I forgot about the bus tours. They've been a fact of life for many years. I recall an episode when a busful of school children were brought to the Island for an outing. They were very young, perhaps third- or fourth-graders. This was a walking tour and the rather straggled-out group of children had some city voices at the front lauding the possibility of a football stadium on Nicollet Island. I was at the rear of the group describing how we Islanders were hoping to preserve the houses so that the elderly Islanders who were our friends could live out their days in their familiar setting. "Think about old oak trees," I said, "they can't be transplanted. If they're uprooted, they die and we don't want that to happen to our friends and neighbors." Think about your own lives," I said, "by the time we adults make up our minds about what to do with the Island, you will have children the age you are now. What would you like them to be able to see and do if you brought them here to the Island?"
Of course, the old Islanders are gone now and those of us who lived with them are ourselves well into the grandparenting years. On that long-ago occasion, the children got to meet old Gus Rudy, a widower in his 70s who had preserved his wife's extensive collection of dolls. The old gent and the kids hit it off and the teacher had her class write letters thanking me and Gus for the good time they had on their field trip. I don't recall any mention of football stadiums in those letters, but time has taken its toll. What would you like your children to be able to see and do if you brought them to Nicollet Island? Fred Markus, Ward 6, Phillips West REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
