No loss for Republican Party
Many of you reading this letter will remember Howard Cosell, who made a living as a sportscaster on ABC Monday Night Football. Cosell was also famous for his opinions, which were delivered in wordy, rambling monologues. If Cosell did anything but talk, it was not apparent to the average listener. He was the quintessential complainer and windbag, and during his tirades, I often found myself muttering, “Oh, shut-up, Howard.”
For the past 15 years, since moving back to Western Pennsylvania, I have read numerous letters to the editor written by Mr. Oren Spiegler of Upper St. Clair. Most of his letters have complained about something: the local school board, township commissioners, teachers unions, the Steelers, county government, the NRA, any many, many others. His latest polemic is against the Republican Party, which he proclaims he is quitting without regret. It seems to me that Mr. Spiegler, like Mr. Cosell, believes that merely complaining about something is tantamount to offering a solution. True, it’s not realistic to expect the average citizen to effect change in the Middle East or in Congress (two of the targets in his latest missive), but what is the evidence that Mr. Spiegler has considered using his considerable talents of communication and persuasion at the local level? To my knowledge, he has not run for any elected office, and his name doesn’t appear on the roster of the Community of Upper St. Clair Foundation, a volunteer organization dedicated to “financial support for special programs and projects that are not funded by tax dollars.” Moreover, a few years ago there was a golden opportunity for Mr. Spiegler to put his money where his mouth is, and seek appointment on the local school board. One of the school board’s members passed away unexpectedly, and the district asked citizens to apply to fill the position on a temporary basis. About six of us stepped up to the challenge, but Mr. Spiegler was noticeable by his absence.
The Republican Party has been around for 150 years and I think they will survive the defection of another cantankerous whiner. I also expect that Mr. Spiegler will continue to pontificate in the local press, and prompt me to mutter under my breath, “Oh, shut up, Oren.”
Jon Grogan
Upper St. Clair