Local politics

This is going to be another post about local business, so the rest of the internet can just sit this one out for a bit.

I was webmaster of the Madison Japan Association for about 3 years. I didn’t do all that much; my main accomplishment was redesigning the website to be standards-compliant. It bugged the hell out of me that the old site was made with Frontpage, making it nearly impossible for anyone without that fetid pile of shit software to maintain it. I wouldn’t say I’ve been all that helpful to the organization; in fact I’ve often been guilty of ignoring emails, postponing translations, skipping meetings, and other miscellaneous irresponsibilities.

I’m graduating in a few weeks, both from school and from the MJA. Partly I’m no longer interested in half-assing the website, especially since there are more capable hands involved now. But a large part of it is also politics. There has been some ridiculous, idiotic bickering going on among the officers lately that I am beyond tired of. I can’t help but be reminded of a Henry Kissinger quote: “University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.” I won’t go into details, but there was mud-slinging from all sides involved over an extremely trivial issue, and I think everyone lost sight of what the MJA is about: Holding fun events, and publishing a helpful newsletter. It is not about creating ones own little fiefdom of loyal subjects; it is not about crusading for equality and justice. It is a handful of people coming together in their free time to make Madison a little less monotonous.

I remember the old MJA. We didn’t have arguments about who should or should not be allowed to do what. We didn’t have voting and vetoes and impeachments. We barely even had rules; the only rule that I remember was common sense. We did things a little haphazardly, but it worked, and everyone was happy with it. I am sad to see the old MJA go.

I hope the new MJA officers can keep the bickering amongst themselves and not let it spoil the other members’ good time. The MJA is a mainstay of the Japanese community in Madison, and I urge the officers not to waste all their good will on irrelevant politics.