A bleak, rainy Monday reveals a dark cloud over the new OG pier. Paul Goldfinger photo. 3/13/23. Blogfinger.net. Click to enlarge
NOTE: 3/15/23. Because of the ongoing interest. (#1 on Blogfinger) we are keeping this post on top. For those who think that theses issues are unimportant to Grovers, this steady interest in recent days suggests the opposite. We have not been polling because we cannot trust that voters will be honest. This is based on experience. But for those of you who want to be heard, just send us a comment or an email. Click on comment below or email to Blogfinger@verizon.net. Please keep it short and note our rules on top. Tell us if you want your name or a pseudonym.
Posted on Blogfinger.net March 13, 2023 with some ongoing minor editing.
By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Blogfinger.net Editor and CIC. (Complainer In Chief.)
The new pier will be opening around Memorial Day, but the pier concept remains in the news. Dated March 13, NJ.com reports on their interview with CMA President Michael Badger. Some quotes from that interview are below, plus we have posted a link:
“Michael Badger, President of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, shows the reconstructed Ocean Grove pier in Ocean Grove on Thursday. (photo below from NJ.com). Railings and light posts still need to be installed.
“Officials with the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, a Methodist ministry, said last year the idea to reconstruct the pier into a cross shape came about during the design process and they make “no apologies” for the symbolism.
“We don’t mean to hurt anyone and we don’t mean to offend anyone,” Badger said.
“At the same time, Badger added, ‘we are Christians and we are going to continue to be Christians in the public square, on our private lands.'”
(Boldface and italics are ours. Blogfinger.net)
Blogfinger: Once again the media gets it wrong about Ocean Grove by emphasizing two main actors in this ongoing controversy: The OG Camp Meeting Association and the LGBTQ community. The latter is over emphasized.
This is what the NJ.com reporter said, “Some local officials and members of the LGBTQ+ community have raised questions about putting religious symbols in public spaces.”
Firstly, which “local officials” have raised such questions? They do not because they are cowards or they may have conflicts of interest. They do not respect the voters of Ocean Grove.
And once again there is failure to accurately assess the Grove where the largest faction is the residents (homeowners and renters,) a group that is diverse and largely secular and provide most of the criticisms regarding the domination of the Grove by the CMA.
NJ.com photo shows Michael Badger with reporter being interviewed. The cross shape is unmistaken once a person actually stands on the pier as in this photo. Also the cross end of the pier is of a different color and functional construction material.
The NJ.com piece. (link above) went exploring at the Neptune United web site. neptuneunited.org
Neptune United, a new activist group in town, continues to go after the CMA not only because of the cross pier, but because of the growing numbers of Christian symbols and practices all over the public areas of secular residential Ocean Grove. Take a look at the ROSI list for Neptune where tax exemptions for private properties are posted—(-if you can find it.)
Blogfinger has been critical of these matters for several years now, and searches of BF can be done for those who are interested by using our search box at top of this page. And we will re-post some of our earlier pieces regarding these topics.
We are supportive of the efforts of Neptune United as they carry the ball forward pointing out that OG is largely a secular residential community. Areas of town which are acknowledged to be public spaces, such as parks, boardwalk, beach, walk ways, entrances to town, etc. should be subjected to separation of church and state, regardless that the CMA owns the land.
The quote above: “We are Christians and we are going to continue to be Christians in the public square, on our private lands” reveals that the CMA wants it both ways.
In a remarkable discussion at their web site, Neptune United concludes:” Examples demonstrate a disregard for secular and non-religious residents who must coexist with the OGCMA, a disregard for the separation of church and state, and a disregard for the effect these symbols have on promoting a welcoming place for all religious and secular believers.”
We support this conclusion. (Blogfinger bold face.)
Hopefully these legitimate concerns can be discussed with fairness and the law in mind, but the CMA has shown no inclination to seriously compromise on any of this.
We at Blogfinger have supported the CMA during our 14 years in the Grove, but always in a framework that includes the large residential and secular community here, of which I am a member.
This town will change in the future and hopefully it will become a shore community that is open equally to all religions, minorities, and beliefs.
If the CMA cannot see that, then it is doomed to failure in the future because of the majority who make this town their home, who will consider living here in the future, who pay taxes, and who have spent millions of dollars to restore our historic houses. It is that historic uniqueness that attracts so many people to the Grove.
And, in a sharing light, the CMA should do fine enjoying the spotlight with the rest of us, as it has done in the past. But it cannot become a “Christian Seaside Resort” because there are no towns in America that are designed that way. It is unAmerican.
Neptune United has asked for the matter to be “investigated.” Does the CMA really want to turn ugly in the face of activist we-the-people?
Paul Goldfinger, Editor. Blogfinger.net
ETTA JAMES: Speaking of religious geography:
There is a story that the Ottoman ruler, Suleiman the Magnificent, want to test the Christian Crusaders. He had a rug woven with a cross motif and had it laid in front of his seat. The Crusaders did not hesitate to walk on it which Suleiman took as a sign of little respect for their religion.
Ocean Grove is a great place. My favorite place. On the ocean. Many great restaurants in the the Grove and nearby towns. Monmouth Park Race Track just a few miles to the north. Everyone should practice their religion as they please and let everyone else to their own.
I don’t mind the shape of the cross. My problem is with the design. They have made it look like a take off strip. It is not parallel with the boardwalk.
They have complete screwed over all home owners on Embury Avenue. It is now blocking view and breeze. According to the Guidelines, preserving victorian open space, it goes against Historical Preservation.
ILOVEOG. There isn’t much in your comment to disagree with. I get the impression that the cross/pier will not be a problem for most Grovers. But how the pier will be used will be of great interest to all of us.
However if you re-read the article, you will find that there are other issues which concern many of us. I can’t say how many Grovers are interested in those matters because we have no polling, and few citizens in OG have publicly explained how they feel such as you have.
But talking about these controversial issues is called free speech, and I hope that you support that idea.
“Live and let live” is a fine slogan, but sometimes we have to confront matters that affect our quality of life in the Grove.
Paul
At the end who cares about the cross shape? We have to remember how Ocean Grove got here and was founded through the CMA which I am so grateful for. When I saw and discovered this town the first day it was a magical day and still is.
I am gay married and have a family. We have lived here for almost 20 years. I don’t care about the cross because it’s one of the many unique reasons why we came here for the authenticity of the town , charm , and historic preservation.
Sure there are some missteps but be careful what you wish for or we will be another shore town with drinking, development, and non stop noise etc .
This is a special place due to the CMA. Yes I wish some of the offensive church preachers were not coming but I don’t have to listen to them or attend. The good outweighs it. I live, love, and walk to my own drum and have done so happily here for almost 20 years. Let it be .
We must accept each others differences and appreciate and protect what we have here. Live and let live.
I like the pier, It’s not the shape it’s the programs that follow.
I don’t like the crowds, and it is a complete takeover of the public spaces during summer months. We too are Christians no matter where we go but we don’t impose on others which is what the CMA does.
There’s zero consideration for what the rest of the tax paying community would like. It’s a one way street and that doesn’t work.
My suggestion is to listen to your tax base.
With the possibility of tens of thousands of people over the coming years that will be using the pier, I doubt that 99.9% of the people won’t care about its shape. That probably goes for most everything that Neptune United is complaing about. I doubt that very few of the people that the OGCMA is looking to reach, care what Neptune United thinks. I know that I definitely don’t.