If you are a Washington news junkie, like I am, you’ve noticed the hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch are in process. The nominee has been peppered with questions trying to ascertain how he will interpret the Constitution, what his views are, and how he might rule on a variety of hypothetical cases. Always there is a discussion of litmus test issues: the big ones being gun control for one side and abortion for the other. Never do judges actually say how they would rule on such cases – Oh well, golly gee, I sure do hate guns and their propensity to kill innocent people or well shucks, I think if a girl gets herself knocked up she’s gotta face the consequences – but always the wily congressmen try to get a nominee to admit that he/she will take their guns away or eliminate a woman’s right to choice.
Recently I realized I have my own litmus test. During my writing class the teacher uncapped a whiteboard marker and began taking notes for the class. The marker squeaked, but no words appeared on the board. That’s when the defining moment happened. My instructor put the cap back on the pen and…. THREW IT AWAY.
I couldn’t help myself. I leaned forward and said, “I love that you did that. Thank you for throwing the marker away.”
“Right!?!?” He replied.
“It’s not like it’s magically going to regenerate ink if you keep it.” I said.
So that’s it. My new test. If you get up to a whiteboard, find a marker that doesn’t work, then just leave it in the marker tray for the next real grown up to deal with, well, you are dead to me. That’s it. I’ve drawn my own personal line in the sand.
Don’t be a dried up marker keeper. Don’t be that guy.
Afthead 