The Reluctant School Board President

Boy, do I hate it when I somehow wind up on the APS School Board and have to decide stuff. Such seems to be the sentiment of "Reluctant Board President" Paula Maes, who hemmed, hawked, dodged, rope-a-doped, duck and dodged her way through the issue of APS police carrying guns during school hours for as long as possible. Finally pinned down to her responsibilities, Maes said "I am not an advocate of guns", then voted for guns.

Personally, I too support the idea of school cops with guns a bit reluctantly. I'd want to explore some creative thinking on how issuing guns could be tied to both gun awareness and control. Make it a learning experience in a school and all that. But more than anything I want political leaders like Ms. Maes to do what they're supposed to do, decide stuff and stick by their convictions. Maes gives the impression of a small, bullied 6th grader cautiously tip-toeing through School Board Middle School. Not inspiring leadership, and not good modeling for what to do with bullies for that matter.

When Don Knotts does it in a movie, it's funny. When it's your School Board President, it's just kinda pathetic.

P.S.: It strikes me that making a Don Knotts reference possibly loses much of my gigantic Burque Babble audience, as they are too young to know about the Buster Keaton of the 60s/70s. That's sad.