Quick Poll

Did you agree with President Obama's decision on Thursday to waive the No Child Left Behind requirements in 10 states, including Georgia?

Blogs

Angela McRae

Tea with friends

Deberah Williams

Everyday Finesse

Lorrie Lynch

Who's News

Published Sunday, October 25, 2009 in Opinion

Carolina City Council bans whining of mayor

The City Council of Indian Trail, N.C., voted to declare the mayor's comments about the council in the town newsletter "whining" and to ban his remarks from further issues of the publication.

And that's not all. They ruled he cannot talk to municipal workers and must get permission to enter City Hall.

Council members made one thing very clear: "They don't allow no whining around there."

I'll admit there are many unusual things I haven't heard of, but I don't recall reading of community leaders who totally muffled the moans of a mayor.

I guess he can talk to his wife -- if she still speaks to him -- or his dog who probably doesn't read the local paper or watch news on television.

Of course, many of us might agree that even a little whining or complaining is too much. Whining is the least appreciated choice of speech and the written word.

All of us see daily instances of people who complain from the mere habit of complaining and often succeed in sowing discontent. Julia Seton said, "We have no more right to put our discordant states of mind into the lives of those around us and rob them of their sunshine and brightness than we have to enter their houses and steal their silver."

I appreciate the words of William Shakespeare: "I will chide no brother in the world but myself, against whom I know the most faults."

This suggests a question. In our life and work, how can we shine if we frequently whine? Even in the midst of all the challenges and difficulties of this day and time, the world would be a happier place if each of us could put our own personal ban on the whine.

Comment On This Story

Times-Herald.com does not necessarily agree with the comments posted below. Responsibility of comments rests solely with the writer. Comments posted in ALL CAPS will be deleted.

Submission of a comment does not guarantee publication. Comments will be posted by a moderator after being scanned for abusive language, relevance, etc. See our Comments FAQ for more details.