I’ve recently contacted everyone I know in West Mainland (who I thought might be sympathetic to the Green cause ) to ask for help with my election campaign (if I missed you out, and you want to help, PLEASE get in contact: I especially need leaflet distributors).
The responses have been diverse: often helpful (thank you, you know who you are and I am grateful), occasionally funny, but the ones which have really made me think have been those which have suggested I haven’t got the right type of personality to be a Councillor.
I have received various ‘warnings’ that to be a successful politician at any level, anywhere, you need to be more thick-skinned, persuasive, ambitious, & determined than I am.
Now, I’m not a game player, or at least I try hard not to be, because I prefer to be honest & open. I don’t manipulate; I’m not driven, nor competitive. I don’t like confrontation and I don’t stand up to bullies directly. Basically, I’m the sort of person who’d be ‘fired’ in the first round of ‘The Apprentice’!
I’m also not planning to make a career out of politics and, if I win a seat in May 2017, there’s little in it for me other than a lot of work on behalf of my community.
Better give up now then?
No. Instead, let’s try doing politics the ‘Green’ way: a way of co-operation, of engaging in intelligent, polite discussion to reach compromise & consensus. A way of inclusion, and of achieving solutions that have benefits for everyone, not just a few.
I admit I may not be tough, I may not be loud, & I’m fully aware that there have been many times in my life when I have appeared to be quite vulnerable, but I am tenacious, I try to be courageous, and I absolutely promise to always be the calm voice that speaks up for what I believe is ethical and compassionate – even if mine is the isolated, out-numbered voice.
Let’s try doing ‘politics’ differently: please vote ‘Green’ in May 2017.
Vote for me? 
March 12, 2017 at 11:34 am
Hello Helen
Here’s how I see it………
Some folk have asked why don’t I stand for Council, as, basically, I mouth off so much about things. It’s because I know I don’t have the right temperament for it. I have a temper, which I’ve learnt to control to a large extent, but it’s still there, and I know I’d ‘blow’ if faced with a room full of people with their own agendas instead of an agenda for the people of Orkney. I’ve spent enough time trying to make reason prevail at Union meetings to know that that is so! And that ‘blowing up’ serves no purpose – a calm demeanour and calm voice, is what’s needed, not what friend Steev once descibed as ‘Red-Head-Fire-Belly’. So, I’m not ‘politic’. I have a temper, which it would serve no purpose to un-leash. So, I witter on at people, I write letters etc. We each have our own ways of approaching situations and dealing with things – that’s mine.
But this isn’t about me – so now we come to my comments to you about the possibility that being a Councillor might not be good for your health! It is a fact, that when I envisage Helen, trying her best to stand for what she believes in, in the Council chamber of OIC – that’s an image which causes me concern. But – Helen is a grown woman. At least you are prepared to put your neck on the line and risk it – which I’m not – far too near to the edge as it is, to risk that.
You’re going for this, Helen – you know what you’re doing, you have a good idea of what may be ahead. You’re prepared to do this and feel that you must do this. Good for you.
While I sit at home and witter at people.
In my defence – I really had so many years of those kind of situations, that some years ago I vowed to never let myself be involved in any kind of ‘politics’, committtes etc. again.
Go for it Helen, and may your Gods be with you.
It’s a nasty job, but someone has to do it.
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March 12, 2017 at 8:04 pm
Thanks, Bernie, maybe I will need to start to monitor my blood pressure 😀
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March 13, 2017 at 9:34 am
That’s a good idea!
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