At a recent Easton town council meeting, President Frank Gunsallus brought his personal conservative culture wars to our council chambers. Under the guise of fiscal responsibility, President Gunsallus spun a wild web of right-wing conspiracies about an important, valued population of our community. Gunsallus and Councilmember David Montgomery blindly and ignorantly attempted to ban Easton’s support for ideological events, specifically naming the Pride Festival as their example of an effort “antithetical to America” and “a socialist endeavor.”
The insanity of their bigoted worldviews aside, these two comedically forgot that an unintended casualty of their vitriolic policy would be the cessation of Easton’s participation/support in other events, such as St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas and even the Waterfowl Festival, certainly an event promoting an important ideology of Shore values. They showed the ugly hand of prejudice and hate in our town council chambers.
Expecting a flood of Letters to the Editor highlighting this conduct, we felt an amateur attempt to satirize a deeply unfunny and concerning incident would be a refreshing way to offer a perspective to the conversation. You will soon learn we are not professional poets. If you’re interested in reviewing some profound poems discussing the importance of diversity and social justice, explore pieces by Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Audre Lorde, and Joy Harjo.
In Easton, where irony’s rife,
A politician declared with some strife,
“No funds for events ideological,
That’s simply way too illogical!”
Yet the hypocrisy cuts like a knife.
For Easton’s own coffers already pour,
Into festivals lining up at the door,
Waterfowl, St. Paddy’s, and Christmas cheer,
All funded without a hint of fear,
But diversity events they abhor.
With feathers and green hats they’re fine,
And jolly old Saint Nick’s wine,
But celebrations of diversity,
Cause such a controversy,
A tale of community decline.
While they preach about fiscal prudence,
Their selective funding is evidence,
That ideology they’ll support,
As long as it’s of their own sort,
Oh, the irony is sheer magnificence.
Patrick Firth – Chair – Talbot County Democratic Party)
Phil Jackson – Vice Chair, Talbot County Democratic Party)
Keith Alan Watts says
There once was a man named Gunsallas,
Who “knows” what’s best for “all of ‘us.’”
With supremacist views,
Hate’s now Easton news,
A hole dug for himself with this farce.
Frances Smith says
I Thought that was written by Keisha Haythe. Love the algorithm that dumps comments that aren’t right wing
Bishop Joel Marcus Johnson says
Raised a Jewish-Episcopalian, I did not hesitate to join several of my high school Jewish classmates in erecting a Channukah bush, a dear little Scotch pine with a tin foil Star of David atop, and blue and white crepe paper streamers. We set it in a corner near the twelve-foot, high wattage Christmas conifer in the center hall. My Episcopalian mother supplied the tree standard, our name taped on it so as to retrieve our investment after the holiday. The latter gesture brought us to the attention to the dean of students the next morning, who invited us to meet with him. He explained the tree had been removed as there is no such thing as a Channukah bush. He further explained to my colleagues that he’d called the rabbi and smoothed things over, and then excused them. For my satisfaction, he then called my pastor, the dean of the cathedral, who gave the educator a substantial portion of his mind. As if on cue from the cathedral, an angry call from my mother followed. ….. I’ve cleared the following proposal with no one. I ask the Town Council to consider funding a combined Christmas-Channukah Parade as the two festivals neatly coincide this year. Many of us in the religious community have striven valiantly over the years for interfaith pride. Easton is not known for negativity. Let’s be for something, rather than against!
Julie Lowe says
I was taken aback at that clip of the meeting as well. Seems to be a super slippery slope to me, and one that takes us backward in time and relevance. Why can’t we all just get along and respect one another’s differences?
Larry Pifer says
WOW Your poetry is right on. There should be no room in our great town of Easton for the type of shameless bigotry put forth by Mr Gunsallus and Mr Montgomery!!
Darrell parsons says
Thank you for speaking out.
Hal De Bona says
Dear Frank, I can’t fathom what kind of antiquated culture existed at any companies you founded or ran. I hope long memories prevail if and when you decide to run for any public office.
David Montgomery says
This letter is pure gaslighting. It is a fantastic misrepresentation of the action Council President Gunsallus proposed, which was to stop the town purchasing and displaying Pride flags. I agreed with that one statement, and added that if the town did display Pride banners, I would want us also to display banners celebrating the Catholic designation of June as the month of the Sacred Heart. I thought my point was that the Town should do neither.
I believe that several of us, including RevDavis and me, stated that we were not in favor of banning events by private organizations on the grounds that were ideological or religious. We even mentioned not wanting to lose St Patrick’s Day in such a sweeping and potentially unconstitutional ban. The claim we said anything else in this meeting is totally false.
I did, and do, object to the Pride Festival on different grounds. I see it as a threat to public health and welfare, because it glorifies sex change when increasing scientific evidence shows just how harmful sex change drugs and surgery have been for most who are treated.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Perhaps the Pope can intervene. That is a Catholic that
a human who loves humanity can respect.
He gets it. Others…not so much. Poor souls.
David Montgomery says
My favorite commentator. Try reading Infinite Dignity 107 for the Popes view: “It follows that any sex-change intervention, as a rule, risks threatening the unique dignity the person has received from the moment of conception.“
Carol Voyles says
No intervention here. Just recognition and acceptance.
Richard Marks says
While my views differ from yours, David, I certainly acknowledge you disagreed with Frank’s approach and his proposal being not well thought through. People do need to listen better. That said, we need to better understand the economic “burden” if, in fact, there is one. It is my understanding that all organizations purchase their own banners and the town hangs them on the light poles. It would be most unfortunate, imo, if from this discussion evolves a plan to ask organizations for reimbursement or charge upfront for this community service which so brightens the downtown district.
Patrick Firth says
In the 350 word piece we put together, we aimed to lambast Frank Gunsallas for his asinine policy proposal and both Gunsallas and Montgomery for their backwards and bigoted worldviews. We listened fine, but there’s not much more to learn from an individual who has regularly attacked and attempted to shut out an entire community of our friends and neighbors. But, again, we fall for their trap of this devolving into a debate over sound fiscal policy. Give hate no home here. We must address it when we see it.
Richard Marks says
Patrick,
I am not discounting or ignoring the proposal was a bigoted ploy disguised as an economic query, but regardless we should still understand the rules and costs of how our money is spent.
Richard
Eva M. Smorzaniuk MD says
Very sad. It makes me wonder what it is that these men fear. Having attended the festival myself I can vouch that it has been a wonderful family friendly event. It was great to see people who are often marginalized in our community feel free to be out in public without approbation. As well put by the apostle Matthew “judge not lest ye be judged”.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Perhaps the Pope can intervene. He is a human that respects humanity.
Others? Not so much. It is all political, conservative theater and dogma.
Keith Alan Watts says
“Auntie Em: ‘Almira Gulch, just because you own half the county doesn’t mean that you have the power to run the rest of us.’
‘For 23 years, I’ve been dying to tell you what I thought of you, and now . . . well, being a Christian woman, I can’t say it!’”
Trusting His Holiness will not rescind my personal Papal Blessing . . . .
Lyn Banghart says
Thank you for this, Patrick! I’m sad that this is occurring. We seem to be going backwards….
Glenn Baker says
I’ve enjoyed my visits to Provincetown but I don’t want to live there. Too many people thinking the same way.