Dilemmas

I didn't actually realize Tango by the Sea is this weekend. Not that it makes much difference. I'm too broke to attend anyway. But apparently they have a milonga planned for Friday night. Which means the cafe will be deserted--the cause of my dilemma. With no one to dance with, staying home makes the most sense. Why bother wasting both time and money to sit around and look--bored.

Oh right, I remember. Gossip. And not the good kind. The kinds where certain person(s) will accuse me of going to the dark side.

Which wouldn't be true. I shouldn't care, but I already find myself unable to fit within the local tango community. And lies of that nature hurt.

So the question is, do I ensure no one lies about my whereabouts by going in on Friday or do I choose to stay home and get some writing done. In the end maybe it isn't such a hard decision. After all, I know the truth.

Irony

For any Tango Vita members, please read your latest newsletter carefully. Well worded, but too bad they don't see the irony when they say they refuse to support a business, but continue to allow both Rene and Lilliana to teach (both board members by the way). They refuse to support Cafe Casablanca, refuse to support Brent and Hedy, and refuse to support David and Diane. It is on the other hand perfectly acceptable to allow others to run a business under the umbrella of Tango Vita. Tango by the Sea would not have been held on a conflicting night if certain members were teaching that night.

Another point that must be made regards the Tango Vita web site. Teachers are supposed to have access to the web site. Last year, all the passwords were revoked. This includes the password for those in Port Townsend (who have nothing to do with the politics dividing our small community). James and Terri were given a new password when they complained. No one else was. This indicates that although Tango Vita claims to support its members, in reality it only supports a select group of members.

From an outsiders perspective (mine) it always came across as a vindictive move. I had no loyalty to Tango Vita at the start, only to tango itself, and to a group of friends, many of whom were also members of Tango Vita. As I refuse to choose that side, I am noticing that those "friends" will no longer dance with me or speak to me. As a result, I have finally become a member of Tango Vita. The question is, do you want "members that strongly support the existence of our Argentine Tango Association as it is now", or do you want to grow as an association, as friends and as a community?