Theos-Talk Archives (April 2008 Message tt00125)

While googling in cyberspace, I saw the following in the Singapore Lodge
website which anyone can find:

*She might have suffered a minor stroke but from all accounts she has fully
recovered and is fit for another and probably last term as president.

*On reading the above, one wonders if a plausible spin is put on Radha
Burnier's memory by Algeo's surrogate  as a convenient ruse to throw doubt
on her ability to head the TS.

For anyone who has been around in the USA, it is easy to understand it since
it is done everyday in politics and with the hope something will stick.

Again but for the Internet we would not know what kind of politicking is
going on either from the candidates or their surrogates. In the
circumstances, I leave it to the voters to make up their own minds.

mkr

On Tue, Apr 15, 2008 at 3:27 PM, Jokela Petri <jokelap@dnainternet.net>
wrote:

>   Dear fellow Theosophist,
>
> I feel compelled to break the long standing prohibition against writing
> political letters during an election. Since Radha Burnier herself has
> now broken that tradition by sending out the letter given below to a
> number of our ranks, I do not have any qualms in feeling justified to
> respond to her blatant electioneering.
>
> I have always held Radha in great esteem and still honor her for her
> tireless and capable work for the Society. However, I have seen with my
> own eyes that her marvellous abilities are compromised to such an extent
> that I consider her not to be the best choice for the president and
> chief administrator of our organization. Her memory and clarity are
> inconsistent, sometimes right on, and sometimes far afield---as is the
> case for all of us
> when aging, especially by stroke, takes its toll. Because she has been
> such a wonderfully iron willed woman, she now apparently is mis-
> applying that iron will by trying to cling to an administrative roll
> that in my opinion is no longer best for the Society or best for her.
>
> I can see Radha maintaining a roll of leadership in the spiritual or
> inner side of things as a wise counsellor, functioning well without
> undue stress, but I view her continuation as the chief administrative
> officer for the Theosophical Society as counter productive. We need
> sharp clarity, consistency, and creative flexibility as we all work
> together to keep Theosophy alive and vital in the 21st century. We need
> strong leadership such as John Algeo could provide.
>
> As to her letter below, I will let it speak for itself, but I do have to
> say that I think the reference to age is ironic. Furthermore, it is
> presumptuous to indicate that John does not also have the capacity to
> bring in younger workers. And it is presumptuous to define his motives
> or to ascribe to him the intent to diminish the importance of Adyar as
> our international center, an action he has clearly stated he is against.
> If elected, John may not be able to spend all his time at Adyar, but I
> have experienced him as an able administrator and delegator, and feel
> assured that Adyar would flourish under his leadership.
>
> John has set up a web site http://www.jalgeo..com/ that you might want
> to see in order to help you decide for yourself.
> The upcoming election of international president of the Theosophical
> Society for the next 7 years is a critical one. Please consider carefully.
> With sincerity and all best wishes,
>
> Betty Bland, President
> The Theosophical Society in America
>  
>


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