Lately, a number of people, (including yours truly) have presented opinions and thoughts here in this community forum that others have disagreed with.
Heck, sometimes, I've even ended up disagreeing with MYSELF, when it was all said and done!
Perhaps one of the best things to come out of all of this controversy lately has been the arrival of some new names on the 'Deck here who, witnessing the courage (or perhaps, false bravado)
of those of us who've been putting it out here for years, now want to add their voices to the choir (or at times, cacophony?) that comprises a collective public "street-level" voice from the regular everyday Lakewoodite.Thanks to Mr. Jim O'Bryan, you and I can write our opinions down and post them here for all to see. Disagree with one of us? Then bring your OWN opinions here. Give us a brand new thread with your own perspective! Tell us all how you feel things REALLY could be, and what REALLY could be done to make our city better.
After posting over a thousand times on this old 'Deck, here I am still. Perhaps a little tired and battle-worn by now, I've sometimes been right, sometimes way wrong, sometimes passionate, and sometimes timid, but I'm still here trying, in my own little way, to encourage people to talk, engage, rise up, and participate.
...and oh yeah...perhaps I've been trying to have us all get along with each other a little better too...I guess that goes with playing the banjo.
One of many great things about Lakewood has been that we have this great public forum where we can bring forth some terrific input and ideas to test and share among ourselves, whatever our personal economic or political views might be.
One thing I do believe...the great majority of 'Deckers here DO mean well, and though our differences have, at times, divided us, our passion about what's good for Lakewood continues to unite us.
For those 'Deckers who are new among us? Welcome! For those veteran posters among us? Please stick around and continue to contribute your thoughts. Wisdom and inspiration can come to us in so many forms. We need both, and we need you to help us find them. None of us are perfect, none of us have all the answers, and even though the points that we provide here now might later be proven wrong, it's the process that counts.
We need your help.
Even those here who bitterly oppose each other's viewpoints have MUCH more in common with each other than they may realize. They both CARE enough to defend their positions, unlike so many who are content to simply sit on the sidelines of life and watch the world go by.
Those who truly care and who truly try to make a difference in life may indeed pay a price for their views, but they will NEVER feel victimized by any event where they tried to make things better in their own way.
I believe that through this process of give and take, that many fresh ideas have come along here on the 'Deck already that have helped us to develop a better city.
The Twenty-First Century has given rise to so many new ideas. Some of those, I quite frankly do not welcome. One idea that I personally DO welcome has been the rise of the empowered voice of the Observation Deck. Here in this place, YOU are a vibrant, and very democratic part of all this. You are a vital voice, in and for your community.
Don't be discouraged by the give and take. You and your opinions belong here.
Remember, all this is only my opinion too, and I may be wrong...but...
Back to the banjo..
. Or perhaps my new motto should be...
"Oh NO, WHAT did I just SAY????"
