They are Siamese twins, explosively strolling through life, hand (grenade)-in-hand (grenade).
The only calm Irishmen I have known — except for my father and Mehaul O’Leary — are lying in the cemetery.
No one who was in Council Chambers last Monday night needs to be convinced of that cultural assertion.
Etiquette Takes a Beating
Patrick Moran, whom I have known since shortly after he landed in Culver City, near the turn of the century, showed the wrong side of his charming personality when he stepped to the microphone.
Understandably upset over having his classy and popular youth swim team thrown out of Culver City over allegations lodged against him, Mr. Moran, in a fit of emotion, appeared to wad up the concept of good taste — traditionally acceptable behavior in a public setting — and toss it out the window.
Respect never made an appearance.
What Chance for Sympathy?
In a regrettable performance at the microphone, he grossly, crudely breached the rudimentary rules of etiquette.
He blew his case.
He blew any chance for even arm’s-length sympathy.
He treated Mayor Alan Corlin, the bullseye of his startlingly hostile criticism, as if he were the town drunk.
I may have been in a pub the last time I witnessed a callout like that.
Worthy Assets
I like Mr. Moran.
But his performance two nights ago was south of disappointing. He is smart, witty and colorful— three valued assets that he ignored Monday night instead of using them as weapons of persuasion. It was a public relations disaster.
He was darned lucky his incivil rhetoric and outrageous accusations were aimed at the ever calm, admirably controlled Mr. Corlin.
The mayor treats everyone — even unleashed citizens — with equanimity. His model behavior should be noted every Monday by government students in the audience. Typically, the mayor’s conduct grades out at A-plus.
Only the Innocent Are Convicted?
As you know, every single man in prison is innocent. He was nowhere near the crime scene. He was conspired against by a shadowy group of thugs trained, probably, by O.J.
Mr. Moran contends, not surprisingly, he is innocent of the charges City Hall leveled against him.
For argument’s sake, let us assume that is a reasonable possibility.
To truncate, here are the charges brought against Mr. Moran as justification for the City Council to kill his swim team’s latest contract with the city:
• Repeated uncooperative nature with the city.
• Interactions with the city staff that were perceived as hostile.
• Interactions with city residents, which were perceived as hostile.
• Edge use of the pool is inconsistent with the Agreement.
Dear reader.
If you witnessed any portion of Mr. Moran’s 792-word intensely personalized rage, mainly against the mayor, you could review Accusation No. 1, Accusation No. 2, Accusation No. 3, stroke your chin, reflect, and then conclude there is a reasonable possibility of truthfulness in the charges.
When a person accused of blowing up at, shall we say, inopportune moments, stands before the City Council, blows up, and then denies blowing up at the times cited, he probably has not improved his case.
The strategy of fierily ripping into Mr. Corlin when blowup is the charged infraction does not strike me as good planning.
Where Is the Evidence?
I did not witness any of the instances cited against Mr. Moran by City Hall.
But since City Hall effectively convicted him and no evidence to the contrary has been publicly offered, the only two words I can imagine Mr. Moran hearing are, “Next case.”