Hi Susie: Part 2 of 2
Here she is, Part II:
We are the farthest thing from racists. At least, I am anyway. And so is every other Wrice marcher I've ever had the honor to meet and know. The marchers I know are some of the finest human beings I've ever met.
I'm surprised and taken aback by the sentiment against the marches that I am hearing from within Kenwood. I just say another post about this on the C.O.N.A. site by one ''anonymous''. And when someone first brought up that they wanted to revive the citywide marches at a general meeting in Kenwood, one person's tone and comments greatly concerned me, as he condescendingly referred to the time for the ''silly hats'' as being over. Well, IF it is truly over in our own neighborhood, then perhaps that person should be thanking us instead of making condescending remarks. But I think maybe he thought the President of the Assoc. was speaking of reviving the marches JUST in Kenwood, in which case I do feel that the time is thankfully past, as opposed to reviving the CITYWIDE marches, which is what he actually was referring to. I don't know. But that is when I first became concerned about an attitude that somehow some are threatened by the marches as not being gentrified enough for the new, improved Historic Kenwood. Well, guess what? We need to dance with the one that brung us. I'm all for Central Ave Tomorrow and biking down there to have a latte like Nils and Frazier and everyone having well-manicured lawns and my property values doubling. Amen to all that, bring it own! Oh wait--it's here! Yay! HOWEVER, that doesn't mean we should turn our backs in yuppified disdain and horror at the thought of the occasional preventive drug march occurring in our neighborhood again. We are not ''above'' or beyond drug activity springing up in our neighborhood. Does it send the ''wrong message'' to march in HK now? I don't think so. If we had REGULAR, weekly marches, then yes, I think that is a valid point--we no longer have the kind of drug activity in Kenwood that would warrant weekly marches, THANK GOD and let's ponder why, shall we? But that doesn't mean that drug activity won't necessitate the occasional march and you know, it doesn't send the ''wrong message''. It sends a great message! It says, hey, here's a neighborhood that is organized! Here's a neighborhood that is filled with people who will get out there and keep the streets safe. What a cool neighborhood. That's what I would think, personally. But it isn't even about reviving the specific Kenwood marches, that's why I find the subcurrent of resentment and opposition to this in Kenwood so puzzling and troubling. We are talking about citywide marches here! Are we that threatened if some of them are held in Kenwood? Does that shatter our illusion that ''we've arrived''? In a way, I can see that and I shouldn't put down those who feel that way. We worked so hard to bring back our 'hood! And it is all so new to us that we have, for the most part, DONE IT. I can see not wanting to be reminded of the ''bad old days''. But let's be real here: The drug marches are NOT a part of the problem. They were, always have been, and still are, a part of the solution! Don't fear them or turn your backs on them. Dance with the one what brung yazz.
-Written with a little ire but a lot more love for HK and for ya'll, even the ones I disagree with vociferously. If we didn't argue passionately about Kenwood, we wouldn't BE Kenwood *lol*- Peace out.
Here she is, Part II:
We are the farthest thing from racists. At least, I am anyway. And so is every other Wrice marcher I've ever had the honor to meet and know. The marchers I know are some of the finest human beings I've ever met.
I'm surprised and taken aback by the sentiment against the marches that I am hearing from within Kenwood. I just say another post about this on the C.O.N.A. site by one ''anonymous''. And when someone first brought up that they wanted to revive the citywide marches at a general meeting in Kenwood, one person's tone and comments greatly concerned me, as he condescendingly referred to the time for the ''silly hats'' as being over. Well, IF it is truly over in our own neighborhood, then perhaps that person should be thanking us instead of making condescending remarks. But I think maybe he thought the President of the Assoc. was speaking of reviving the marches JUST in Kenwood, in which case I do feel that the time is thankfully past, as opposed to reviving the CITYWIDE marches, which is what he actually was referring to. I don't know. But that is when I first became concerned about an attitude that somehow some are threatened by the marches as not being gentrified enough for the new, improved Historic Kenwood. Well, guess what? We need to dance with the one that brung us. I'm all for Central Ave Tomorrow and biking down there to have a latte like Nils and Frazier and everyone having well-manicured lawns and my property values doubling. Amen to all that, bring it own! Oh wait--it's here! Yay! HOWEVER, that doesn't mean we should turn our backs in yuppified disdain and horror at the thought of the occasional preventive drug march occurring in our neighborhood again. We are not ''above'' or beyond drug activity springing up in our neighborhood. Does it send the ''wrong message'' to march in HK now? I don't think so. If we had REGULAR, weekly marches, then yes, I think that is a valid point--we no longer have the kind of drug activity in Kenwood that would warrant weekly marches, THANK GOD and let's ponder why, shall we? But that doesn't mean that drug activity won't necessitate the occasional march and you know, it doesn't send the ''wrong message''. It sends a great message! It says, hey, here's a neighborhood that is organized! Here's a neighborhood that is filled with people who will get out there and keep the streets safe. What a cool neighborhood. That's what I would think, personally. But it isn't even about reviving the specific Kenwood marches, that's why I find the subcurrent of resentment and opposition to this in Kenwood so puzzling and troubling. We are talking about citywide marches here! Are we that threatened if some of them are held in Kenwood? Does that shatter our illusion that ''we've arrived''? In a way, I can see that and I shouldn't put down those who feel that way. We worked so hard to bring back our 'hood! And it is all so new to us that we have, for the most part, DONE IT. I can see not wanting to be reminded of the ''bad old days''. But let's be real here: The drug marches are NOT a part of the problem. They were, always have been, and still are, a part of the solution! Don't fear them or turn your backs on them. Dance with the one what brung yazz.
-Written with a little ire but a lot more love for HK and for ya'll, even the ones I disagree with vociferously. If we didn't argue passionately about Kenwood, we wouldn't BE Kenwood *lol*- Peace out.
