Mike Moser "I Say" Published Dec. 20, 2002

Veggie feud raises
proclamation question

Hell hath no fury like broccoli scorned.

Well, that is, unless it is some of the verbally militant members of the state veggie society who are honked off at the governor for not proclaiming a certain month as Vegan Month. Who cares?

About the only thing I dislike more than a veggie casserole is a proclamation signing.

For that matter, does anyone really care about those photo opportunities featuring a local head of city or county government sitting behind a desk, pen in hand and at the ready, proclaiming Bradford Pear Tree Day or some other such nonsense?

They all look alike. Our unscientific research several years ago confirmed to us that very, very few people read the caption under the photo. With pen posed in the politician's hand, the reader already knows what the picture is about.

If our feedback is accurate, I doubt anyone beyond those in the picture care. So we discontinued publishing those about 15 years ago. I know, sometimes one slips through, but I doubt it serves any purpose to the group promoting the proclamation signing.

When a week observance does come along worthy of the public's attention, we encourage the would-be proclaimer to instead do something related to the object of the proclamation. Visit hospice. Pickup trash with the Scouts. Serve as a substitute teacher.

Our readers are sophiscated enough that if they want to know about why it is Volunteer Day, then a story and feature photos will help them understand why it is important to them and society. Someone armed with a pen sitting behind a desk surrounded by a horseshoe of grinning advocates just doesn't relay the message.

Which brings us to the point of this column. I have read the recent brouhahas over Gov. Don Sundquist's respectful decline to declare Vegetarian Month, or Vegan Month, this year.

The governor did proclaim Farmer Appreciation Day and like a bride left at the altar, the state's chief veggie said, "The governor's proclamation is a cholesteorol-laden dagger to the heart of all Tennesseans."
Ouch!

"The governor is more concerned about the cattlemen's bank account than the health of all Tennesseans ... He's definitely on the meat side of things," said Lige Weill, the top veggie promoter.

Frivolous proclamations like this one cheapen the reason for proclaiming a special day to pause and pay tribute.

If we are going to continue to honor everyday events with special proclamations, why don't we just take Jan. 2 and proclaim it All Proclamations Day and get it over with. We could call in the mayor and city council, county executive and all commissioners, school board and superintendent, and anyone else who can and wants to hold a pen, and run on giant picture for the year.

It would be of the same value to our readers.

And I gotta confess, even if we did run proclamation signing photos, I would be inclined to decline one from the veggies' political arm. It is not that I don't like vegetarians. I just don't like veggies.

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Mike Moser is the editor of the Crossville Chronicle. His column is published periodically on Fridays.