Ed -
I hesitate to bring this up. Really, I do. Especially after all of the hard work you have put into this project. A lifetime achievement, this, successfully carried out in but a few short days. Truly remarkable! I mean that in all sincerity and I am certain my colleagues here would agree.
My concern (which I have yet to share because, again, it seems such a small thing in comparison to your great accomplishment) has to do with the very issue of identifying the states from which our members hail. That being central to your accomplishment, you can appreciate my reticence in saying anything that might appear to run counter in any way whatsoever to this remarkable achievement of yours. I am most certain we all agree, “we†being myself and my fellow members of the International Association of Penturners, that your management of what had the potential to be a bureaucratic nightmare was spectacular. To have accomplished it in such a short amount of time was awe-inspiring. Truly awe-inspiring. In fact, these are but some of the words that members have passed among themselves as they have discussed your feat privately, not wanting to embarrass you in this public forum with the praise from which they know you will shrink. But, I digress.
My purpose, in fact, is not to embarrass with you praise. I have too much respect for you and this organization, and my concern really seems so trivial. I mean no disrespect to you with what I am about to say. Really, I do not. Dare I say it? I think you may have just ever so slightly missed the target of what you were attempting to accomplish by having the members identify in their profiles the states in which they reside. And when I say you may have ever so slightly missed the target, I mean that in the gentlest sense. If there were a softer, lesser, kinder way to have said it (as I am certain there must be, but I lack the wherewithal to have found it), I would have done so for it certainly would have been apropos here.
What I am trying to convey is not that your intent was off the mark. Kudos of the highest degree to you for the thought. Rather, it is this concept of “state†that just ever so barely misses. (“Ever so barely†to an infinite exponent.) Of course, I understand that you are from the great state of Wisconsin, and for Wisconsinites, the concept of “state†is meaningful. The same holds true for Texans, Floridians, Ohioans, Arkansans, Utahans, Californians and residents of 39 other states. But, that concept is not necessarily meaningful for residents of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and, for folk like me, residents of Virginia. The reason being, we are not residents of “states.†Rather, WE ARE RESIDENTS OF FREAKIN’ COMMONWEALTHS.
Again, it’s just a small thing. A very small thing. Congratulations on your accomplishment. Well done.
