From You
Sep 25, 2002
Letters
IN THE GUTTER
I have always looked to the Flagpole as a good alternative, in the best sense of the word. In recent issues my view has changed. Between the questionably accurate diatribe spewing from Commissioner Barrow, and the prurient trash written in "Reality Check," I believe Flagpole has fallen into that comfortable bottom area inhabited by The National Enquirer and People Magazine.
Your logo should reflect your sinking journalism and be changed from "For those who want to know their way around" to "For those who crawl in the gutter."
J.R. Buffalo
Comer
WAY TO GO!
I am new to the Athens area and would just like to say how impressed I am with the Flagpole's coverage of the elections and local politics in general. Originally from Washington, D.C., politics were too overwhelming and nauseating to lure my interest or action. The Flagpole provides an easy, fun way to stay in touch with local issues, which encourages me to get involved.
It has been an inspiration to me to learn that there are so many concerned Athens citizens taking action to improve our community. Thank you Flagpole, and specifically the individual(s) who research, make phone calls, attend meetings, etc., and bring that information to the people. Keep up the good work! I believe your effort had a large part in the success of the elections. Way to go Flagpole and Athens!
Jean Anderson
Bogart
MISUSE OF OFFICE
The Athens-Clarke County newsletter, the Accent, contained information concerning the participation of the Clarke County Sheriff's Department in the Mark Richt Camp sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. As stated in the newsletter, this participation involved the use of deputies and departmental vehicles to transport children to the Butts-Mehre practice field. I find it disturbing that an elected law enforcement official would use government personnel and equipment to advance a particular religious organization, as this is in clear violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution. This action was not due to a dearth of resources. There are four pages of church listings in the local telephone book, and Sheriff Edwards could easily have called on them to bus the children as he did to bus his constituents to the polls. It is not the province nor the responsibility of the Clarke County Sheriff's Department to promote the Sheriff's religious agenda. Taxpayers of Clarke County should be concerned that public monies are being used in this fashion. The establishment clause of the First Amendment clearly prohibits government endorsement of a particular religious belief. As citizens we hope that Sheriff Edwards comes to the realization, albeit belatedly, that this intermingling of his religious beliefs and public duties is unacceptable.
Name Withheld
Athens
DON'T RETREAT
I have to respond to Jennifer Griffin's letter [9/18] warning women about safety. Jennifer, I know you are only trying to help women to be safer and more aware. But please, let's not have the solution to violence against women be that women retreat behind society's closed doors. Never going anywhere alone at night, always having an escort, always living behind locked doors: that's not living. That's prison. Additionally, it sets up a false association of home with safety.
According to statistics provided by Project Safe, a married woman is five times more likely to be attacked by her partner than by a total stranger. Violence against women does not only happen in the streets! Women need to be aware of dangers, yes, but to make reasonable precautions for their own safety.
Some of Jennifer's suggestions for safety are good ones that provide a foundation for making smart, safe choices. These include:
o If you are out alone at night, go where there are lots of other people - other "eyes on the street," to quote urbanist Jane Jacobs.
o If you run alone (day or night), don't wear a Walkman. If you do use a Walkman, keep the volume low enough that you can hear people around you.
o Be aware of your surroundings. If you think someone is following you, don't go home. Drive to a police station, or a well-lit store or gas station, and go inside. Ask the attendant to call the police.
o Take a self-defense class.
There are lots of other good suggestions out there to be more aware of your own public safety. Seek them out - from your local police department, or a class. But please, let's not make the solution to violence against women be that we retreat from the world. If someone were systematically attacking men, is it likely that the long-term, permanent solution to that problem would be that they never go out alone at night, and keep their doors locked at all times? I don't think so.
Deborah Martin
Athens
HELP MUSIC MUSEUM
The purpose of this letter is two-fold. First, I would like to thank the Flagpole for publishing the editorial written by Julie Powell and myself a few weeks ago about saving the Adcock Building. The letter contained several suggestions for use for the space, including a resource center for arts and music organizations and businesses. Due in part to the editorial and efforts by the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation and concerned citizens, developers with better use plans for the building have purchased the Adcock Building, and it now appears to be safe from the wrecking ball. Thank you for printing the letter and your staff's dedication to making this town a better place to live.
Second, I am writing to announce that the new owners are trying to preserve the building and make the space a resource for the community. They are currently looking for tenants for street level, commercial/non-residential space. The Athens Music History Project, of which I am a member, is a loosely organized group of people interested in the creation of an Athens Music History Museum, and the Adcock Building would be the perfect location. We have approached the owners about this possibility, and they would be happy to work with us, but, as a fledgling organization, we are not yet organized enough to make a firm commitment for the space. Therefore, we are searching for other people and organizations who, like us, share the vision of what an Athens Music History Museum could do for the community and see the tremendous opportunity that has dropped in our laps. Are any of you such a visionary? How about joining us and helping to make this Museum a reality.
There are a lot of different ways that someone might be able to help. Perhaps you might care to join the committee and help with the actual creation of this Museum? Perhaps you or your business might want to give some sort of financial support? Perhaps your artwork or a performance might be used for a fundraiser for this project? Perhaps your business or organization would be interested in partnering with the Museum Committee on sharing the available space in the Adcock Building in some sort of cooperative situation. Such a joint venture would allow the Museum to get a foothold on the space for future development into a display that would highlight the many musicians that have lived in this town and archive their achievements for Athens and for the world to come see.
There are probably other ways that folks can help that I have not even thought of, but if you are interested in helping, please email me at Museum@athensmusic.net. Or you can come to the next meeting of the Museum Committee on Monday, September 30 at 6 p.m. at the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation office on Prince Avenue in the Fire Hall.
Jared Bailey
Watkinsville
REMEMBERING ROGER
Thanks to Athens area cyclists for participating in the hastily put-together Memorial Ride last week for Roger Baruch, who was killed two weeks ago in a collision with a car. It was great to see so many cyclists from so many different backgrounds taking part, helping out and honoring a man who has done so much for so many people in this area. I roughly counted over 150 riders who showed up to honor Roger, including his 12-year-old son Auryn who participated in the ride while wearing one of his fathers' cycling jerseys.
Also thanks to Zack and Lesley Playtek for their special help and to Officer James Moss for traffic control.
In addition we collected right at $2,200 to be donated to both the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Loran Smith Cancer Center.
It was a beautiful day, a fun ride, a great chance to catch up with friends, to help out two very worthy causes and to pay respects to Roger. He would have been right there in the middle of it making sure we all had fun! We will miss him.
Kirk Smith
Athens
I have always looked to the Flagpole as a good alternative, in the best sense of the word. In recent issues my view has changed. Between the questionably accurate diatribe spewing from Commissioner Barrow, and the prurient trash written in "Reality Check," I believe Flagpole has fallen into that comfortable bottom area inhabited by The National Enquirer and People Magazine.
Your logo should reflect your sinking journalism and be changed from "For those who want to know their way around" to "For those who crawl in the gutter."
J.R. Buffalo
Comer
I am new to the Athens area and would just like to say how impressed I am with the Flagpole's coverage of the elections and local politics in general. Originally from Washington, D.C., politics were too overwhelming and nauseating to lure my interest or action. The Flagpole provides an easy, fun way to stay in touch with local issues, which encourages me to get involved.
It has been an inspiration to me to learn that there are so many concerned Athens citizens taking action to improve our community. Thank you Flagpole, and specifically the individual(s) who research, make phone calls, attend meetings, etc., and bring that information to the people. Keep up the good work! I believe your effort had a large part in the success of the elections. Way to go Flagpole and Athens!
Jean Anderson
Bogart
The Athens-Clarke County newsletter, the Accent, contained information concerning the participation of the Clarke County Sheriff's Department in the Mark Richt Camp sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. As stated in the newsletter, this participation involved the use of deputies and departmental vehicles to transport children to the Butts-Mehre practice field. I find it disturbing that an elected law enforcement official would use government personnel and equipment to advance a particular religious organization, as this is in clear violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution. This action was not due to a dearth of resources. There are four pages of church listings in the local telephone book, and Sheriff Edwards could easily have called on them to bus the children as he did to bus his constituents to the polls. It is not the province nor the responsibility of the Clarke County Sheriff's Department to promote the Sheriff's religious agenda. Taxpayers of Clarke County should be concerned that public monies are being used in this fashion. The establishment clause of the First Amendment clearly prohibits government endorsement of a particular religious belief. As citizens we hope that Sheriff Edwards comes to the realization, albeit belatedly, that this intermingling of his religious beliefs and public duties is unacceptable.
Name Withheld
Athens
I have to respond to Jennifer Griffin's letter [9/18] warning women about safety. Jennifer, I know you are only trying to help women to be safer and more aware. But please, let's not have the solution to violence against women be that women retreat behind society's closed doors. Never going anywhere alone at night, always having an escort, always living behind locked doors: that's not living. That's prison. Additionally, it sets up a false association of home with safety.
According to statistics provided by Project Safe, a married woman is five times more likely to be attacked by her partner than by a total stranger. Violence against women does not only happen in the streets! Women need to be aware of dangers, yes, but to make reasonable precautions for their own safety.
Some of Jennifer's suggestions for safety are good ones that provide a foundation for making smart, safe choices. These include:
o If you are out alone at night, go where there are lots of other people - other "eyes on the street," to quote urbanist Jane Jacobs.
o If you run alone (day or night), don't wear a Walkman. If you do use a Walkman, keep the volume low enough that you can hear people around you.
o Be aware of your surroundings. If you think someone is following you, don't go home. Drive to a police station, or a well-lit store or gas station, and go inside. Ask the attendant to call the police.
o Take a self-defense class.
There are lots of other good suggestions out there to be more aware of your own public safety. Seek them out - from your local police department, or a class. But please, let's not make the solution to violence against women be that we retreat from the world. If someone were systematically attacking men, is it likely that the long-term, permanent solution to that problem would be that they never go out alone at night, and keep their doors locked at all times? I don't think so.
Deborah Martin
Athens
The purpose of this letter is two-fold. First, I would like to thank the Flagpole for publishing the editorial written by Julie Powell and myself a few weeks ago about saving the Adcock Building. The letter contained several suggestions for use for the space, including a resource center for arts and music organizations and businesses. Due in part to the editorial and efforts by the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation and concerned citizens, developers with better use plans for the building have purchased the Adcock Building, and it now appears to be safe from the wrecking ball. Thank you for printing the letter and your staff's dedication to making this town a better place to live.
Second, I am writing to announce that the new owners are trying to preserve the building and make the space a resource for the community. They are currently looking for tenants for street level, commercial/non-residential space. The Athens Music History Project, of which I am a member, is a loosely organized group of people interested in the creation of an Athens Music History Museum, and the Adcock Building would be the perfect location. We have approached the owners about this possibility, and they would be happy to work with us, but, as a fledgling organization, we are not yet organized enough to make a firm commitment for the space. Therefore, we are searching for other people and organizations who, like us, share the vision of what an Athens Music History Museum could do for the community and see the tremendous opportunity that has dropped in our laps. Are any of you such a visionary? How about joining us and helping to make this Museum a reality.
There are a lot of different ways that someone might be able to help. Perhaps you might care to join the committee and help with the actual creation of this Museum? Perhaps you or your business might want to give some sort of financial support? Perhaps your artwork or a performance might be used for a fundraiser for this project? Perhaps your business or organization would be interested in partnering with the Museum Committee on sharing the available space in the Adcock Building in some sort of cooperative situation. Such a joint venture would allow the Museum to get a foothold on the space for future development into a display that would highlight the many musicians that have lived in this town and archive their achievements for Athens and for the world to come see.
There are probably other ways that folks can help that I have not even thought of, but if you are interested in helping, please email me at Museum@athensmusic.net. Or you can come to the next meeting of the Museum Committee on Monday, September 30 at 6 p.m. at the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation office on Prince Avenue in the Fire Hall.
Jared Bailey
Watkinsville
Thanks to Athens area cyclists for participating in the hastily put-together Memorial Ride last week for Roger Baruch, who was killed two weeks ago in a collision with a car. It was great to see so many cyclists from so many different backgrounds taking part, helping out and honoring a man who has done so much for so many people in this area. I roughly counted over 150 riders who showed up to honor Roger, including his 12-year-old son Auryn who participated in the ride while wearing one of his fathers' cycling jerseys.
Also thanks to Zack and Lesley Playtek for their special help and to Officer James Moss for traffic control.
In addition we collected right at $2,200 to be donated to both the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Loran Smith Cancer Center.
It was a beautiful day, a fun ride, a great chance to catch up with friends, to help out two very worthy causes and to pay respects to Roger. He would have been right there in the middle of it making sure we all had fun! We will miss him.
Kirk Smith
Athens
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