<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">I am trying to live a long and useful life. Engagement with LACRALO is debilitating.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">I am not communicant - I gave it up since I was 14 years old - so cannot depend on a 'good' God for my salvation. So for objective, I do what I must by avoiding vexations to my spirit.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">But the bullshit - I hope the word translates well to Spanish - is just too much and I must break my silence. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">In case the translation gets mangled, here is what I mean by bullshit: </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><div class="" style="color:rgb(119,119,119);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px"><div class="" style="display:inline-block;font-size:16px;padding:6px 8px">Definitions of <span class="" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);direction:ltr">bullshit</span></div><div class="" style="float:right"></div></div><div class="" style="padding:0px 8px;color:rgb(119,119,119);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px"><div class="" style="font-style:italic">noun</div><div class="" style="margin-left:34px;margin-right:20px;direction:ltr"><div class="" style="margin-bottom:12px"><div class="" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">stupid or untrue talk or writing; nonsense.</div></div></div><div class="" style="font-style:italic">verb</div><div class="" style="margin-left:34px;margin-right:20px;direction:ltr"><div class="" style="margin-bottom:12px"><div class="" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">talk nonsense to (someone), typically to be misleading or deceptive.</div><div class="" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br></div><div class="" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br></div></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">It is misleading, even dishonest, to allege misconduct by At-Large staff in this instance and I will tell you why.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">Jacqueline has already pithily outlined the classic case but I will repeat it here for effect. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">In parts of the world where rules for [s]elections are established and where this exercise of democracy is routine, a candidate satisfying all other criteria and nominated for a position unopposed is duly [s]elected. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">But this is LACRALO where our collective understanding of the process is, well, let me be generous and say uneven, at best. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">We simply don't understand that you cannot disavow or subvert the nomination portion of the process without calling the entire [s]election process into question. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">So, we walk extra miles to give those who don't understand time to come along, slowly. That is the basis for the consensus poll - notice it is a poll - and why we in the Caribbean bothered to go along with that in the first place! </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">As At-Large staff would have told all of you, this is not the same for other RALOs. They have matured in both thought and action.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">Why does this bother me, you ask? Because it gets old and tiresome after trying for so long. And since it vexes my spirit, I run the real risk of reducing my life and its quality the longer I caucus here.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">Now, to the hypocrites. I ask your forgiveness for not being a good Christian. I simply detest hypocrisy. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">In the selection for a NomCom candidate this year, our esteemed colleague from Brazil and incumbent, Sylvia Leite Herlein, was nominated unopposed. I enthusiastically supported her candidacy, not just only for the fact she had performed in the post. But I truly believe that a single 1-year term does not give the region the benefit of her service and expertise nor allow the region to build the influence we need in very important ICANN councils.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">I personally discouraged - yes, discouraged - other nominations to muddy the path to her re-selection. We went along with Jacqueline Morris being de-selected after a single year. Maybe that was the wrong thing to do then.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">With Sylvia's unopposed [s]election, no consensus poll took place. And the At-Large staff notified the world in the same way as they did for Lance Hinds.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">It was not that we in the Caribbean did not notice. Rather, it is because we have never felt any such poll was necessary in the first place.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">Contrast then to now. There was not a whimper of complaint from our now erstwhile friends of LACRALO propriety, not one allegation of 'impropriety' raised! </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">So now, I ask you, what is the difference here? We can either assume the guardians of LACRALO propriety were off busily thumb-sucking, even asleep at the switch.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">Or, in this case for Lance Hinds nomination and selection, other operating conditions are applied.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">Go figure.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large">-Carlton Samuels </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:large"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">==============================</span><br></div><div><div class="gmail_signature">Carlton A Samuels<br>Mobile: 876-818-1799<br><i><font color="#33CC00">Strategy, Planning, Governance, Assessment & Turnaround</font></i><br>=============================</div></div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex"><div class=""><div class="h5"><br></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div>