When we moved to Raymond 19 years ago, it seemed like the perfect place to live. The people were nice, polite and friendly. Over the years, things seem to have changed. The town is divided, no one seems to care about or respect other people’s opinions, and truth is just an option.
Some people seem to think it is fine to take advantage of each other, have no feelings for their neighbors, and seem to think that their point of view is the only right one. There is no room for compromise.
At the town’s deliberative session, it was more than obvious. There was a citizen’s petition article that did not tell the whole story. The town was court ordered to pay $10,000.00 in legal fees and this citizen was to pay the remaining amount. Are the townspeople really responsible for this person’s legal fees? I think not. We had a selectman and former selectman yelling that citizens’ petitions should not be changed. Another former selectman and current Budget Committee member jumped in front of me while I was at the microphone, and had not been recognized by the moderator. He had no respect for me or the office of the moderator. At this same meeting, I saw another citizen poked in the chest by a board member, and bullying seemed to be the order of the day.
Many people have asked me why I withdrew my amendment to the warrant article, as they thought it was valid. The fact is, I was totally shaken up, physically and emotionally. I was afraid that with the way things were, it would not achieve anything and could have ended in more verbal and physical abuse.
I may be naive, but I was brought up to tell the truth, admit my mistakes, and face the consequences. I was also taught to respect people, and to never take advantage of them. Say I’m old-fashioned, but I think life is better that way.
Diane Janusz
Raymond
