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Show Less ax-grinding and more fact finding Selling door to door for a summer in Michigan several years ago provided several interesting experiences. Actually, Ac-tually, besides being threatened, chased, bitten by a dog, cussed at and bodily assaulted, the job wasn't really out ol the ordinary. By Mike Cannon Since that first week things have loosened up a bit. Occasional hellos and several comments such as "off the record, Mike ' or "just between you and me" have left me feeling not quite so rejected. Government officials seem to have some sort of paranoia about reporters and their intentions. That's kind of silly. Look what the press did for Richard Nixon. A relatively obscure, ho-hum president became immortal due to extensive v media coverage. There is actually a bitter-sweet partnership between the press and government. Each is vital in a democratic society where citizens need to be accurately informed and have a voice in policy making. The quality of people in local government roles has, in general, very much impressed me. We have some fine leaders that are striving hard to work for the good of those they represent. Occasional goofs (MX resolutions of all sorts floating to and fro), shouldn't mar the overall picture of good people trying to serve, though such mistakes should be eliminated. The democratic process has been exciting to watch over the past while. Officials should generally be assured that the press is not witch hunting, but trying to function accurately as middlemen mid-dlemen in the vital process of relaying information to the public. Mistakes are frequently made, as if they're not at all government levels. Honest, good people frequent both fields, along with a few unscrupilous characters who draw too much of the attention. So next time I walk into a city council meeting or other such gathering, hopefully several old friends will loosen up a bit. As far as I'm concerned, nobody's out for blood except the Red Cross. Anticipating an exciting summer of sales, I was a bit taken a back by the attitude people demonstrated towards me, a naive kid from Cedar City. Shoot, all 1 wanted was to make a few shekels and have a good time and was instead treated like Reddy Kilowatt at Carl Palmer's birthday party. Following a fairly rugged, though successful summer's work, a friend and I returned to happy valley. Here, I thought, 1 will never be persecuted again. How heavenly. I should have known better! My first assignment for the Record several weeks ago was to cover the Cedar City Council meeting. This would be great because several friends were council members and I knew they would be proud of me and my new role as a reporter. The Council includes my former junior high art teacher, a past high school humanities teacher, my college economics professor, several ecclesiastical ec-clesiastical leaders and casual acquaintences. 1 proudly entered that first meeting. Icy stares, nonverbal threats, looks of "how could you" were directed my way. It was just like selling books all over again. A cold sweat broke out on my knuckles and between my toes. I lelt like Hitler would feel if he stood before the Sanhedrin. It was scary. , ...... L . |