West End "WE" Returns Bigger Than Ever

[Corey Rossen]

Some people are so old that there is very little that they haven't seen. That is why there are digitally remastered remakes of songs and lipstick on pigs. For other old people, they just like to keep complaining that the music is too loud. I can think of one of those people.

[Gary Rice]

To Whom it May Concern:

I'm ALWAYS taking a stand, but MY stand might not be YOUR stand.

"Taking a stand" in life can involve many factors.

Normally, in this chatroom, I do "take a stand" , taking on roles of banjo player, humorist, and peacemaker- for the simple reason that there aren't many banjo players, humorists, and peacemakers here; but there is a larger reason:

Having a cum laude degree in political science, I have been fascinated by humankind's obsessive relationship with political power for many years. There have been times when political evil has been clearly defined, and must be confronted. Other times, the picture is murky, and neither side has clean hands.

With any win/lose dispute, the victors write their version of history, and the revisionists try to tell another tale. During those disputes, there have always been those who advocate for peace, and I'm one of them.

I personally favored, and still do favor, having a hospital in Lakewood, for whatever that might be worth to you. The question as to how we could have kept this crisis from happening is now a moot point, except for the legal experts, I guess. The only questions that remain would be whether anything, at this point, could somehow reverse what has happened, and whether anyone might have broken the law during the process that transpired? That all remains to be seen. This is where I'll let others arrive at their own conclusions. I do not have enough information to offer any answers here.

One way or another, this has not been the first of Lakewood's political battles, nor will it be the last.

As for me? My choice to play the banjo and try to bring a bit of humor, peace, and comfort to all is, to me at least, a very affirmative choice to offer during this difficult time in Lakewood's history.

The Great Old Book and Jesus Himself calls peacemakers "blessed". I'll take that. (and so did Father Berrigan, if I'm not mistaken)

Back to the banjo...

[Jim O'Bryan]

To Whom it May Concern:

I'm ALWAYS taking a stand, but MY stand might not be YOUR stand.

Gary

No one was talking of your views. No one.

I was referring to your amazing use of emoticons.

Hence, the overkill.

Let's call it a homage to your writing style, not your thinking.


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