Saturday, November 15, 2008

Writing a Speech

This week there will be a meeting at our shul. One of the subjects that will be discussed is very much relevant to my family. Its about a certain program that is at our shul, that my family helped build. We've been at the "ground breaking"/the inception. On top of that, we've spent tons of hours helping to develop it.

My sister and I volunteered to stuff envelopes. We would sit for a few hours with papers all over the place, stuffing the envelopes. My father and cousin spent like 30 hours putting up fliers around the neighborhood, in the cold. My mother and I used to help cook and set up foods. Before each event that was for the program, my family would come in, and decorate. Before the first pesach seder, my father donated cases of chicken (we didn't even show up to the sederim).

Whatever, I can go on and on about what my family did, but that wouldn't matter, because that is not the point. The point here is, is that the program is just not serving the purpose. Its not working. Period. The money that goes into it, is a complete waste. The brilliant Rabbi and shul presidium have their stupid pride to worry about, so instead of kicking out the leadership of the program (a moron "rabbi") they decided to give him something of his own, so that he can screw it up even more. Brilliant, huh?

So about an hour ago I sat myself down to write a speech for my father. The point of the speech was to show the people of the shul that this new something should never have been given, because the new something was not only a dumb move (the leader of the program destroyed the program, why would he not destroy this), but is also a move which is completely counterproductive to the entire point of why the program was started to begin with.

The fact that I'm a pretty good writer has gotten me the "position" of speech writing in the family. The problem is, is that my parents are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too diplomatic to get anything done, and I have no desire whatsoever to write a speech for them. I feel that if my father goes up and uses the approach he wants to use, he'll never get anything.

There's a time and a place for diplomacy, and then there's recognizing you're dealing with a lying and manipulative Rabbi and brown nose-presidents.

I have no desire to write this speech. And I'm flipping out right now, because even if I were to write a speech for myself, my father would flip out if I were to present it.

Bleh kivud av v'eim.

Bleh.

29 comments:

Jewish Side of Babysitter said...

sounds very vague, so hard to understand the subject of it all.

But I do think your parents are right about this. You have to be nice when you write the speech if you want the other party to listen. If you tell them how much their lying and stuff, then they will just get offended and be upset, so you have to do it in a polite respectful manner.

frumskeptic said...

I dont plan on attackign anyone. I understand the concept of diplomacy and all that. but my parents are suggesting things that are completely irrelevant, and telling me not to put things in that ARE relevant.

Its terribly annoying.

Jewish Side of Babysitter said...

ahh ok, I see what you mean. But then it can be relative, on what's relevant and not. Perhaps if you explain better why you think its relative? but if not, then yea, I can understand it being annoying.

frumskeptic said...

its not explaining. My father is worried people will think its personal.

I think his approach will make him seem apologetic- which he's not-

frumskeptic said...

babysitter- My approach is "aim for the kill", because atleat then SOMETHING may get done.

My parents are aiming to possibly maybe change a few minds.

Thats such a waste of time. I can't even get over it

Anonymous said...

Perhaps find a common medium between? (Sorry, I'm really bad at advice-giving!)

frumskeptic said...

kt- tried that.

They dont wanna listen.

The Candy Man said...

Just tell 'em to write their own darn speech!

Either that or put in a quote by Joyce Carol Oates. It would please you to hear it, and no one else would know who she is.

frumskeptic said...

I do love Joyce Carol Oates.

:-)

Jewish Side of Babysitter said...

FrumSkeptic: Ok, I'm starting to see what you mean.

Maybe you can let them do it their way, see what the result will be, and if it doesn't work, then you can aim for the kill.

Even if they only change a few minds, then maybe those few minds can help them, and they can help work it out. Cause it always helps to have more people on your side.

Anonymous said...

I have no idea how anyone else is even attempting to give you advice on this. This has to be, by far, your most vague post to date! lol.

Jewish Side of Babysitter said...

Jessica: lol, I agree!

Ookamikun said...

I'd say the guy's religious affiliation and ethnicity should've been enough of an indicator of where this would end up.

Mikeinmidwood said...

My advice should probably not be taken into account. Use metaphors to begin with and then aim for the kill. It makes it seem not personal, changes minds, and gets your point through to the stubborn.

Anonymous said...

I wonder what happened with the speech? I am looking for a shoel to attend and I would like to know what shoel this is so that I don't go there. I don't want to end up there.

frumskeptic said...

dad wrote the speech. I refused to read it or even look at it.

Then came the day of the meeeting. He had to practice reciting it (he has an accent), and the awful grammar bothered me. So i ended up editing it. Came out realllllllly good.

Read the post called "such", and you'll see the BS story, and why the program is still on...the idiots at shul beleived that crap.

Though, in January/February we're going to have elections for new presidents, so change may come!

Anonymous said...

I just read your post, the story sounds familiar to a story our rabbi on Brighton beach shoel told us about a month ago, maybe this story circulates throughout the entire community. Which Rabbi told you this B.S.?

frumskeptic said...

if you wanna know more details, feel free to email me

anexperiment@writeme.com

I'd prefer to keep loshon hara between fewer people ;)

Anonymous said...

ok, check your e-mail.I sent it from my family business e-mail address (ABSHOMEIMP1@YAHOO.COM).

Anonymous said...

you are not responding to emails..and I want to go to sleep

frumskeptic said...

responding

Anonymous said...

You must post your emaail on the blog, this information is vital to the community, i have dozens of friends who are pissed with Asher, Posting this will create a storm and we will surely change the leadership as at the next meeting we would all attend and become members right before your next meeting and we will see what will happen, paste the email in the blog I will link it to all my friends and they will link it to their friends in a month I can get at least a hundred people to support you and make a revolution.

Jewish Side of Babysitter said...

wow, I wonder what's going on...
I didn't get to the "such" post yet, I don't think.

Anonymous said...

I am serious, this is a huge problem that must be dealt with accordingly and we must band together and support
each other in an effort to stop this
rabbi and others like him! ...By posting the email you will not be committing Losh an Harah, rather you
will be performing a valuable community service and being a leader of a cause!

Ookamikun said...

Dude, since when did you start being "sensitive". Post it.

Anonymous said...

I am guessing that since Anita is not
responding she must be sleeping ... so I hope I get the Post from her ASAP so that I can link it before Shabatt and starting rounding the masses!

Ookamikun said...

I think she's hiding. ;-)
Since when does she go to sleep before 3AM. ;-)

frumskeptic said...

bkg- I'm specifically not using names. I'm keeping this vague for a purpose. you can forward what you like to whomever you want.

if you don't mind I'd appreciate stories against the "rabbi" and the names of people it happened to.

without names I've got no case.

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