Bending the Third Rail
Because We Should, We Can, We Do
Monday, January 23, 2006
Cross Purposes
Suppose I told you that an individual decided to protest the war in Iraq. And suppose I told you that he did it by taking a plot of land and putting 2000 crosses on it. And finally, suppose I told you that his actions caused a significant community controversy.

Would that surprise you? Most people would assume that the "pro-war" voices and "anti-war" voices would be at odds over such behavior .... right?

Au contrar. Not if you live in the most politically fantastic part of the country there is. This story is from our local newspaper:
The "Albion Nation," a counterculture enclave along the Mendocino Coast, is typically a bastion of solidarity, a community of consensus.

Hundreds of political activists, organic farmers, musicians and artists who inhabit the coastal hamlet and the surrounding wooded ridges share liberal political views, environmental practices and a belief in the right to grow and use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

But the usually tight-knit community today is divided over the placement of 2,000 small wooden crosses in a soggy Albion field, an act organizers hoped would draw attention to the mounting loss of American soldiers in Iraq.

[...]

It's not that Albion residents object to the anti-war protest, which was organized by a group led by local Vietnam veteran Gary Moraga. In fact, dozens of people turned out three weeks ago to help Moraga erect the crosses.

Instead, the division focuses on the use of the world's most well-known Christian symbol and whether its use by anti-war proponents to mark a "tragedy of lives lost" on both sides can be seen as a religious statement.

Critics like Marinela Miclea said they fear the use of crosses is at best insensitive.
Ahhh the sweetness. To live in an area where the big community political controversy is whether to use Christian symbols to protest the war or not. Actually, Albion is located about 150 miles north of here, but neighboring Sonoma County (where I live) is rated as one of the 100 top Democratic counties in the nation. Mendocino County is probably in the top 10.

Having lived in a county that was the exact opposite, I can tell you life is sweeter when the Democratic primaries are really the general election because declared Republicans just don't win.

This story is also instructive in that it suggests that no matter where you are on the political spectrum, there's always someone with which to argue.
Written at 10:14 AM by Greyhair.
3 comments
3 Comments:
Blogger Lynne said...
I see their point. I'm also tired of political correctness gone awry.
Perhaps they could use empty chairs (as was done in Oklahoma City) or pairs of empty shoes.
I hope they keep their disagreement civil. Are they accepting new residents? Sounds like a great place to me.
11:06 AM  
Blogger Greyhair said...
What's really interesting about your comment is that Mendicino County, like many "blue" areas is quite expensive.

So, yes. You can move right in ... if you can afford to live there. I don't know about Mendicino County, but the median home price in Sonoma county is $575K. But, relative to the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area, it's a bargain!
11:12 AM  
Blogger Lynne said...
Just as soon as I win that lottery...
1:00 PM  
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