Dear Editor, Thank you so very much for two special features in the Cibola Citizen on Wednesday, April 5.
I especially enjoyed the article by Amerika Rougemont, “Get your Hat, He has Risen!” Thank you for the blessing of Easter she shared.
I also enjoyed the letter from Robert S. Windhorst, “Easter, A Season to Contemplate.” All of his letters are kind and a joy to read.
Sincerely, Lenore G. Cain
How to Spot a Bully
Dear editor, We don't hear as much about school bullying in recent news cycles. I guess news outlets don't have time what with shootings and such. There used to be much blathering about bullying and prevention programs and blah, blah. It's always been a puzzlement to me: how in the world we expect to rid schools of bullying and help our children (not to mention their parents) care for one another when we keep hiring and electing bullies to run things? Before you run off in your mind and start labeling anyone you don't happen to like (politically, or otherwise) a “bully” let's break down bullying characteristics so we know what we're talking about. See if these remind you of anyone you may have heard of or know personally.
Some Bully-spotting tips: The bully is the keeper of “the truth” and therefore decides and declares who is lying.
Based on this “truth” the bully establishes the rules, formally or informally.
Consequences for breaking the bully's rules vary depending on the expressed loyalty of the offender to the bully; this establishes the power to pardon or “forgive” egregious acts as well as the power to attack disloyal “offenders” without mercy.
The bully decides who and what everyone else should be afraid of or offended by and will encourage others to rally against and attack those groups and misrepresent their ideas.
The bully's position and claims are always backed by threat of or actual violence.
The bully will never admit to a mistake or any wrongdoing; if, finally, the bully is backed into a corner and inescapably confronted, the bully will only admit anything with a large dose of blaming, rationalizing, and fear mongering... and, if held to account, the bully will scream “victim” from the highest mountain without a hint of shame or embarrassment.
The bully is incapable of truly listening to anyone.
The bully is a very lonely person who spews unconscious pain all over others... some of whom will follow for similarly unconscious reasons.
The bully is pathetic and a menace, a very difficult combination of attributes for anyone around them to deal with.
The bully operates straight from the fascist-authoritarian playbook and is not at all shy about rewriting or redacting history. The Orange Man Rises... Again Have Fun Kids, Brian Johnson
Grants Keeps it Clean
Dear editor, I just wanted to take a moment and express appreciation to the residents of Grant for doing such a fine job at cleaning up their yards! It makes such a difference when everyone takes the time to keep their properties clean and free of all weeds, grass, branches, trash and rubbish. I would also like to thank the hardworking employees of the City of Grants that work so diligently to keep our City Clean. Luis Lopez and his Streets Department always have big projects going and they make such a difference. Ruben Chacho and the Parks and Maintenance Team mow, trim, and pick up trash constantly and keep our Parks beautiful! Mike Childs and the Pipes Crew keep our water and sewer lines working. They are called out at all times to make sure we have water and running sewer. Mark Teshima and his team keep the Waste Water Treatment Plant running efficiently and at peak performance always.
Public Works Director, Jorge Mendez coordinates all these departments and does a very good job keeping the City moving in the right direction. We must recognize the Projects Manager, Shannon DeVine for keeping many special projects moving forward!
The City of Grants will be having our City Cleanup on the 22nd of April. We would love to have the public turn out in big numbers to fill our roll-offs and Clean the Scene with our City Leaders. Clean cities are safer cities and they will bring economic blessings. Thank you everyone!
Robert S. Windhorst, Code Enforcement Officer, City of Grants