Brotherly Compatriots
The three of them are alike enough to be brothers a year apart in ages even though the gap is about 15 years. They quarrel, but never viciously.
They think alike a lot. They have similar moral values. But each man will tell you he is a free, independent thinker.
It Ain’t Political
Two are standard-issue liberals, and Mr. Rose is a pretty conservative Republican.
As often as their decision-making blends into the same groove, that frequently they find themselves aligned against Mr. Silbiger, an unintended ideological loner.
The Band of Brothers leaves the feisty Councilwoman Carol Gross and the unfeisty Mr. Silbiger to fend for themselves.
Lions Sometime Underdogs
Ms. Gross has proved repeatedly over the past seven years she is royally capable of aggressively defending herself in a den full of starving lions.
In fact, you will notice that sometimes the lions are in much more trouble than she is.
This leaves poor Mr. Silbiger, vulnerable, standing out on the windswept prairie, shivering in thin clothes, hair blowing in the gale-like storm, wolves howling in the distance. It is 50-50 whether he escapes intact.
That is your City Council for one more year.
The Puzzling Part
Explaining Mr. Silbiger’s isolation is a challenge. Philosophically, his four teammates are all generalists while Mr. Silbiger is a highly selective specialist.
He has his four or five passions — King Day, the homeless, affordable housing, the environment, schools/youth and broader community participation.
Impressive, but…
At a glance, it may be an impressive list. But mostly they are occasional subjects.
If there is a single subject outside of those indicated that energizes, or even interests, him, I have not noticed. On a small town City Council, you cannot afford to specialize.
Mr. Silbiger’s colleagues have their passions, but there is no detectable fissure between chief interests and their lesser ones.
Changing His Posture
For all of Mr. Silbiger’s famous emotion about pet liberal subjects, he inexplicably turns reticent in a group setting — to his detriment. His teammates are assertive, but hardly overpowering.
Assertiveness is a stranger to Mr. Silbiger. Milquetoast is closer.
For most of the past five years, Mr. Rose, Ms. Gross and Mr. Corlin have played big brother, big sister to Mr. Silbiger’s kid brother role.
Isn’t There an Alternate Path?
I am reminded of the shy schoolboy who walks past the playground where the bullies hang out. “Here we go again,” he says to himself.
Every Monday, it almost is as if he is waiting for one of them to rebuke him while hoping against the tide that the four of them will just like, and possibly even respect, him.
The Grim Conclusion
Sadly, the evidence of even abstract kinship is scanty. A pity because he is a very nice man.
If Mr. Silbiger is one of two prizefighters in a ring, he can’t throw his arm around the other guy’s shoulder and say, “Let’s shmooze about Shakespeare.” He has to fight back. Those are the rules.
