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John Young: There goes the neighborhood

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

At the news, McLennan County Commissioner Ray Meadows was welcoming and accommodating. It’s what one would expect in any community where diversity is valued, a community like America itself.
Meadows said Cindy Sheehan buying land in Crawford was great, in part because it “will keep [war protesters] off the road and keep traffic moving.”
Indeed, he said that Sheehan and Co. are “all just a part of summer now.” That’s the spirit.
As one who values free expression, I’m amazed at the hand-wringing about protesters showing up in Greater Waco. Don’t the hand-wringers know that protesters buy Slurpees in August just like the rest of us? Protests aren’t just good for democracy, they’ve been good for the local economy since George W. Bush became a part of it.
But I understand, also, what Crawford resident Bill Westerfield had to say.
Westerfield, 83, told Associated Press, “I wish she’d stay away. Crawford’s a Republican town, and she’s a dumb Democrat.”
Well, yes. But I have a deeper explanation as to why those who don’t like Sheehan are going to rue the day she bought land here.
Chain of idolatry
It’s just five acres on Highway 317, after all. Just a place for tents and water coolers. But let’s say she likes it so much that she builds a small ranch house, even if she’s only in town for most of August and maybe Thanksgiving, with perpetual war and the protesting of war taking her away from her beloved Crawford much of the time. Surely you sense the problem we have on our hands.
Problem? She becomes “one of our own.”
That’s a big ‘un. For once Cindy becomes “one of us,” is pronounced the “local” girl, we’ll have to treat her differently. In fact, we’ll have to stop criticizing her entirely.
If there’s any rule I appreciate since Bush bought land here, with occasional visits to his acreage including long stretches in August, it’s that you don’t criticize the local guy.
Even if he steps into the political spotlight expecting to be criticized and second-guessed. Even if his every decision bears on your future and that of your children and grandchildren. You holster what you might say, because he’s “one of us.”
That’s the problem now that Cindy is about to become one of us. I understand Mr. Westerfield’s concern.
If they heed to the bylaws of political provincialism, having Cindy Sheehan as a resident celebrity protester surely will handcuff those who might want to snipe at her.
And based on the laws of commercialism, pretty soon we’ll be driving around Waco and seeing little black window stickers with the big Roman capital “C” on them, C for Cindy, with the words, “The patriot” underneath them.
We’ll enter Crawford past a big sign, “Home of Cindy Sheehan,” with a picture of her smiling, an American flag in the background. Everybody will be rationalizing and justifying what Cindy says and does, because, well, she’s one of us — the local girl, even if she’s only here in August with her entourage.
Toadying politicians will name a stretch of highway after her — Cindy Sheehan Parkway — since she’s the local political cause made good. If you believe in your heart that what she stands for is wrong, well, put a cork in it.
For those rare people brave enough to actually express a view that differs with Cindy Sheehan’s, they’ll need to find a borrow ditch nearby to state their case. But don’t stand on the road.
The whole atmosphere could be pretty oppressive for them. They won’t feel like part of the community dialogue. They’ll be outcasts — the “kind” we don’t want here. “Crawford: Love her or leave it.”
Groupthink isn’t right, I know. I’d fight it. But I’ve seen it before, and it can be a hard current against which to swim.

John Young’s column appears Thursday, Sunday and occasionally Tuesday. E—mail: jyoung@wacotrib.com.

source: http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/opinion/stories/2006/08/01/08012006wacyoung.html