Gwinnett Forum.com -- Gwinnett County's community forum and idea exchange

TODAY'S ISSUE
Neighborhoods across USA won't be the same any more
By Jo Ann Pinder
Librarian, Gwinnett Public Library
Special to GwinnettForum.com

Many of our memories of Mr. Rogers include him singing this song and changing into his tennis shoes and sweater. Mine go much further back. Growing up in Pittsburgh where he started his career in children's television behind the camera for WQED, he was, for me, the man behind Daniel Striped Tiger.

Daniel, Henrietta Pussycat and King Friday XIII entertained me after school for my all elementary school years on a black and white TV show called The Children's Corner. I was a proud member of the Tame Tiger Club, which had as an entry requirement eating hamburgers with various toppings. As my picky food preferences included distaste for onions and many of the other required toppings, this was a difficult club to join. But, I did.

During my graduate school days at the University of Pittsburgh, I saw Mr. Rogers walking in Oakland on several occasions. By now he was in front of the camera as the star of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood", giving children nationwide the wonderful experiences Pittsburghers had enjoyed for years.

The graduate school library had his collection of early puppets on display. What a great stress reliever it was to sit in front of my early childhood television friends as I studied for finals.

Several years ago, the Pittsburgh Children's Museum had an interactive exhibit of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood including several sweaters to try on. My two sisters, my brother, six of my nieces and nephews (all under 7) and I had a wonderful afternoon at that exhibit as we shared with the new generation our childhood memories.

In December when I flew to Pittsburgh for the holidays, the first familiar object to greet me was one of Mr. Rogers' faded sweaters in a display case. Pittsburgh is proud of this Western Pennsylvania native son showcasing him in the same prime space as H. J. Heinz catsup and a dinosaur from the Carnegie Museum.

On Thursday with Mr. Rogers' death, my childhood also suffered loss. He was a memory of simpler times-when red meat was good for you, when ducking under your school desk with your hands over your head would protect you from all the world's evils and the Twin Towers had not even been built.

Thank you, Mr. Rogers for all your work for children. Your new neighborhood is getting a wonderful neighbor.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Mainz good spot for research on German Fassenacht
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

MARCH 4, 2003 -- With today "Fat Tuesday" on the Mardi Gras schedule, the topic is our recent trip to Mainz, Germany. It was purely for research on the German version of Mardi Gras, called, depending on where you are in Germany, "Fasching" or "Fassenacht" or "Karneval." The areas along the Rhine River, and in Munich, are centers of this celebration.

Mainz, once the key city in all of Germany in Roman times, and an ancient archbishopric, is a major locale for Fassenacht. This begins on November 11, and lasts until Rosenmontag, the Monday before Lent, which begins tomorrow. There are big parties two or three nights a week after January 1. Some 50 "karneval clubs" in the city compete, with celebrations being marathon five hour performances, with only a 30 minute break for snacks. Wine, since Mainz is the center of the largest wine region of Europe, is preferred.

These "indoor" (or Sitzungen) activities are far from boisterous, more thought-provoking and satirical, but always fun. It's a mix of vaudeville acts, stand-up comedians, ensemble dancing, marching bands...all aimed at the idea of simple...merrymaking.

After each act (all amateurs), they are sent off with a sideways handwaving repeated three times: "Helau, helau, helau (hello)."

Then on "Rosenmontag"---that was yesterday---there are enormous parades in German towns, lasting 2-3 hours. This is the "outdoor" part, where there is much lampooning of political figures in giant paper-mache figures, some 20 feet tall. Worldwide political figures are the targets. Clubs vie for having the best float, figure, ideas...and again, all aimed at merrymaking and spoofing.

Having lived in Germany for three years, but not fully understanding the Fasching craze, we wanted a first hand view. We got it by staying at a German editor's home, you might say, from the "inside." We also got choice seats, once, at a table with among others, the oberburgomeister.

At the Mainz-Kastel Karneval Club, with 650 people present, we learned whenstarted in 1947 it had once been called the "Atlanta Club." The name was picked to be neutral, and had nothing to do with Georgia. They even awarded me a special club hat. There are less than 100 active members, so this was a distinctive honor.

At another Sitzungen, we were with 2,500 in an enormous hall, another festive setting. All the proceedings were in German, and while I can pick up and speak a little, in general, it was over my head. Yet laughter came easily, though we may not have understood the many nuances.

Mainz is across the Rhine River from Wiesbaden. There is an intense rivalry between the cities. Both are state capitals, Mainz of Rhineland-Pfalz, and Wiesbaden of Hesse. Many of the stories we heard at the celebrations were sure to get a bellylaugh if they ended up poking fun at Wiesbaden, much like Georgians tell stories of Alabamans. At least I could understand it was time to laugh when I heard the punch line..."Mit eine Wiesbadener?"

Fassenacht celebrations in Mainz have their origins in the French Revolution. Before the revolution, ordinary people could not criticize their leaders. But the "egalite-fraternite-liberte" of the Revolution opened the doors to a worldwide democratic movement. Couple that with merrymaking, plus the pre-Lenten celebrations, and the result is today's partying, good times, and lampooning.

Being in Mainz for Fassenacht gave a new understanding to this old tradition. Even after living in Germany for three years, this opened up a different vista.

FEEDBACK
3/4: Comes up with new design for black and white flag

Editor, the Forum:

Ross Willis's piece last week proposing a black and white state flag has inspired me to write after a long absence.

I agree that a black and white flag would appear on the surface to appease the two factions of black and white, but just as important as the colors is the design.

I have long proposed the color be black and white and white and black (whew! that covered the political correctness). Each color would have the exact equal representation without regard to any population percentage so we won't have to address square inch ratios following each ten-year census count.

If the color and design is properly done one could easily pick it out of a mass of flags and be proud to be a Georgian, seeing our state flag proudly wave. It should be one that even former Georgians could take pride in and wherever they may roam across this great land and even abroad.

Possibly people in other lands might think it so beautiful that they will promote the land of "wisdom, justice, moderation" without even knowing it, waving it in their own countries on special occasions such as certain sporting events.

It should reflect our past, present, and future and contain no verbiage (especially English since State of Georgia will be Estat de Jorgia in the near future).

I give you the new state flag: the black and white and white and black-checkered flag waved at the end of every motor race.

I just can't find PC in my life unless it's a PC, onion rings, and two dogs walkin' at The Varsity.

-- Howard N. Williams Jr., Snellville

3/4: No rush for new flag, but let's do it right

Editor, the Forum:

I read someone's suggestion that we should all note that the first flag signifying this state was a solid white background with a royal blue square with Georgia emblem -wisdom, justice and moderation. I have not checked authenticity. I believe DAR uses this - I'm sure that a historian of that organization would clarify quickly.

Georgia was the 13th and last colony. What could be better? Can some get this idea to Governor Perdue? While we are changing we should adopt something that is truly Georgia's from 1733.

Whatever we do, let's do with it with thought reverence and dignity. There's no rush.

-- Loretta Roberts, Suwanee

3/4: Says system educating children in fine style

Editor, the Forum:

Thank you for stepping up to the plate and advocating for the good job that Gwinnett County Public School system does in educating our children. If I remember local issues correctly, a few years ago these Board members were elected because parents wanted accountability in our schools. The school system staff as done this and done it well. Now the rest of the state is doing the same.

-- Elleene Jones Morgan, Snellville

3/4: Wants better labeling in organic food products

Editor, the Forum::

I was disheartened to read Section 771 of the 2003 Agriculture Appropriations Act, introduced by Rep. Nathan Deal. This provision, at its core, encourages deceptive labeling of supposedly organically produced food products.

Only producers who find our nation's existing laws to be financially inconvenient can stand to benefit. I certainly hope similar provisions are not put in place for automobile safety features. Imagine General Motors and Ford deciding to label all cars as having airbags while actually supplying only some cars with this feature.

I take the rationale embodied in Section 771 as yet another sign of the increasing venality of our society. I can feel only outrage and embarrassment when I consider that a supposedly God-fearing individual who is entrusted with the well being of my fellow citizens introduced such a measure.

-- Mike Todd, Oakland, Calif.