Paul Goldfinger photo. 2023. Ocean Grove. This town needs to get focused.
Ocean Grove. Even the gulls read the Coaster. Paul Goldfinger photo. June, 2023.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net
In the recent past there were some issues between the CMA and the secular resident community. These included ground rents, elimination of secular shows at the GA, expansion of the CMA’s religious activities including mega-events to dominate the town during prime seasons, parking–resident stickers, CMA signage, CMA misuse of language–eg referring to themselves as “Ocean Grove,” religious events that should have been for all–eg the fountain dedication, and others besides.
But now there are more serious confrontations being hurled at the CMA, and some of them seem to be intentionally provocative for religious, political or legal reasons.
A new group, “Neptune United” seems to be particularly focused on LGBTQ “bigotry” in the Grove.
Citizens of OG should view these charges with an eye to fairness, legal rights, facts, and intentions. Are these issues causing unnecessary havoc in the Grove?
Examples include the current uproar over Sunday beach closures, pier cross shape, and tiny crosses on beach badges. But even that is not enough. We see that current complaints are having a meme effect as reflected in ill-informed rhetoric on social media–specifically Next Door, Coaster, and certain sites on Facebook.
Notice the latest article in the Coaster about delayed beach openings on Sundays. This is an old topic being inflamed by the Coaster editors–it is hardly new news.
The Coaster will publish any unfair and unvetted points of view that come its way, especially in the letters to the editor. They are desperate for material other than the Bartender of the Week.
Blogfinger ran a critique recently about one such letter. If you haven’t seen it, please do so. The main theme is that such bullying is not based on proof, and that any public criticisms of the CMA should be fact- based.
Here is a link to that BF piece one week ago:
Now, once again a Coaster letter (6/15/23) contains unproven charges and blame-game accusations including: “bigotry; intolerance; illegal beach closure; loudspeakers that scream the Calvary Chapel; evangelical Christian mega-church messages; discrimination; offensive traditions; and consistent changes in our community.”
The same writer said, “Ninety percent of secular activities and entertainment has been eliminated and replaced with Christian Nationalist functions, such as Bridgefest.”
And then there is: “Too many of us Ocean Grove residents of all ages, religions, whether straight or LGBTQ+ were feeling marginalized and even threatened in our beloved, beautiful community.”
So now we have a deepening of discord, and in my opinion, most of this rhetoric is not true and is not, so far, backed up with facts. Citizens have to speak out before this woke avalanche of exaggeration and accusations drowns us all in what Churchill warned when he said, “Must we fall into the jabber and babel of discord?” And are we at risk of a. holy war here?
Just because a few individuals speak forcefully about being “offended” doesn’t mean that they must be taken seriously without facts. And what are the damages from being offended?
You all should read what is said in the latest Coaster and other sources of mis-information, and then make up your own minds about the state of Ocean Grove. And you should encourage Mayor What’s-His-Name to intercede and insure that truth is told in the Grove part of his township–the part which his government calls “The Historic District” on a sign outside OG.
He and his Committee can no longer hide under the bed when such charges are leveled in the Grove because the CMA is part of the issues, and he cannot just step aside and assume that truth will prevail in his town.
Pretty soon these matters will spread nationally and then he will have a public relations uproar to deal with. That happened in 2007 with the civil union to-do at the Boardwalk Pavilion.
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT at Carnegie Hall:
“Heartburn”
“Is this heartbreak or is this heartburn?
Can I be spared from being so dramatic?
Gotta learn the difference when I love ya
The difference when I love ya and that derailed rollercoaster.”
And here’s something for the CMA. Thank you for the beautiful music you bring for all of us:
BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA: