I fancy myself as the aging Lone Ranger of local blogging, because I'm beyond caring about what or who I offend. At this point in time, for my name to appear in the Morning Call, I would either have to get arrested or die ... For now, I'm trying to stave off both those options. Likewise, public officials have no use for me. I've been informed that Matt Tuerk loathed me, even before he was a candidate.
I do have one regret about my abrasiveness. Perhaps, if I was more diplomatic, I might have prevailed upon city officials to have more appreciation for the WPA structures throughout the park system.
Several years ago I started a facebook group, Allentown Chronicles. I billed it as mostly for local history, with a side of local non-partisan politics. Most of such local groups concentrated on who made the best chili sauce, cheesesteak or pizza. The history posts on them are cut and pasted from wikipedia, or just pictures scanned from a book. I aspired to see original material and personal memories. While I still keep those guidelines for my own posts, I'm learning to be more lenient with what other people present.
The takeaway from all these facebook groups is that people want to remember a gentler Allentown from their youth, as opposed to the current harsher reality.
I spend much more time on the sofa now than on the streets of Allentown. I no longer attend meetings. Nevertheless, with so few venues willing to be candid, I still get tips and requests for help. I still wake up early and eager to sprinkle a little frankness on Allentown.
Just another voice crying in the wilderness. What is the duty of us senior citizens? Is it to congratulate and endorse the lies we see all around us? Or is it to point out the falsehoods and the virtual reality being propagated in today's world?
ReplyDeleteIf us seniors don't do our duty to the following generations, then our only purpose to be just another consumer of false ideas and material non necessities. A very sad existence indeed.
I, for one, truly appreciate your blog, Mike, and I note by your posting times, that you don't sleep much...LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, you can lead 'em to water and they'll still moan they're thirsty... push 'em in and they still won't drink and yell they're drowning... even in a foot of water... conclusion: most people are beyond hopeless and education!!! I say let 'em die of thirst or drown in the water... I'm done, I can no longer help these morons!!!
I have also dropped-out, so-to-speak. At age 72, realize rebuilding America back into the nation I grew up with will take at least a decade. By then, I’ll be mostly interested in my next helping of applesauce.
ReplyDeleteLook, our nation is being destroyed by politicians, the corporate titans who fund them, and a damaged and useless information industry that more than likely misleads us with disinformation and censorship.
I’ve prepared for this kind of takedown of America and expect to be secure going forward. Time to shift priorities and enjoy the better parts of life while I can.