Distasteful, inappropriate and disgusting -- in more ways than one...

I was hoping it was just another bizarre statement by Lisa Stone.

I was wrong.

The association of the village with Fidel Castro is yet another example of shallow reasoning and sensationalism by Miz Stone. It was yet another attack on the way the village does -- and has done -- its business for years. Not only is her attack a discredit to the Village Board, but to the residents of the village. That's because she thinks she is the only reformer and independent in the village and the rest of the residents are either naive or stupid.

Hardly.

As Village President Elliott Hartstein said after a lengthy discussion (for lack of a better word), association of the village to Fidel Castro is "distasteful, inappropriate, and disgusting."

Well said.

There is, however, another aspect to her misguided and condescending comment.

Why Fidel Castro? Clearly there are other dictators and fascists in the world. The selection of Castro is wrong because being Hispanic, the inference is that Hispanic leaders are corrupt dictators who take advantage of their people and that Hispanics are incapable of realizing this kind of leadership.

The whole idea of equating the village to Castro is ludicrous as is the idea of seemingly singling out a Hispanic leader -- like him or not. Odds are there will be denials. However, it's likely that if another board member or critic cited someone in a negative light with a cultural background that Stone may have connections to, she'd be the first to yell foul.

If Stone, or any trustee for that matter, makes a habit of singling out someone, they need to think twice about their repercussions.

In these politically correct times it's important for public officials, especially those who engage their mouths before their brains, to think about what they say.

And that's not asking too much.