obscenely wealthy and yearn for the say “weapons of mass destruction.” Ms. days when an elected President was not CHURRUS LePoidevin has elected to embark upon a a puppet to be manipulated by 1. A gum resin which oozes from the far more daunting crusade. You see, Halliburton, Enron and other undesir- Indian hemp Given Circumstances Encountered, George W. Bush, the object of her adora- able and rapacious enterprises. Perhaps, 2. An outside staircase tion, is not, has never been, and will in time, Ms. LePoidevin will come to 3. Minced chicken or veal, mixed with never be a saint. recognize that there is nothing on this eggs and bread crumbs A saint is not a gibbering cretin whose earth that can or ever will make George 4. Crude borax Scutari Can Become Moral Compass unfamiliarity with his native language W. Bush any smarter, more ethical or CHUKKER has made him the laughingstock of the less smarmy than he already is. Until 1. Second-class; something of lesser The New Jersey State Legislature just be- chamber and 16 members of the State As- polysyllabic world. A saint would not that time, we are fortunate that there are value tolerate disclosing the identity of a CIA growing organizations like MoveOn.org 2. One of the periods into which a polo gan its 2004-2005 session last week and sembly in simultaneously holding other agent who, in contrast with Bush and his that work to reclaim the presidency and game is divided Assemblyman John Gibson introduced A- elected and appointive public sector posts. draft-evading monthly weekends in the the Constitution for and in the name of 3. A gopher “champagne squadron” of the Texas Air America, Americans and the future. 4. A concealed dungeon with a trap 181, a bill that would prohibit a person from We think this provides our newly elected door at the top National Guard, actually volunteered to Robert Ratner holding more than one elective public of- Senator an opportunity to risk her life for her country. Saints do not LANATE Westfield 1. Discolored or blackened fice simultaneously. One line in the bill be the moral compass on this issue. We are 2. Excessively sweaty stands out: “No member of the Legislature sure he understands that it may not be best Stu Awbrey Was Brilliant With 3. Having a notched, indented or scal- shall hold at the same time another elective for the citizens for him to hold state, county loped edge as certain leaves. Courage and Character in Suffering 4. Covered with a hairy substance or office in this State.” and local positions at the same time. Logi- wool Whoever wrote Stu Awbrey’s com- What an example he and his wife set DICHOSTASIS Sounds simple and worthwhile to us. But, cally, he should relinquish, at minimum, his prehensive obituary in last week’s edi- for how to live life to the fullest! In many 1. Spontaneous subdivision then again, so many other seemingly com- freeholder position. We hope to be able to tion of The Westfield Leader deserves ways, he made the diagnosis a blessing. 2. In biology, the cessation of natural mon sense ideas have sounded worthy to us congratulate him shortly for making the high praise for a stupendous tribute to Stu lived to see his daughter Kimberley selection in generation my friend and former editor. He was not get married and to know his grandchil- 3. State of exaustion; worn out in the past and have gotten nowhere in right move. We know he has it in him be- only one of the most brilliant people I’ve dren. He and Bev took dream vacations. 4. Motionless; inert known, but one of the most courageous But beyond the quality family time, Stu Trenton. The good news is that 80 percent cause he was an Eagle Scout before he in his career and in the way he handled was drawn to help others, which is why of our legislators in Trenton do not hold became a lawyer. Alzheimer’s. He changed my life before he wrote his autobiography and journal multiple, conflicting offices. The bad news His 22nd District colleague, Assembly- the insidious disease changed him. of the disease progression while he still Vitriolic Editorial Tone I’d written features for him when he could. He was unafraid to appear before is that the minority is growing in influence woman Linda Stender, resigned from her was editor of the Westfield Record. When Congress and subject himself to network Does Not Promote and numbers — one in five of them now are position as Union County Freeholder two he became editor of New Jersey Lawyer, television and radio interviews and pub- he took me with him. Because of his lic appearances to inspire others with the Honest Editorial Debate in a perhaps, compromised position, by years ago when she began her Assembly- amazing intellect, early signs of grim diagnosis. I found myself quite bothered by Fred holding multiple, elected offices. women duties in Trenton. If Mr. Scutari Alzheimer’s were hard to spot. By the Oddly enough in the mid-eighties I Rossi’s recent editorial “Of Fairness, time he manifested any symptoms, his had worked for the Alzheimer’s Disease Decency and Civility” in which he makes Let’s hope the eighty percent majority of could take her lead, if assembly bill A-181 intelligence level was still head and Fund of NJ, founded by the Wyckoff his case in support of the and Assembly members not holding were approved, and if Union County Demo- shoulders above almost anyone. family. About the only things we could Domestic Partner Act just enacted. I was It was in 1993 when he’d ask me recommend were daycare facilities for struck not so much by Mr. Rossi’s posi- dual offices give this legislation a serious crat Chair Charlotte DeFilippo approves, something I’d already told him or he’d patients and groups for caregivers to tion, but rather with the vindictive and look. And we hope this might be the start of then Trenton could surely point with the be late for something, which was totally share experiences. There were no effec- vitriolic tone that he used to characterize a new serious discussion in the State Capi- correct compass heading. atypical. Then I got the shocking call, tive medications. the opponents of this provision and simi- which I’ll never forget. In his typical At that time, it was thought that lar ones like it. tol — one that was scuttled late last year, Newark’s top two administrative officers, forthright manner he burst out: “I’ve got Alzheimer’s was not genetic. Now we He describes those against the law as about a variety of needed reforms to ensure Mayor Sharpe James and Deputy Mayor Alzheimer’s, Joan.” He’d just been di- know that’s untrue. The prognosis at that “the more narrow-minded among us.” agnosed by UMDNJ experts. Early de- time was six years maximum lifespan. He then goes on to label them as “neo- that the State House does not slide further. , both serve in the State Senate. tection was completely attributable to Another misnomer was the consensus bigots”. Keep moving down the page New Jersey’s political reputation for serv- Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham just the fact that his wife Beverly, a mental that the earlier you got the disease the and one can read how he brands those in health professional, spotted telltale signs. sooner you died. None of that is true favor of our code of law being one that ing as a feeding trough seems to be at little started his freshman term in the Senate. Stu told me he’d been having fender today. Today there are treatments to supports the sanctity of man/woman risk of dimming. So, one would think that Three other mayors, Surf City’s Leonard benders and he’d miss deadlines, which curb the downward spiral and hope of a marriage as nothing more than: “self- he’d never done before. His doctors told cure on the horizon. appointed experts on how to best pre- our legislators would be keenly aware of Connors, North Bergen’s him to cease driving and quit his job I’m grateful to Stu Awbrey for his serve American society in a permanent this and would be doing everything to avoid and Wood-Ridge’s , are also sen- immediately. He complied. No one told friendship and his tremendous inspira- state where any individual not like them any appearances of potential conflicts of ate freshmen. Senator Stephen Sweeney also him not to ride his bike, which gave him tion. Also I wouldn’t have my job with should be shunned, ignored, closeted the freedom to play tennis at the Westfield The Star-Ledger if my work for him and discriminated against.” interest, possible situations of influence- serves as a Gloucester County Freeholder. Tennis Club. hadn’t opened the door. Not many of us The inflammatory language contin- peddling, ethics problems and the like. Of the 40 members of the State Senate, one As the disease progressed, his motor can have the tremendous impact on oth- ues by labeling the church (lower case skills allowed him to play doubles with ers’ lives as Stu Awbrey packed into his “c” so I take this to mean religion in To be fair, some members of the Legisla- in five hold other elected offices. other top players. He just couldn’t keep 66 years. I’ll never forget him. general?) as “bastions of intolerance.” ture, upon arriving in Trenton, have severed The record of the 80-member Assembly in score or know when to cross to the other Joan Lowell Smith This is presumably because they have side of the net but his good friends filled Westfield the gall to believe that principles are any ties with previous elective posts. But this regard is equally disturbing. Sixteen the gap. more than fungible manifestations of far too many seem to look at things much members hold dual offices, with the most our latest secular fancy to be tweaked to Sexual Harassment Constitutes accommodate what they perceive as so- differently. Unfortunately, it isn’t just lower common second job being mayor, led by cially destructive societal trends. level elected posts that can cause potential Speaker , the Mayor of West Serious Problem in Workplace I am not saying that this law should or problems, but also appointed ones. Just ask New York, of Perth Amboy, should not have been passed. Although I It is appalling that sexual harassment situation, it was taken lightly. As a fe- have my opinion on the matter, that is former Sen. John Bennett, who as Marlboro Brian Rumpf of Little Egg Harbor, John continues to exist in modern society. male, I felt degraded and insulted by the not the point of my letter. What I do wish Township Attorney got himself into a bar- McKeon of West Orange, Mims Hackett of Sexual harassment is defined as unwel- way I was treated by fellow male em- to say is that just as there may be those come sexual advances, requests for ployees. Eventually, I was forced to quit who make sound arguments in its favor, relful of hot water over billing questions Orange and four others. sexual favors, and other verbal or physi- my job. there are also legions of intelligent, de- and ended up losing his Senate post last There are also municipal council mem- cal conduct of a sexual nature. It violates Approximately 15,000 sexual harass- cent and very inclusive-minded indi- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. ment cases are brought to the Equal viduals who can make a legitimate case November. bers, like Joseph Egan of New Brunswick Unfortunately, I was one of the many Employment Opportunity Commission against this law as well. Because of circumstances this fall in pinch- Anthony Chiappone of Bayonne, Upendra victims of sexual harassment in the work- (EECO) each year. Sexual harassment And their views should also be treated place. persists as a major problem in our soci- with respect—not scorn. They might, hitting for former Senator Joseph Suliga, Chivukula of Franklin Township, Joan Voss Studies suggest that anywhere between ety. An anti-harassment policy should for example, bring up the “slippery slope” new State Senator Nicholas Scutari of Lin- of Fort Lee and Donald Tucker of Newark. 40 and 70 percent of women and 10 to 20 be strictly enforced at workplaces as question by asking Mr. Rossi where he den finds himself representing the 22nd Add in those serving simultaneously as percent of men have experienced sexual well as any other public facility. then stands on the legality of bigamy as harassment. I experienced sexual ha- Sexual harassment can disrupt work- his arguments can very easily be used to Legislative district that includes Scotch county Freeholders, such as Michael rassment while working at our local ing environments, as well as cause em- justify the legitimacy and tax-payer sanc- Plains and Fanwood, serving as Union Doherty of Warren County, Peter Eagler of supermarket. ployees emotional and physical stress. I tioning of having multiple wives. What I was working late one Saturday night, only hope that my situation will bring about young co-habitants of the opposite County Freeholder and serving as Munici- Passaic County and Brian Stock of Hudson trying to earn money for a car as well as awareness to others regarding the issue sex? Can they then make a legitimate pal Prosecutor in Linden. He rose to the County, and the State Assembly is well my college education. While I was work- of sexual harassment. claim that this law discriminates against occasion for the sake of the party and se- represented at all levels of government. ing, another employee touched me in an Jennifer Rubino them based on age and/or their lock-and- inappropriate place. When I reported the Westfield key genitalia? cured the state senate position for Legisla- As this legislative session in Trenton has There are other points against, but tive District 22. just begun, we are sure that the public will again that is not the point of this letter. FW Resident States Municipal Court All I wish to say is that both sides can He joins several colleagues in the upper have many reasons to pay attention. make legitimate cases. But when Mr. Rossi uses divisive language and stereo- Must Be Independent of Police typical labeling to describe the opposi- Perhaps I’m showing my age, but I convicted of doing drugs. As long as the tion to this law, he does not effectively was dismayed to hear Fanwood’s new Police Commissioner oversees the court, argue a position, as an editorial page mayor announce on TV that the Fanwood the perception will exist that it is not an should do. Municipal Court now reports to the Po- independent agency; and that persons All he does is provide us with yet lice Commissioner. That’s right, The brought before it may not receive a fair another example of the vitriolic dia- Police Commissioner. trial. logue that has gouged out a political and Some will say, “But that’s okay. This Mayor Mahr should act today to cor- cultural chasm between Left and Right is Fanwood. We know the judge is hon- rect this error by reassigning the court to that continues to widen — as any listener est. We know the police department a council committee that has nothing to of talk radio, peruser of political never fudges. We know the Police Com- do with either public safety or with fi- bestsellers, or internet blogger can con- missioner to be a person of the highest nance (you don’t want people to feel that firm. I would expect The Westfield integrity.” the judge’s function is nothing more Leader to be a force of honest debate in I believe all that to be true. And it than a teller at the supermarket). this community, not a willing promoter doesn’t matter. What does matter is that Reassigning it to recreation and com- of the more base and venal qualities of the court be independent in every sense munity services or to health, education our new political discourse. of the word — not only in fact, but in and welfare would remove any percep- Brad Schaeffer perception. tion that the Fanwood Municipal Court Westfield It must be perceived as honest and is simply another member of the Police independent by the person convicted of Department team. Deadlines drunk driving, by the person convicted Joel Whitaker of running a red light, by the person General News - Friday 4pm Fanwood Weekend Sports - Monday 12pm Classifieds - Tuesday 12pm Writer From Belgium Seeks WWI Ad Reservation - Friday 4pm Ad Submittal - Monday 12pm History Assistance of Flanders Field To Reach Us My name is Patrick Lernout. I live in Henry Williams. He was from Roselle E-Mail - [email protected] Waregem-Belgium about one mile Park. He was killed in action Septem- Phone - (908) 232-4407 from the U.S. Flanders Field military ber 1, 1918. I would appreciate hear- Mail-PO Box 250, Westfield 07091 cemetery. I am interested in the his- ing from anyone who has information PO Box 368, Scotch Plains 07076 tory of World War 1, so this cemetery on or access to his history, addresses, has my special attention. photos, etc. Please email: I started to write a book about the [email protected] or write soldiers buried here and am looking to the address below. Submittal Formats for information about all those men. I Thank you very much in advance. Email Photos & articles think the book would be a great trib- Patrick Lernout Email Ads as pdf files ute for those young Americans, who Please spell & grammar check gave their lives for the freedom of my Drafstraat 15 8790 Waregem For more information, see country. www.goleader.com/help In the cemetery is a soldier called Belgium