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Candidate's 'calm' praised
To the editor;
After nearly 18months of tur-
moil within the administrative
offices of Plymouth Township, a
sense of tranquility is long overdue.
The very knowledgeable, compas-
sionate and caring person to again
bring calmness to Plymouth
Township is trustee candidate
Charles Curmi.
A former Plymouth Township
trustee from 1992-2008 (continuing
service), Charles Curmi has a
series of major accomplishments
while serving the community on
the township board of trustees for
16 years. His future vision for
Plymouth Township is both
extremely transparent and second
to no other trustee candidate
among the current field.
I humbly ask the voting public of
Plymouth Township to return to
township government the person of
Charles Curmi. When elected
Charles Curmi will one again
directly lead the township through
these tough economic times we live
in.
Roger L. Kehrier,
PlymouthTownship
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
6
October 18, 2012
The
Plymouth-Canton
Educational Park Marching Band
haswon yet another championship.
The band students have won so
many awards that many in the com-
munity have become somewhat
jaded to the importance of their
accomplishments. This is a big deal.
Every one of these competitions,
when these teens are rewarded for
their hard work and dedication to
theirmusic, is a very big deal.
There are no shortcuts in these
competitions. Students must prac-
tice their music, playing the same
songs over and over until they are
perfect, repeat their marching rou-
tines, walking miles, sometimes
under the weight of musical instru-
ments that can be pretty burden-
some. They practice when it is 100
degrees and when the snow falls----
the weather has to be pretty
inclement for them to delay or can-
cel a practice, much less ever a per-
formance. They are often so cold
their teeth chatter, making playing
difficult or so hot the threat of heat
exhaustion under their heavy uni-
forms is serious. These are tough,
determined kids.
They are supported, too, by a
dedicated group of parents who fol-
low their performances like rock
groupies, who organize fundraisers
and events throughout the year to
help fund the purchase of supplies
for the band members to ensure the
students continue to believe that
they can be the best if they work
hard.
That's an invaluable lesson for
young people these days, and a con-
cept that many are left without in
our society. These young musicians
learn the benefits of hard work, of
helping others, of belonging to a
group where there is a common
goal, to be the best they can possibly
be. This type of experience in
school, learning to work as a team,
to work hard, to be diligent, teaches
lessons every bit as important as
basic curriculumclasses.
They've done it again, been cho-
sen the regional champions at the
2012 Bands of America Regional
Championship. They defeated
bands from Georgia, Kentucky,
Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and
some from other Michigan schools.
They will now travel to the national
championships in Indianapolis, IN
nextmonth.
When we hear of the budget
deficits and revenue problems fac-
ing our schools and the often spout-
ed plans to cut elective programs,
like art and music, we cannot help
but think of the loss such a measure
would inflict on these young people.
During the past 20 years, the
band students at Plymouth-Canton
have consistently proven that they
take the subliminal messages of
their musical involvement with
Everybody I know is sick of hear-
ing about the vice-presidential
debate.
Everybody. And a lot of them are
getting weary of the entire election
campaign, too. Well, who could
blame us, after all, it seems like it
has gone on forever and a day, and
many of us are just so worn down
with all the rhetoric and manufac-
tured outrage that the election
result will be second to the relief
we feel in just having the campaign
over anddonewith.
But I can't help myself, there are
some things that continue to gnaw
at me on both sides of the political
electrifiedbarbedwire.
OK, here's an instance. Ann
Romney, lovely lady that she is, goes
to a public rally and proclaims, and
I quote accurately here, “That was
the most disgusting thing I ever
saw.” She was referring to the
debate, of course, and the smiling
VicePresident JoeBiden.
Now, I like Ann, I do. She seems
like a really lovely person and she
is obviously a little new to this
whole national campaign business.
But really, “the most disgusting
thing I ever saw?” If that's true,
Ann, you need to get out more, or
read the papers. There are things
far, far more disgusting every day,
oh, say, like the mass graves in
Libya, or how about the burned
ambassador's residence and
embassy in the same country. Far
more disgusting are the tales of
child abuse and starvation right
here in our own country. Children
who go hungry when there is no
school because those “entitlement”
meals are the only food they get,
that's disgusting.
If Joe Biden's grin really is the
most disgusting thing you ever saw,
Ann, I'd invite you to spend a day in
one of the downtown courtrooms in
Detroit. There, you will hear and
see some truly disgusting examples
of life on the other side of the eco-
nomic demographic in which you
obviously spend your time.
Of course, I'm just being face-
tious, here. I am sure Ann has seen
far more disgusting things than Joe
Biden's loopy grin. After all, she's
the mother of five sons. Her com-
ment was a figure of speech used to
inflame theRepublicanmasses and
bolster their indignation at Biden's
conduct. After all, they couldn't
fault himon toomany of the facts or
his answers. Hey, that's politics, I
guess.
But there is one thing I do won-
der about, and that is what every
commentator on every TV news
outlet would be talking about if the
debate had been on radio. I mean,
what if ole Joe
hadn't provided
all those silly
grins and ges-
tures as cannon fodder for the
Republicans? Seriously, I wonder
how it would have sounded without
having to look at those Chiclet teeth
flashing at the Eddie Munster look-
alike who obviously failed math
classes. Seriously. Does Ryan think
we all failed high school math and
government?
And one more tiny little sugges-
tion for Ann, although I think some-
body else must have already
explained this to her. When you are
out on the campaign trail attempt-
ing to gain support from the “mid-
dle class” or the 47 percent of peo-
ple your husband says he can't care
about, it is definitely not a good
idea to wear a $3,000 designer
dress. Really, it isn't. Although, I
have to admit, you did look terrific
in it. Red is great color for you.
And my final thought about the
debate (bet you thought it would
never happen, right?) is that there
reallywas one clearwinner.
Last week, Judge Laura Mack of the 29th District Court
surprisedus.
For those who may not have seen our edition last week,
Mack paid for a quarter-page advertisement in which she
detailed her candidate preferences for several judicial
offices.
Wow, was our reaction.
We have long understood that the races for the Michigan
Supreme Court and the Wayne County Circuit Court are mis-
understood, overlooked and under publicized. These people
will make life-altering decisions for those who stand before
them and will, in the Supreme Court, have the ability to
change the very course of lives. These are serious and heavy
responsibilities and the choices offered voters are too often
overlooked. Too many voters enter the polls without any real
information about these state and county judicial positions.
They quite often vote by a name that may be familiar or
recalling lawn signs they have seen.
What they most often don't know is a candidate's voting
record, judicial rulings and tendencies. The familiar name
they vote for may be a candidate embroiled in issues of
wrongdoing or questionable behavior.
We cannot praise Mack's effort to attempt to help educate
voters about these judicial positions enough. The judicial
canons of ethics prevent judges fromever becoming involved
in or endorsing any non-judicial candidates for any office.
They are prohibited from being politically active, which is
probably a good thing. They do not want to be politically
involved with any candidate, successful or otherwise, who
may then come before themin court for a decision.
One of the best judges we know, C. Charles Bokos, who for-
merly served on the bench in the Westland court, used to say
that it was a little disingenuous for judges to have to cam-
paign for elected offices, but then be expected to remove
themselves from any other politics. They had to be, as he
said, in the political world but not of the political world,
which is walking a very thin line with a treacherously sharp
edge. Mack has always held steadfastly to those ethics and
kept herself as far from the political arena in her community
as possible.
Being married to a Wayne County Probate Court judge,
however, along with running her own court, gives her a
unique insight into the judicial politics that take place at the
county and state levels. Her efforts to help her community
make an advised choice in selecting judges far removed from
their frames of reference is admirable and a sign of her com-
mitment to serve her community in the best and most effec-
tiveway she can.
She isn't asking others to agree with her, isn't touting her
own credentials or opinions. She simply said in this adver-
tisement she paid for personally, that she is often asked about
candidates, and that while prohibited from other activity, she
is allowed to endorse candidates seeking to become or
remain judges. “I thought you might appreciate knowing my
choices in the upcoming election,” she said in the advertise-
ment.
Anyone who doesn't realize the value of her opinion,
understand the level of her commitment to her community
and take note of her choices, whether they agree with her or
not, should reevaluate their thinking.
Thismay seema small thing, but we believe it is indicative
of the character, the dedication and the professional ethics
thatMack exhibits inher courtroomandher personal life.
We thinkWayne is lucky tohaveher.
Students
worthy
of honors
And my final thought about the debate
(bet you thought it would never happen, right?)
is that there really was one clear winner.
”
She isn't asking others
agree with her, isn't touting
her own credentials or opinions.
”
Campaign advice from a 47 percenter
Involvement demonstrates judge’s effort to help
See
Band,
page 7
See
Advice,
page 7
Letters