| Author | Message | ||
     sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 12739 Registered: 10-2001  |
In the last few days there have been a few posts in which the authors are wondering whether they are embarassed to live here. The source of these feelings is generally related to the holiday music in the schools issue or the associated press coverage/mockery. I must say that I am not only not embarassed to live here, but I am proud to call this place my home. I don't really care what Curtis and Kuby or Bill O'Reilly think about a community that they've never set foot in. I just couldn't care less. | ||
| Nohero Citizen Username: Nohero Post Number: 4165 Registered: 10-1999  |
Mega-dittos, S-bo! I am told that this means I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiment. | ||
| overtaxdalready Citizen Username: Overtaxdalready Post Number: 295 Registered: 6-2001 |
I'm not embarassed, but I do believe we come off looking like total hypocrites in this case. We advertise ourselves as a community that embraces "diversity", yet we ban Christmas music so that we don't risk "offending" someone. It's ludicrous. | ||
| Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 4626 Registered: 4-1998  |
WABC should be embarrassed with their overt commercialization of the story to hawk televisions and DVD players. | ||
| shh Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 1910 Registered: 5-2001 |
I'm not embarrassed. It's sad that anyone would feel embarrassed to live here because of this BS. People always seem to question living in "this area" for one reason or another, whether it's the proximity to Newark/Irvington, the high taxes, the questionable schools. | ||
| Robert Livingston Citizen Username: Rob_livingston Post Number: 549 Registered: 7-2004 |
I think we're setting a fine precident. In a country that's gone mad with religious ferver (real and imagined), we're paving the way for other communities to stand up against a majority that wants to shove their beliefs down other people's throats. Maplewood is trailblazing the true spirit of a free and open society, built on a foundation that the church has no place in state affairs. In this Bush era, we are standing up for the true ideals of America. | ||
| Straw's world Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 4090 Registered: 10-2001 |
Maplewood is great except for the libs.  | ||
| phyllis Citizen Username: Phyllis Post Number: 306 Registered: 6-2001 |
I don't have kids in the school system yet, and the only info I've gotten on the holiday music situation is from MOL. I could care less about what any commentator says about Maplewood, just like I didn't care too much when it was named one of the top ten places to live. I feel at home here, love my neighborhood and know, warts and all, this is a community that cares enough to argue about the things that matter. Funnily enough, when I've mentioned the holiday music debate to others - even from much more traditional, upper-class towns, they say "big deal, that stuff's been banned from our concerts for 10 years. no debate" I'm not saying that's right or wrong - just that the press might be highlighting here what's quietly happened many other places. | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 6931 Registered: 5-2001 |
I actually am quite proud to live here and see an active and extremely civilized (for the most part) debate on a subject that often has people going at each other with, figuritively, baseball bats. There have been at least six or seven distinct view points expressed and expressed well imho at least. | ||
| Straw's world Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 4091 Registered: 10-2001 |
Maplewood is great except for the libs.  | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1314 Registered: 11-2001  |
To think this issue appears as a hallmark to our schools is disgraceful. Yes, I am quite proud to live here, but we have much bigger fish to fry than to ban christmas chorals. Diversity, as important as it is, loses all meaning in this context. | ||
| StringsTeacher99 Citizen Username: Blue_eyes Post Number: 220 Registered: 4-2004  |
As a CHS alumna and a music teacher I am truly saddened by the current situation, but I am always proud to currently live and have grown up in Maplewood/South Orange. It really is a community different than many others and I for one think that's a good thing. [edit:] And for the record... I suppose I would consider myself "liberal" though not an extremist - and I am completely against the religious music ban for a number of reasons expressed in other posts. | ||
| sportsnut Citizen Username: Sportsnut Post Number: 1625 Registered: 10-2001 |
I'm not embarassed to live here - except as Straw says. Too many of any one side is never a good thing. We seem to have a group of "radical" lefties which bothers me. Diversity, IMO is overrated and the recent ban on religious music is (again IMO) the height of hypocrisy. And Robert - before you throw another hissy fit - no one is shoving anything down your throat. If you don't want to listen don't go to the concert. Simple. | ||
| Flik Chik Citizen Username: Flikchik Post Number: 85 Registered: 3-2004  |
I don't understand what the big deal is anyway.... six of one or half dozen of another... play all music or play no music.... celebrate hannukah, christmas, kwanzaa, eid and diwali with the same fervour or lack thereof... Ofcourse, each religion comes with its characteristic celebrations and they can be different yet equal... I am NOT EMBARASSED to live here except for the taxes! | ||
| Joe Citizen Username: Gonets Post Number: 514 Registered: 2-2004 |
If anything people should be embarrassed of the fact that they listen to WABC, O'Reilly and Limbaugh. | ||
| mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 4330 Registered: 5-2001  |
I have hope that the extremists behind this music ban, who surfaced here from god knows where, will be called up for another jihad somewhere else and pack up their sick little toys and move on. Otherwise, this is a pretty cool place to live. | ||
| Maple Man Citizen Username: Mapleman Post Number: 470 Registered: 6-2004  |
I'm proud to live here. Although I may have to withhold final judgement on this issue until I learn more about the "radical leftists" living in town. Did I miss something or do we have a communist party based here, or eco-terrorists on the loose? | ||
| themp Citizen Username: Themp Post Number: 1247 Registered: 12-2001 |
No. Maple, don't you get it? Anyone who is a democrat is now a "liberal". Furthermore, if you hold beliefs similar to the republican party domestic platform from 20 years ago, you are a marxist. So everyone who voted for Kerry is on the outer, outer edge of the collectivist political fringe. 48% of the country are extremists/anarchists/communists, despite the fact that the US is extremely conservative by global standards. Meanwhile, belief in creationist science and the coming "rapture" is normal. I though everyone knew that. | ||
| themp Citizen Username: Themp Post Number: 1248 Registered: 12-2001 |
Weather Underground meeting in the public library has been cancelled, by the way. | ||
| cjc Citizen Username: Cjc Post Number: 2881 Registered: 8-2003 |
Banning religious music -- all religious music -- is leading the way to a free and open society. |
