The Man Who Would Be King

I am going to give Fred Navarro a little advice about how to start to save his job. This is just a small observation but incredibly important. Last night at the OC Human Relations Workshop, we were divided into groups to talk about what we just heard. We heard four authentic human beings talk about their faiths in an attempt to remind us that we all are more alike than different. Point well taken right?

So, we divided into about four groups and talked to individual speakers and shared our stories and thoughts on how we could begin to solve the bigotry and fear in our community. As I looked around the room everyone looked very engaged and talking and listening intently to one another.

Not Fred! Fred Navarro spent the entire time roaming the room. He looked very serious and watched everyone with a penetrating look …frankly of suspicion. He was like a guard at the border. Which attendee was going to step out of line? There were no smiles, no warmth, and certainly no obvious interest in the subject at hand.

Kirk Baurmeister spoke at the beginning and spoke at the end. He is a warm generous guy and has consistently spoken at all these meetings (to remind you, these meeting’s genesis was the “Swastika Party” with the NMUSD kids in attendance). Not Fred. Fred never talks (and sometimes doesn’t even sign his name, but that’s a whole other story). He is the Whoopi Goldberg of Newport Mesa ….a ghost, and apparently an angry one. His behavior is confounding.

Here’s my advice Fred. Be more like your mentor Rob Barbot, who would have sat right down and contributed to those conversations. So, you might want to consider doing the same. Instead of being the “Peripatetic Roamer”, sit down, share your thoughts, share your experiences with everyone else. Let people know who you are….be a person… a real one, speak, and more importantly listen.

Notes:

You are not a king.

You are not guarding your fiefdom.

You are just a guy who desperately needs to listen and regain some respect.

Just Sayin..

Sandy Asper