Speaking For Those Who Suffer In Silence, and The Most Vulnerable

Novelist Paul Steven Stone assumes that his position is correct, any disagreement is wrong. Let me guess. He is a liberal. Especially troubling regarding zoning issues where there is a long history of why an ordinance was created, he prohibits disagreement. But also he uses the phrase, "those who suffer and fret in silence."

In the second article by a city councilor a similar phrase appears. Previously public officials, and some still do, speak on behalf of "the most vulnerable." That makes politicians feel good about themselves. It appears that they articulate what "the most vulnerable" cannot. Namely, their interests, needs and desires. It is curious that so many politicians and human services corporate officials are found speaking for "the most vulnerable." Why are they not allowed and encouraged to speak for themselves? Often "the most vulnerable" are women, black Americans and homosexuals, all members of wealthy, powerful, elite victim groups. Seldom do really vulnerable persons e.g., persons accused of mental illness and homeless persons, get heard in public forums. There are always politicians, human services professionals, and journalists speaking for them. 


But here "those who suffer and fret in silence" is an update of the phrase previously pervasive, "the silent majority." It is like politicians and journalists who say, "most people" favor this or that. How do they know what most people think? They just say it and hope it's true.

In the second article below, Cambridge City Councilor Nadeem Mazen reports his efforts trying to help a person with visa difficulties at the American Embassy in Pakistan. The report shows many curious aspects of the effort. Does the City Council have jurisdiction over visas? The U.S. Congress does. Would it be better if the person sought help there from his U.S. Rep.? 

But in this case Mazen is acting as a public official when he has no reason to do so. He is doing a person a favor while acting on the taxpayer dime. Is that proper use of taxpayer funds? Secondly he openly reveals how many times he called back to the Embassy in Islamabad trying to speak to a person instead of going through the web site as their menu directed. Some people report that doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome is an example of insanity. Does that apply to the events described? 

But more is apparent here. Having difficulties with visas has a long history in all countries. Bureaucracies are awful when seeking special actions. Why not use the web site, or suggest that the person contact his U.S. Rep. or U.S. Senator? Mazen seems to think that he deserves special treatment by the Embassy because he's a public official. Isn't that an outrageous problem in the United States? Public officials see themselves as above the laws. There are so many scandals in Washington DC that journalists have forgotten most of them. Yet he expects the Embassy in Pakistan to jump to help him. Does this show common sense? 

[From article]
a few diehard believers who loudly articulate the concerns of those who suffer and fret in silence.
[. . .]
If you care about the future of Cambridge or the future of our neighborhoods, or just believe you have an obligation to leave Cambridge a better city than when you found it, you need to raise your voice and lift your pen. You need to tell the City Council to vote for, to accept, and to use — like a mighty hammer — the power put in their hands if they enact the Carlone Petition.

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20140912/NEWS/140918828

Guest column: Bury my heart at Sullivan Courthouse
By Paul Steven Stone
Posted Sep. 12, 2014 @ 12:01 pm
CAMBRIDGE Chronicle

* * *

[From article]
The Consular Section does not accept phone inquiries about non-immigrant or immigrant visa cases or policies. Inquiries are only accepted through our website. You can access our website at islamabad.usembassy.gov. Thank you."
[. . .]
"I’ve called a few times. You have to understand that, like you, I work in government. I was just trying — click!"
Dan is laughing riotously and I’m dumbfounded. The message bounces around my imagination and the recording morphs in my mind.
[. . .]
I’m Egyptian-American; I’ve been shaken down for baqsheesh by government officials.
[. . .]
One time in Uzbekistan, a police officer stopped my group because we had foreign plates. He gestured as if to rip up our registration and wouldn’t let us go until we bribed him
[. . .]
For me, the scariest thing is trying to wrap my head around foreign policy in the post-Bush era.
[. . .]
if we can’t get consular services right and can’t treat new citizens with basic human dignity, we can be fairly sure that higher level foreign policy directives are off kilter. And what does this mean for Cambridge? Just another helpful reminder that a whole set of residents in our city may be suffering quietly, in ways many of us will never be subject to

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20140911/NEWS/140918834
Column: Hearts and minds — Redeeming America’s promise overseas

By Nadeem Mazen
Cambridge City Councilor
Posted Sep. 11, 2014 @ 4:18 pm
CAMBRIDGE Chronicle