Monday, December 3, 2007

A FEW BAD APPLES

I am glad to see that my article on "Blame" stirred up some ire on the part of some of my erudite colleagues. After all, probably one value of this means of communcation is to provoke thought, whether it be positive or negative or agreeable. But, I was not really trying to blame any of us for our choices to leave CV for more favorable communities and opportunities elsewhere. What I was trying to point out, was the fact that some of us had unpleasant experiences in Cedar Vale and when we look back and try to understand what happened and why, we seem to be blaming the entire community, when if fact it was only a few bad apples that soured the whole basket.

Professor White had mentioned in earlier documents that some of the school children were unkind and abusive to him, but I contend that these few bad apples were certainly not the majority, and I for one tried to be nice to him because he helped me get through Mr. Sears' algebra course. And, that abusive grade-school gang that we all remember eventually produced upstanding members of the community, and some still live in Cedar Vale.

And Banker Foust remembers the people that condemned him and misunderstood his part in the bank failure. I was long gone from Cedar Vale at that time, but again, I would imagine that there were only a few "bad apples" that produced the stink that affected Phil and Pat. For the most part, the population of the town only remembered the hard-working funny kid that I knew, and the sweet person who was his wife, and knew the truth of the matters.

Mr. Williams felt that the community was unfair to his family when his father had the unfortunate illness that caused the need to sell the dealership. I, again, do not remember that episode in the history of CV, and I may have been gone and my father may have already died at the time, but again I cannot believe that the entire community would have turned on a pillar of the community such as Kale Williams. I remember he and my father were close friends, and my dad would not have tolerated unkindness toward the Williams family. Again, just a few bad apples were responsible for the loss of a valuable family from a community that could not afford to lose them.

When I was in college visiting my mother during the summer of 1959, I was approached by a gentlemen as I was mowing the front yard. He asked if he might speak to me and related a story that made me cry. It seems he was a teacher at CVHS and had been approached by the Superintendent of Schools who requested sex. The teacher was offended and went to the school board and reported the incident. The Supintendent was a man of some stature in the town, and most of the school board members voted to fire the teacher for smearing the name of the great man. He told me, however, that my father believed what he was saying , and even though he could not prevent the firing, he did prevent the reporting of the incident to the State Board of Education which would have ruined his chances of ever teaching again in Kansas. This gentleman could have had a very bad opinion of the town of CV because of a couple of "bad apples", but because of the way it was handled he had nothing but appreciation. The bad apples did not totally ruin his life.

To reiterate my point, we can't comdemn the whole basket because of a few bad apples.

6 comments:

Gary White said...

If you think I've been condemning the whole basket, I guess I haven't been making myself very clear.

Phil Foust said...

Wayne, it is surely agreed that Cedar Vale produced some mighty fine folks and it is sad (but true) that bad apples spring up even in good places.

Though it would be even more enjoyable if more would join us; for me it is relishing to know those who do participate a bit better through this intercourse provided by Gary. It is so refreshing to be able to strengthen my memories through those of others.

Gary, I was just thinking that perhaps you might accidentally know my cousin (Diane) who is married to Don Chalmers. They have car dealerships in Santa Fe. Formerly, they owned similar businesses in Washington (state) and the Tulsa area. It is believed that they are active now only in New Mexico. It would be easy to be envious of both you and them to retire to such a wonderful area. It is thought that they might still represent the Ford line and possibly Cadillac. (Perhaps also a foreign line?)

Don't know if you are a country club member (or if they are) ... but if you run into Diane give her my best wishes. She is a super gal!

Dick Williams said...

As I recall, I drove you home from KU when your dad died. That would have been the spring of 1956 because I only went there one semester. My dad sold the business and moved in 1957 or 1958 so you probably were not aware of it. I learned in high school my dad was an alcoholic which surprised me because I had never seen him take a drink of anything stronger than a coke. I suppose this led to his nervous breakdown and subsequent six month stay at St. Francis hospital in Wichita.

Gary White said...

Phil, I haven't met Don and Diane Chalmers, being relatively new here. They still live in Santa Fe according to the phone directory. If I happen upon them I'll say hello for you.

Unknown said...

Phil and Gary, Since you both would like to encourage more participants, try specifically inviting Reva and Naomi (Bea Howell). They both have interesting things to say, but Naomi especially is hesitant to have everyone reading her comments.

Gary White said...

Wayne, I may have not given Naomi/Bea Howell a specific invite before, but I just emailed her and issued the formal invitation. Reva is already listed as a contributor.

Hey, Reva, if you are listening in to this "party line" let's hear from you. Your friends and neighbors are waiting!