Editor:
Wow. I really wish I hadn’t read the recent article about Dan Johnson in the Oct. 10 edition of the Journal (“Meet Dan Johnson”). Before Mr. Johnson’s plagiarism issue unfolded, I knew that he was a local developer, a Rotarian, a soccer coach and generally seemed like a decent enough guy. But now I know that in Mr. Johnson’s world he doesn’t know how to “own” a mistake, he tends to lie, is conveniently forgetful, likes to throw f-bombs when making a point, follows the “tried and true” political strategy of never explaining oneself or admitting guilt and if pressed on an issue goes into “freaking winner” attack mode to divert attention away from oneself and play the victim.
A simple sorry followed by acknowledgement of the true speech writer and perhaps how he and his wife were so impressed by the original speech that he chose to use it for his own daughter’s graduation could have sent the current situation down a different road.
The only positive that I have garnered from this recent local drama is that while Mr. Johnson may not know the definition of plagiarism, both of my kids who are Arcata High students now know exactly what plagiarism is as well as the embarrassing outcomes that can result from it.
Dennis Houghton, Eureka
Editor:
I first got to meet Dan Johnson as a defenseless seventh-grader at Zane Jr. High in the late 1970s. He and his friends liked to stuff me in a garbage can (popularly known as “canning”) behind the gym on a seemingly regular basis. As a defenseless, smaller kid I could do nothing but scream. They made my life hell.
Surprisingly, I was able to reach him on the phone at his office last week, but he conveniently could “not recall” me or the incidents. He seems to not recall a lot.
“They talk about bullying in high school… ,” Mr. Johnson said in the Journal‘s article. Well he was a bully way before that.
Ken Harper, Eureka
Editor:
Dan Johnson claims not to be a “goddamned politician” but he clearly has what it takes to be one, including a win-at-all-costs attitude, a highly selective memory, a knack for obfuscation, unbridled arrogance, delusions of self-importance, the belief that the rules don’t apply to him and really bad grammar. He kinda reminds me of Dubya, only cruder. I think he should resign from the school board if only because his many talents are being wasted there and could be put to much better use in a higher elected office. Dan for President!
Ken Burton, Eureka
Editor:
Dan Johnson gets front page coverage, a good article, both sides of the man. The original families still rule this town, don’t they?
What I see is Danco is the name on so many of the new constructions. Danco knows who to talk to in planning and zoning. Danco is working the federally subsidized affordable housing (no wonder the Republicans squawk). Danco is planning big subdivisions that will be what makes us look like Santa Rosa.
Yet if a regular guy wants to build a simple little house that will be truly affordable, he will be up against a bureaucracy that will confuse, delay, frustrate and double the cost of his project. This is what the planners should be seriously looking at.
My dad built houses in the ’50s. All that was required was an electrical and a septic permit. I don’t believe the layers of costly requirements we face today have really improved houses. It means that only the Dan Johnsons can afford to build. So we limit the creativity of our community, and have a severe affordable housing crisis.
Jessica Bittner, Bayside
Editor:
When I was a young lad my grandfather offered some advice that went something like this: “Go ahead and let people think you are stupid. Don’t open your mouth and prove it.” This principle is really just the intersection of human behavior and the laws of probability. I think about this advice far more than anyone should have to.
For all the many gifts Carl Johnson gave his grandson to get a jump start on life, young Dan would have been better served by the wisdom of my granddad.
Glen Nagy, Arcata
Editor:
Your piece about school board member Dan Johnson seems to suggest that his business history, his family and the “fiery glint” in his eye can offer human context to his plagiarism.
But here’s the problem: Johnson seems to think he’s the one who’s been victimized and bullied. At the end of the article, Johnson asks, “I mean, who really owes who an apology?”
The correct answer? You, Dan Johnson, owe David McCullough Jr. an apology. Plagiarism is theft, and the Wellesley High English teacher — who is currently on leave writing a book based, ironically enough, on the speech you stole from — deserves a public apology. If the situation had been reversed, and McCullough had stolen your words, he would have been subject to disciplinary action. He could have possibly lost his job. It is doubly ironic that McCullough’s father is a famed historian and writer — in that field, acts of plagiarism can end careers and destroy reputations. It may be no big deal to Mr. Johnson, but it doesn’t follow that it’s no big deal.
Mr. McCullough Jr. will, at the very least, have a fun bit of curriculum to help his students understand the problems plagiarism can create, “boyish good looks” notwithstanding.
Maja K Hanson, Arcata
Editor:
After reading Ryan Burns’ excellent article on Dan Johnson, there are several relevant points that come to mind. First, in spite of Johnson’s attempts to deflect the plagiarism, he’s the only one responsible for using David McCullough Jr.’s “You Are Not Special” speech without crediting the author.
He’s also the one who worsened the situation by disappearing from public view for a number of weeks following the event, only to emerge and make a national spectacle of himself by blaming “the self-appointed referees of good and evil.”
When his fellow trustees voted 3-1 that he resign, he wouldn’t listen to his own colleagues on the Northern Humboldt Union High School District board of trustees. And now, he’s gotten caught in a rather sticky web of lies he told to the NCJ article — and again, he has no one to blame but himself.
One last note: Dan Johnson may be a good family man, a smart businewssman, a kind friend, but in his capacity as trustee, the public has trusted him for his sound judgment and good character. To say the least, Johnson has not shown either in this self-created fiasco. If he won’t resign, then folks who have the opportunity to vote in the next election should show him the door.
David Holper, Eureka
This article appears in Ruins.
Dan Johnson closely follows the contemporary right-wing rich-man’s playbook quite well: create a story that you’re a hard working nice guy who is a competitive winner, which is why everyone is against him, and refuse to acknowledge any facts that may contradict the myth. Let’s look at the story.
His fortunes come from hard work. Later in the interview, he admits that his success comes from the help of family money. (I doubt he would have made all that money on raising calves if he actually had to pay for feed and care, the ranch, etc.) Family money goes a long way, especially in a small, poor, good-ol’-boy community such as ours.
He has never been sued, nor has he sued anyone. How can a person forget multiple lawsuits? He has selective memory when the facts don’t fit the story. He obviously thinks we, the public, are stupid. Or maybe his brain just doesn’t work. More likely just a bald-faced lie.
He’s competitive, which in this case, means greedy. In competition, one’s gains result from another’s losses. What fun! Competition is destructive, while cooperation is constructive. We need more cooperation, less competition.
He’s a winner! Well, if it’s a contest that he is assured to lose, he just won’t enter the competition or race (except if no one else is running!). Keeps the story consistent so he can still be a winner (the implication being that the rest of us are losers). Self-defined winners usually aren’t.
Everyone against him are just jealous of his awesome life and fortunes. It has nothing to do with him doing anything wrong or being greedy! Sorry, but not everyone in the world are greedy money-worshippers. I know that’s hard for Dan to fathom.
His “reaching out” to the public seems to have backfired. He comes across as arrogant, but certainly not a winner. Sounds more like a whiner.
I guess we shouldn’t expect a rich “winner” to apologize for anything. That is why we get a childish deflection of blame to all those critics who really are just jealous and envious of his money, at least in his mind.
The fact of the matter is that someone who doesn’t know the definition of “plagiarism” (ignorantly wonders if reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is plagiarism!!!!) or lacks the ability to recognize sincerity (it must be hard to recognize something you yourself don’t seem to possess), has no business directing the eduction of our young people, success in business notwithstanding. Ignorance doesn’t belong on our Board of Education.
I nominate Dan Johnson to be president of the Bored of Education.
Why should folks who have the “opportunity to vote” have to wait two years to remove Johnson from the Board? I am very surprised there has been no talk of recalling this embarrassment ASAP.