Remember when the "green community" plan for the old school property got ballyhooed for a time, propped up of course by the local commercial news media? The media can get played on these things. Glory-seekers on behalf of various projects work to ensure their work gets "recognition."
In the case of the green community, this even won some sort of award. The award was really puffed in the media, as I recall. The green community ended up as real as a unicorn. We ended up with totally typical development of the property. The apartment buildings there appear to have worked out terrific. Years from now, Morris residents will need a reminder that this plot of ground was once the hub of so much public school activity and excitement.
But, a "green community?" It was a bureaucrat's pipe dream, a glory-seeker's pipe dream. Snare an award and put on your resume. Neat little racket IMHO.
These thoughts are prompted by a new award that has similar underpinnings. Now we're talking the softball complex. Something about that place rubbed me the wrong way right from the start. The long row of people assembled for the "ground-breaking." Hardly any ground needed to be "broken" for this thing. The shovels were cute, though.
The people in photo want to be associated with the project: good for their resume. They are always so resume-conscious.
The softball project looks like a big mess now. The former UMM field has gotten torn up. It had brick dugouts. Have those been moved yet? And if they do get moved, is it worth the trouble? I personally stopped by for three UMM softball games last spring and the fans appeared totally happy with what was there. It is certain that the fans will not be accommodated as well at the new varsity field, the field named for the high school coach.
I am told that I am far from being the only person having expressed concern about fan seating at the new place. Are we "stuck" with it? I repeat: are we "stuck" with it? Will fans from other towns come here and cuss out the place? The old UMM field had fences that were short enough that adults of average height could watch from over them.
So what are we seeing on the radio station news website? Are we seeing a constructive exploration into how progress will be made at the place? Enough funding for this? Work to facilitate fan viewing, even if it means alternatives to what's there now? I had read that the new softball field in Hancock has dugouts that fans can sit on. That's enterprising. I should take a look sometime.
I was sports editor of the Hancock newspaper for about 15 years, did not miss a single week, as I recall. Forum Communications killed the Hancock newspaper. The Forum made the Morris newspaper a mere weekly. It killed the free weekly shopper. Good sources indicated the Forum was planning on closing the Morris paper when the Anfinsons swept here, on Gossamer wings.
So, is Marshall of the Morris radio station taking an objective view with issues related to the softball complex, asking why its present state is so limited? No, because you see, when you write for the commercial media, there are certain forces pulling at you. If you do not reinforce the glory-seekers and award-winners, if you actually choose to question them sometimes, you're branded a "negative" person. You will be shunned, at least by that class of people, the kind of people who gave us the "green community" for the old school property.
You'll find that the common people such as those at the Eagles Club on Friday night will consider you quite normal and reasonable. But these are not the people who will hold your fate.
The trendsetters throw their weight around. So right now they're crowing about an "award" that I place in the same category as the green community thing.
Marshall of the radio station previews a school board meeting set for Monday. We see a photo of the smiling school board members. It isn't out of their pockets that the softball complex is being underwritten. And hey, if this project were actually impressive by now, I'd certainly comment appropriately. What about parking there? Next spring, will rows of cars continue to be seen on both sides of Prairie Lane going east toward the bypass? With kids dashing in and out between parked cars?
And if lights get established for games at the main fields, will such a scene happen after dark? The media should of course be asking these questions, and now. Oh no, instead we get a posting by Marshall announcing that, as part of Monday's agenda, there will be "a presentation by Minnesota Community Education Region 9 representative Matt Dickerson of an Outstanding Project Award for the Morris Community Softball Complex."
Like crime, death and taxes, this sort of stuff continues to go on. As "Dr. Evil" of the "Austin Powers" movies would say, "let Daddy do his work."
This project has already crossed a line for impropriety when the superintendent - shall we say the former superintendent - went on a Marshall interview and suggested a re-design. The interview was irritating with its glibness. "Re-design" was Marshall's word, and the real suggestion (veiled) was a downsizing. It was downsized from the original grandiose drawing that was used to lure donors/suckers.
Less parking? Parking is the No. 1 problem area there now.
So the award on Monday will be for an "outstanding project." These people throw around the word "outstanding" the way the former U.S. president throws around the words "fuck" and "fucking." It's disgusting.
Marshall could have become a little confrontational with that Ferguson fellow, when Ferguson was suggesting the downsizing. Just like Marshall could have taken on Jeff Backer when Backer was making statements suggesting skepticism about the covid vaccine. I wonder if Backer is as fond of the "f" word as the leader of his political party.
Problem for Marshall would be, such a stance might cost him his job. I understand what it's like being on that turf. Once you sense a "party line" among the stuffed shirts of this community, you'd better go along with it. The nice folks at the Eagles Club won't be able to bail you out. I could substitute the Met Lounge. Actually I don't patronize either.
I fondly remember the days when, as a "working person," I'd stop by the Met in late afternoon on Christmas Eve and get my complimentary Tom and Jerry. Makes me misty.
Addendum: I probably learned the "glory-seeker" term from the late Morris Mayor Merlin Beyer. He used it in the same context as yours truly. He set the standard as a community leader. Even after wading into a school district-based controversy in the late 1980s, he showed his stature by getting elected mayor on a write-in basis. So, the teachers didn't run the town after all.
Addendum #2: So this morning there are news reports blaring that the U.S. president from 2016-2020 says that Jews are in charge of the New York Times. Is it possible for the Christmas spirit to overcome some of this stuff? I really don't think so. It's getting worse.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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