On the Beach

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

This was a year without spring in upstate New York.

Technically, this is incorrect, as spring-like things transpired: trees bloomed and pollen burst from them like toys from an overstuffed piñata, and now summer is here: insects are everywhere—which would be adorable if they were kittens, but they are not, they are buzzing insects—and the deer and the bears are hanging out wherever their fancy takes them, because there is food everywhere and invitations that were not sent out by humans were ignored because grass in fields and berries on bushes is invitation enough. But winter snows and cold dreariness extended past their usual expiration date, and today is only the second day above 70°F since summer arrived last week. It is raining as I type. I am wearing a sweater. This feels like a hostage note … send heat.

Jen and I may go to the ocean this weekend, hence this re-written piece from months ago:
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#FreeBree

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

Bree Newsome, the brave activist who on Saturday briefly brought down the Confederate battle flag from its place of (dubious) honor in front of the South Carolina statehouse was released from jail later that same day after posting bond. She and a helper, James Ian Tyson, were both arrested after they hopped the wrought iron fence that protects the flagpole from such actions. Ms. Newsome climbed the flagpole alone, however. Mr. Tyson was also released after posting bond that day.

A fundraising campaign was launched that same day to help Ms. Newsome afford whatever legal costs will be incurred. Here is the website: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bail-for-bree-newsome. As of right now, 2:27 p.m., Monday, June 29, precisely 4478 donations totaling $114,278 have been pledged, almost six times greater than the amount first sought.

Her actions caught the attention and imagination of many people around the world; the image of Ms. Newsome removing that odious bolt of hated cloth from a place of honor will remain beloved in history for as long as lovers of justice cherish such moments.–Mark, The Gad About Town

Mark Aldrich's avatarThe Gad About Town

On her website, Bree Newsome describes herself with a collection of hyphens: “Writer – Director – Producer – Singer – Songwriter – Activist – Consultant – Speaker.” Today she alphabetized that list and moved “Activist” to the front.

Earlier this morning, she hopped the fenced-in area protecting the flagpole from which the Confederate battle flag has flown since 2000 in front of the South Carolina statehouse, climbed the pole, and cut down that odious bolt of cloth that American history somehow simultaneously celebrates and reviles.

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Generation Map

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

“You’d really hate an adult to understand you,” one girl named Susan is quoted as saying. “That’s the only thing you’ve got over them—the fact that you can mystify and worry them.”

Others are quoted as saying things like, “Marriage is the only thing that really scares me,” and, “Religion is for old people who have given up living,” or, “I’d prefer to do something for the good of humanity,” and, “You want to hit back at all the old geezers who tell us what to do.”

Man, those millennial kids today have so much anger! Except each one of these quotes comes from a book published in 1964 in the United Kingdom called “Generation X.”
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