Some people warned me that if I spoke my mind about unions there would be repercussions.  They also warned me that no matter how much I supported our North Miami Beach Police Department, in word and deed, there would be some officers who can’t separate themselves from the union and attack me anyway.  Apparently, in the minds of some people there is no place for opinions other than their own.  While I have no problem with people who tell me they disagree with me and give examples of why they believe I’m wrong, as long as they want to engage in intelligent discussion I’m always open to new ideas.  Several have written to me and offered food for thought.  While you cannot change actual facts, opinions are not written in stone and can be changed based on experience and circumstance.  Mine included.

One cop calling himself “nmbblue,” however, sent in a really vicious comment and he was in full attack mode.  He wrote:

“your hypocracy is laughable and sad.  your husband is making a mint from his union negotiated pension isnt he?  why dont you attack his union and leave ours alone hypocrit.  your no friend of ours so please dont try amd make yourself out to be one.  also concerned creole speaking residents brought that issue to light not the union.  maybe your the racist here because obviously you have no concern for our creole speaking community.  we need those creole speaking officers.  not only for the fact that they speak creole but for the fact that they are all good officers.  please dont speak about matters that you are completely ignorant of.  you just make a fool of yourself.  just a thought from one “friend” to another.”

I have to tell you this was so disturbing that I tossed and turned all night long.  I really must respond with some questions and comments for “nmbblue.”  First of all, I just have to ask…  Did they really let you graduate high school with such atrocious spelling?  This is just another testament to the sad state of education nowadays.  In my day, spelling counted.  Punctuation, too!  And, in my most humble opinion, capitalization is a wonderful thing.  Back then, we didn’t even have all these marvelous tools such as “spell check.”  Miraculously, we still learned to spell!

“Nmbblue’s” essay reminds me of the ones my children wrote when they were in the fifth or sixth grade.  They would bring me their homework assignments to review, and I the first thing I did was check for proper spelling and grammar.  Once my kids made those corrections, then I’d be able to review for content.  I just can’t get past misspelled words.  They irk me.  My children are now grown, both sons having graduated from top notch universities and are now enjoying successful professional careers.  My daughter is still in college.  In fact, “nmbblue,” your salary probably equals nearly the combined salaries of both my sons but, amazingly, they can spell!

Now that I got that off my chest, I must remark at how weird it is that the first thing “nmbblue” does is bring my husband into a discussion that never included him.  What’s the matter, “nmbblue?”  Don’t you think the “little woman” is entitled to an opinion all by her lonesome?  Isn’t that a little sexist of you?  For the record, my husband is not “making a mint,” but I’m sure that wasn’t your point.  You just wanted to shut me up and send me back to the kitchen for another beer.  Well, sorry, I’m just not one who could be kept barefoot and pregnant.  That just burns you, doesn’t it?  I bet it really tans your hide even more that I know how to use commas.  The very nerve of me!

Aside from being a sexist, “nmbblue” wants to try to paint me as a racist and further states that I “have no concern for our creole [sic] speaking community.”  Again, Creole is a proper noun and must always be capitalized!  But, I digress.  This is very interesting because, unlike you I’m sure, I live here in North Miami Beach, which has a rather large Haitian community.  And, unlike yours I’m sure, my children went to North Miami Beach Senior High School, where they were part of an extremely small white minority in an overwhelmingly black student population.  Yes, we are SUCH “racists!”  I find it even more interesting that so many white people succumbed to the “white flight” several years ago and hauled ass to the very segregated and gated suburban communities of west Broward, while the rest of us stayed right here in good old North Miami Beach.  Yeah, I’d say that is just so “racist” of us!  But, what I find really, really interesting is that most of us can spell.

When you say “your no friend of ours,” I must say it gets my back up because so many people these days erroneously use the word “your,” which is a possessive pronoun, in place of “you’re,” which is clearly a contraction for “you are.”  This is precisely why grammar and punctuation, apparently dying art forms, are even more important than ever.

Lastly, “nmbblue” admonishes me, “please dont speak about matters that you are completely ignorant of,” which is really offensive because you still haven’t used any punctuation and everyone knows you should never end a sentence with a preposition.  Seriously, what do you have against apostrophes?  And yet, you accuse me of being ignorant?  Really?

I’m one of those people who are just happy to have a job in these disastrous economic times.  I realize that I was only able to complete two years of college due to financial reasons, and I probably only make about a third of nmbblue’s salary.  But, ironically, I can spell.  Go figure.

Yes, people warned me that there would be cops who would be upset with me for trying to treat them as human beings separate and apart from their agenda-laden union.  There are residents out there, and I’m not going to name names – you know who they are, who criticize the police department every chance they get.  I have never been one of them.  I have stated on many occasions that I support our police officers, but apparently that’s not good enough for “nmbblue.”  I realize that emotions are running high and that many of the police officers are concerned about losing their jobs.  I get that. I also get that being an outspoken member of the community I’m an easy target for their angst.  The irony is that they are attacking the very people who would be the first to speak out on their behalf.  It is the very attitude of cops like “nmbblue” that can turn supporters against them by biting the hand that feeds them.  Literally.

But, just like the three or four cops who spew disgusting and vile diatribes on the leoaffairs website (which I do NOT visit, but I’ve been sent excerpts), I have to remind myself that a couple of bad apples do not spoil the entire orchard.  And, yes, I am paraphrasing an old adage, but spouting cliches is just so, well, cliche.

While you may believe that my “hypocracy is sad and laughable,” I will tell you that nothing could be further than the truth.  I know I am not a hypocrite.  I don’t even have any hypocrisy, either.  As an aside, here’s an editorial tip:  When typing, if you see those little red squiggly lines under a word, you’re misspelling it.  Of course, no spell check tool invented thus far will correct your misuse of the words “your” and “you’re.”  This takes an actual working knowledge of proper grammar.  I can’t help you with that.

If you feel a burning desire to send me hate mail and nasty comments, go right ahead.  If you want to state that I’m making a fool of myself, knock yourself out.  I’m a big girl.  I can take it.  And, I won’t even run to hubby to protect me.  Hurl your epithets if it makes you feel better.  But, for the sake of propriety and the good of humanity, please use “spell check” first.  It just might help keep you from looking like the fool.

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”