very true Laurie, I apologize for reading this wrong. It has been a very
trying few days, and I have been without internet service for several days,
and apparently did not read the entire conversation. I am glad that you
took the time to explain this to me. As you can see, we feel very strongly
about our cemeteries down here in Southern Indiana, and I can tend to get on
my soapbox. Have a good morning.
Helen
----- Original Message -----
From: "Laurie Morris" <lmorris(a)wt.net>
To: <INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 6:23 AM
Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Time to try to make a change
Sorry, if my apparently poor attempt at tongue-in-cheek ticked you
off,
Helen. If you re-read the excerpt from Jack's original email that I
referenced, you'll see I was referring to those property owners who
"neither
care for, nor respect" the cemeteries on their land. Obviously,
many
landholders don't fall into that category, and those people would be a
boon
to any process that would hopefully bring about access legislation.
The golden rule means the same thing in Texas that it does in Indiana.
However, it's been my experience that some people don't respond to that,
no
matter how gentle or well-intentioned one might be in applying it.
If
they
don't see how something benefits them, they aren't
interested. I'm all
for
educating and reasoning with, but there will always be some with
whom
neither will work. Perhaps with those a little "psychology" would be more
effective.
I'm a property owner myself and have strong feelings about trespassers.
To
some degree I can understand where the owners that Donna and Bud
encountered
are coming from (although the vandalism charge was way out in left
field).
However, I didn't buy a piece of land with a cemetery on it, and if I did
I
would definitely allow access to it, and maintain it properly out of
respect
to the dead buried there. And I would certainly welcome any help
from a
well-intentioned community group who offer their sweat free of charge. It
sounds as if this particular instance may be worked out amicably--I
certainly hope so. But what about the next time it happens? If everyone
behaved according to the golden rule, none of these conversations would be
taking place--it is the people that Jack was referring to that,
unfortunately, make legislation a needed thing. Just my opinion.
Laurie Morris
mailto: lmorris(a)wt.net
----- Original Message -----
From: stonehugger <stonehugger(a)insightbb.com>
To: <INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 9:01 PM
Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Time to try to make a change
> I'm sorry, but what these people think IS important. We need to educate
> them sometimes, and change what they think by giving them information,
but
> ultimately, what these people think will make the difference.
We can
not
> change the laws by ourselves, it takes a larger section of the
public
than
> just us. I don't think we are tricking them and
"flattering their petty
> egos". We are treating them as human beings and with respect. Do you
have
> a different meaning of the golden rule where you come from? If we are
> denied access to a cemetery, and it is not threatened with destruction,
we
> still know where it is. We may not be able to document it every
way we
would
> like to, but we still have to accept the wishes of the landowner. If we
> treat him/her with respect, and try a gentle approach, we can usually
get
> them to understand the reasoning behind what we want to do. We
have
only
> been denied access to a couple of cemeteries here, we know they
are not
> threatened, and we know eventually, they will change hands and hopefully
the
> new owner will be more willing to work with us. We have more than
enough
> cemeteries in our county that need work, we can concentrate our
efforts
> elsewhere until the time is right to approach the owner again.
> Helen Wildermuth
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Laurie Morris" <lmorris(a)wt.net>
> To: <INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com>
> Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 8:34 PM
> Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Time to try to make a change
>
>
> > > Why does anyone
> > > want to put a tight claim on a cemetery which they neither care for,
nor
> > > respect.
> >
> > Just because they can. (Unfortunately.) There are plenty of people
in
> the
> > world who like throwing around whatever weight they think they have,
> however
> > small. I agree with your approach, Jack--if you're gonna outsmart
these
> > folks, you have to out-think them, which means going back
to the old
> adage,
> > "you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Flatter
their
> > petty egos by bringing them on board and making them think
their input
is
> > important. They have to think that any legislation passed is going to
be
> in
> > their best interests. Schmooz 'em out the wazoo til you get what you
> > want. Go, Hoosiers!
> >
> > Sounds like war to me.
> >
> > Laurie Morris
> > mailto: lmorris(a)wt.net
> >
> >
> >
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> > Cemeteries Restoration Project only.
> >
>
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