The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-06-02
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official when asked question that
he prefers not to answer.
Maybe the right answer would
reveal inattention to duty, or
worse.
It's an answer that is next to in
furiating.
"No comment. What an answer
for an official to offer regarding
public business.
The remark seems to have gain
ed in use during the war, like lot
of other insane phrases, some of
which were developed by lazy
minds and some of which seem to
have been produced out of minds
that preferred to be secretive and
furtive.
"No comment. 1t makes a lot
of people wish they could land a
husky kick in the exact spot at
which kicks are supposed to be
aimed.
"No COMMENT" You dope, do
you think you were elected to be a
king? Or maybe not elected; maybe
just appointed.
I've read the same kind of elu-
sive and evasive comments from
union officials, too. And | think |
xnow just what memberships ought
20 do about it, when the questions
ire legitimate questions about
which folks have a right to know.
Another one of those phrases
hat grew out of the war was "na-
ional leveP', along with "local
evel' and "state level'', as if popu-
alton groups and geographic areas
rev up in the air, one above the
ther.
The English language affords op-
for accurate description
f just about everything, without
uch twistings and perversions.
It's all much like the sloppy use
f the word directive" which we
card so often during the war and
Jhich still goes in too many places.
fostly it was a word used to make
appear that an order, backed by
roper force, was being issued,
yhen as matter of fact there was
o force at all. So, generally it was
less than an order and
little more than a request. But it
lade a lot of functionaries feel
ig!
x !. i
But, back to the mo comment"
usiness.
There are too many officials,
,hether elected or appointed, who
hink that, once they are in office,
hey are slightly above the people
nd can go around with fairly
Ugh and independent attitude.
hose are the guys who, when ask
d, "who stole the apples, are
retty sure to answer mo COM
nent".
Usually the "no comment" busi-
Iess is intended to cover up, or to
.llow time and opportunity to
hange something, or to think up
really good answer-or one that
t least sounds good.
| think that in all our public life
here is no more reprehensible and
answer than "no COM
nent".
Watch this "no comment" ans
yer, as you read your papers.
"When asked about a rumored
hake-up in the police department,
o and so said, mo comment.p
X !. !.
In other words, the bum wouldn't
ak!
If every official knew that every
uch answer would lose him a hum
red votes next time, he'd think
vice, at least, before uttering that
nanity.
Yes he surely would!
No comment, huh? Mister, who
ave you the right to clam up
bout public business ? I'll bet
QUILL say, "no comment.
Reporters ought to get pretty
ought with guys whose best
nswer is mo comment" and voters
lght to get even rougher.
Of course there are some officials
no haven't brains enough to make
good answer and so, mo COM
lent" becomes a sort of escape
rom a showing of ignorance.
But that's no real excuse, either.
We know some of them are stupid,
ut they're supposed not to be
tupid.
Let's get tough about this "no
business. Let's get it
topped.
Let's get plenty tough. Let's |
how that about public business the |
ublic is boss. When they yap "no
let's reply, "get outa
ere!"
ripu n i pclia HaWlS Harold |