I observed the above poster displayed outside the County Supervisor’s Board Room in Mariposa many months ago and was so intrigued with the message even took some photographs to remind myself as to the validity of the advertisement.  (Inside the entrance, looking towards the parking lot, on the short wall to the left of the glass doors.)

Unfortunately the positive contributions by people with a mental illness are often over shadowed or lost in the more memorable negative activities and atrocities committed by human beings. Random acts of kindness, compassion or even just unique perspectives/behavior considered “outside the box” are not as news worthy as the shocking, and sadly all too routine, examples of our inhumanity and disregard for each other.   But I digress.

Suffice it to say mental illness,  and/or the physical disabilities or challenges a person might possess are not valid reasons for dismissing any actual or proposed contribution. That is morally wrong, discriminatory, and often illegal.

 

HAVE WE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED THE PROGRAM?

Obviously, recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of some mentally ill people in society does not necessarily suggest canvassing mental hospitals or halfway houses in search of candidates for public service positions in government.  Some might argue examples of legislation leaving Washington DC or Sacramento may already indicate the recruitment process is in full swing.   Lol

The sad truth of it all is that voters often have no concept or indication of what a candidate might do once they take that oath of office and begin their promised service to the public.   An individual can say one thing as a candidate, turn around and do exactly the opposite as an elected public official and there isn’t much the voters can do.

[Recall the example of stuccoing and installing a tile roof on a barn and painting it outlandish colors in defiance of the attorney’s simple recommendation of just painting it red?]

 

My best to you and yours, Lew