Avenue Q, the recent production by the Iola Community Theatre, deftly uses humor and props to prick our consciences. The musical uses some familiar (puppet) faces and because of its adult nature is commonly referred to as Sesame Street for adults.
Catchy musical numbers include Everyones Just a Little Bit Racist and If You Were Gay.
But the song Schadenfreude hits especially close to home these days.
The German word refers to how the personal misfortune of others can make you feel good or at least until your conscience kicks in.
Turns out there are a few in town experiencing it firsthand as they seem to be relishing, if not contributing to, the humiliation of David Toland as he endures lies and slander cast against him in the confirmation process for Kansas Secretary of Commerce.
Front page stories in the Sunday editions of the Wichita Eagle and Kansas City Star state that Iolans are divided over their hometown sons nomination.
While we know thats a gross exaggeration, thats the damaging image of Iola now being broadcast across the state.
As CEO of Thrive Allen County, Toland worked to make our communities healthier and more vibrant, positives that have now been twisted into negatives in an effort to discredit Toland.
Thrives efforts to show women the dangers of smoking while pregnant or the benefits of Pap smears and long-term contraception, are now being manipulated by Kansans for Life as support for abortion because their funding comes, indirectly, from the George Tiller Fund.
Efforts to curb smoking in young adults is viewed not as a health initiative but a revenue killer.
And the success in landing a stand-alone grocery in town, providing shoppers an alternative to Walmart, is being twisted as anti-economic development.
Word is spreading fast that you had better be prepared for substantial pushback if you want to start a business in Iola.
TO REPUBLICANS, Toland is a perceived threat because he is capable, and they fear his potential in the political arena.
So instead of recognizing that this bright young man could be an asset to Kansas, they prefer to drag him, and his family, through the mud in an effort to destroy his career.
No matter how the vote today on Toland ends up, weve all been sullied by the dirty politics involved.
How to turn the page?
Demand truth and decency not only from each other, but of ourselves.
