The Desert IndependentTM

Serving Blythe, California & the Desert Regions of the Southwest

Arrogance and Humility

Assembled from A Variety of Sources

In this little pastoral community called Blythe, we find a lot of great people doing a lot of unrewarded contributions to the youth, the elderly, the infirm and the disabled. We also, unfortunately, have a few people that feel they have the right to line their own pockets or feed their egos to the detriment of these same cohorts.

With that, let’s look of some examples of arrogance and humility in our town.

Arrogance is: Dr. Sahlobie intentionally shutting down the Operating Room at the hospital until he gets an “exclusive” contract to perform all surgeries.

Humility is: Dr. David Brooks, having taken an oath of poverty, treating all who show up at his doorstep – regardless of ability to pay.

Arrogance is: DO Administrators keeping the Frequent Flyer miles and Hotel Points for themselves from their tax-payer funded junkets.

Humility is: A certain Board member anonymously donating his stipend to a High School scholarship fund.

Arrogance is: Captain Carney using his position in law enforcement for political gain, both on the School Board and possible future election to the Hospital Board.

Humility is: Tim Wade of Blythe Police Department writing a great concession letter to the Times and asking the community to pull together behind the new Chief.

Arrogance is: Dr. Alan Jensen insulating himself with subordinates (akin to Nixon) and displaying a marked inability to “connect” with the community.

Humility is: Les Nelsen – just being a great guy, open to the public, friendly to the press and doing a wonderful job for the City of Blythe for 19 years.

Arrogance is: Publicly chastising the Fair volunteers for “slighting” a cohort of 4-H Kids with less than stellar quality awards.

Humility is: Dr. Steve Montgomery, Bob Delano, Sydney Presley and so many others that devote some much time and work to make the 4-H and FFA kids’ experience memorable without pay and scant appreciation from those outside the arena.

Arrogance is: Pastor Goad’s apparent intolerance towards topics evolutionary.

Humility would be: Accepting that a streptococcus bug can evolve past mere penicillin and accepting a broad-spectrum antibiotic the next time he has a cold.

Arrogance is: Major Alan Jensen, Transport Pilot. Bragging about how his “milk runs” between Alaska and Hawaii kept him out of harm’s way.

Humility was: Major David Marlowe, Rescue Pilot Extraordinaire. He didn’t have to brag about anything.