Article Contributed on: 4/13/2009 12:55:29 PM
Mr.
McCoy I would like to issue a public apology.
Several months ago I was approached via private email by fellow Longmont citizen and prolific blogger
Chris Rodriguez; not a solicitation mind you, a friendly one, that pointed to a recent exchange he had with you at a public event. After looking into on my own I decided to chide you for not being more polite to Mr. Rodriguez who was at the time working on a non-partisan get out the vote campaign.
I apologize Mr. McCoy. Initially I accused you of being rude and I defended Mr. Rodriguez and his intentions at the time. I can see now, after having several communications with him, you exercised amazing restraint. I am in no way condoning violence.
I only feel the need to state that because my history with Mr. Rodriguez leads me to believe he may misconstrue, as he is prone to do, what I am about to write. A lesser man would have punched Mr. Rodriguez in the face. For the way he has mocked you and inferred your every decision was part of a larger conspiracy to ruin Longmont. And for the personal nature of his attacks, mocking your speech patterns even.
I did not do enough research before criticizing you so publicly. I did not empathize. I should have as I have experienced first hand the vile comments and perversions of my own opinions and statements by Mr. Rodriguez; as anyone who has visited yourhub and read our blogs is aware. I should have recognized that if I was approached in person in a similar manner by Mr. Rodriguez I would be forced to also ignore his empty gesture of good will. If you had shaken his hand, I am certain your grip would have been criticized. Your palms too sweaty, your stance not sufficient in respect.
With Mr. Rodriguez, there is no win-win situation. What he fails to consider is his comments on his public blogs are rather hateful, some might say childish in that respect. He recently mocked my unemployment by suggesting that the world needs ditch diggers too. This is not considered a civilized way to communicate. He is quite frankly, naive to think that he could say what he does on his blog and expect a different result in person.
When you are aware a neighbor is bad mouthing you behind your back, that is, unless you constantly check into his blog, it would be foolish to give them more ammunition. I know that if I met Mr. Rodriguez on the street and he extended his hand I would not accept it. Not after he has so publicly misrepresented me, mocked me in such a callous way and seems to have no humility regarding his hateful comments.
When I was a child, I foolishly and cruelly mocked my friends on the school bus. I didn't understand I was hurting their feelings. I was making people laugh. I was also not aware that much of that laughter was directed at me for being so rude.
I lost those friends, but I learned my lesson. Not only was I wrong to humiliate my friends for a little attention but I learned too that words have consequences.
I don't believe I have witnessed this lesson learned in Mr. Rodriguez' criticisms over the years. If anything he seems oblivious that his words on line could effect an actual experience. Why he expected your hand when he offered his own exhibits this. I'm sure many things flashed through your mind when you saw someone who had so publicly vilified you. If I were in that position, I too would have my share of flashes. How my words were twisted, explanations denied, turns of phrase completely misconstrued in an absurd manner and any attempts to further clarify viewed as lies. He is always right, you will always be wrong.
Accepting his hand would be offering a civilized gesture to someone who has been anything but. It has been my own personal experience with him that if he is challenged, he is not above differing forms of harassment. Though he has made himself a public figure, he does not respond to any public criticism well. I'm sure to see his comments shortly. I will not receive his emails any longer because I was forced to block them. I am doing him a service by not offering them up to the public. Not only because it is the civil thing to do, but for fear of legal reprisal.
Mr. McCoy please accept my apology for chiding you. I feel foolish and used. I did believe at the time you were acting uncivilly and stood up for Mr. Rodriguez. I even accepted an offer to provide content for his first podcast as the Longmont Advocate. I was assured that there was nothing he held personally against me, but I would be a fool to believe that now. Just as you would have been a fool to accept his handshake offer. Thank you for your service to the community.