This commentary is by Karen Rhodes, a resident of Brandon.
Lately it seems that the imposition of the proposed Brandon Noise Ordinance is a dream for the entitled and politically connected. There are already laws regarding excessive disturbing the peace, harassment, and hunting regulations/seasons.
The proposal is being promoted by nouveau property owners who apparently have a conflict with their neighbors. The proposal is demonstrating the ideals of a chosen few. A similar set of proposed guidelines have been discussed at the state level by these same individuals.
Imposing your visions on others is not appropriate nor is it the Vermont way. It’s a bully in politically connected clothing, setting personal agendas. Using the town and its citizens as a conflict resolution to a neighbor’s complaint is an obvious objective in this proposal.
Personally, I find noise ordinances as offensive as the noises I put up with on a daily basis. Try living near a golf course on tournament day; that’s coexistence. Live and let live. Children squeal and cry, dogs bark, motor vehicles make mechanical noises. I find many noises annoying and there are many things I choose to ignore on my side of the property line.
I would rather see a child, or adult for that matter, living. Enjoying the outdoors, participating in sports, hunting, fishing, practicing marksmanship, having picnics and parties, playing musical instruments, playing with their animals, gardening and other activities that don’t involve sitting in front of a computer screen living a virtual life, enjoying life on life’s terms.
To impose your values on others by creating laws and ordinances to benefit the agendas of a few is not American freedom. This modality uses power and control for personal purposes. Try discussing your objections to another person’s behavior; it can and usually does work. Having that skill set can improve your relationship; that’s the neighborly way.
If your neighbor’s behavior is so atrocious and unrelenting, you may want to consider relocating to a place that accepts and supports your type of lifestyle. Community means everyone, not just a few entitled individuals looking for a legal mechanism to impose their idealism of freedom on others.
Sadly. we are all seeing a lot of this type of “democracy” now, where if you don’t agree with my philosophies, you are called derogatory names and then the tyrannical will use their power, affluence, resources and privilege to gentrify and gain entitlement; to hell with you, your rights and your freedoms.
Not everyone has the same views of a Vermont community. It takes all kinds of people to make a community with each and every voice carrying the same weight, regardless of resources, status, or affluence.
Conflict resolution is not rallying a posse of “like-minded” individuals to impose your wishes on others. The comments recently viewed in several publications viewed Brandon as “The Wild West.” And the comment on how it can become a thriving town shows a narrow-minded view of this great town where most people care about the people of the community; they live and let live without personal imposition by law and governance.
There is a simple cure for this perception of a “noise problem”: iPhone headphones connected to a program with soothing nature sounds or the soporific melodic chant of Kumbaya, or possibly earmuffs (Tractor Supply has pairs for $12.95 plus tax). Call this what it is: a stinking, spoiled egg in the larger carton.
I am asking the town officials not to buy into these personal vendettas by the bullies who wish to impose their personal desires upon the good and diverse people of Brandon.
