This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Jason Hennington and is not the opinion of the Taylor Press.
If you read the front page, you’ll see an article about the often volatile situation involving the Williamson County Emergency Services District and the Avery-Pickett Volunteer Fire Department.
At issue is a petition to have the Avery-Pickett service area annexed by ESD No. 10. If that is approved by voters, the decision potentially could erase the volunteer department, which has been around more than a century.
An ESD is a taxing district, not just a publicsafety response team.
Tempers are flaring, no pun intended.
The main issue is the safety of the people in these areas. The only question should be whether it’s ESD or Avery-Pickett firefighters dousing the flames. However, the situation has turned personal on both sides. I’m not pointing fingers or defending anyone, but there is a lot of “mudslinging” involved.
For example, there are documents being posted about people’s supposed checkered pasts or videos claiming someone needs an exorcist. It’s getting more and more outlandish.
At some point, this stopped being a discussion about response times, saving lives and property, getting more training and equipment, and instead turned into personal attacks.
Yes, I know it’s an election season. I hope there won’t be any mudslinging, subliminal or blatant, between now and May 6, which is Election Day.
I understand people are playing politics, but at what point does a person determine to stop being professional and make it personal? I made a similar point last week in my column about a high school basketball game. Parents went beyond being enthusiastic supporters and made it personal towards the refs and other Taylor fans.
If I’m being honest, this happens too often in the community. When some residents want answers and don’t like what they hear, they tend to insult others or make rash comments.
Maybe folks should grow a thicker skin. This would mean not taking everything personally. I imagine that is easier said than done — especially when someone attacks your integrity.
Again, when does professional turn personal? Is it professional to question someone’s credibility or values? Or is that merely an attempt to provoke an agitated response?
The line can be blurry as to where it happens, but becomes clearer after it happens.
Let me give you a sports example. If a team is winning by six touchdowns at the final two-minute warning, and they milk the clock to reduce the embarrassment of the opposing team. That’s being professional.
If the winning team stops the clock and tries to score again, then it’s personal.
It’s a little easier to see when personal becomes professional – the key word there is little.
I’m going to get off my soapbox now, and start promoting the 10th annual – yes, the 10th – Taylor Press 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament scheduled for July 8-9.
“In our personal and professional lives, we are constantly hit with one adversity after the other, most of which we have no control over. But the four things we have total control over is how we react, how we adapt, how we breathe, and how we take action.”
— Diamond Dallas Page
