Who Knew ?

Found this on WXI's web site other day...All I can say is "Well Duh"

Reported By: Jaye Watson
Web Editor: Tracey Christensen
Last Modified: 7/8/2006 3:15:06 PM


A new book slated for release this fall is setting off a firestorm in Metro Atlanta. The book entitled "The Absolutely Worst Places to Live in America" names Atlanta, College Park, Douglasville and Hinesville among the bottom of the list.

The author, Dave Gilmartin, said people may refer to the city as "Hotlanta" but he calls it a pseudo McCity. However, Gilmartin said Atlanta is paradise compared to Douglasville.

Douglasville Mayor Mickey Thompson read the ridicule about his town. "It was a total surprise," Thompson said. In his criticism, Gilmartin said Douglasville might as well be called "Hee Haw Town, USA" and that it's always been a simple slow-paced place for rednecks and hillbillies.

"Actually it is a slow-paced place. However, we consider that a plus, and as far as rednecks yeah, we have some, but we have business people, people from all over the world moving in," said resident Sue Roberts.

The book is supposed to be a humorous travel guide but sometimes it's hard to laugh when you're the one being singled out unfavorably and, Mayor Thompson believes, unfairly.

"Douglasville has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the state of Georgia with a population of more than 25,000 for a number of years," the mayor said.

Gilmartin also criticized Hinesville as the sort of town everyone talks about moving away from. He called College Park "a realm of crime, razed buildings and televangelists currently in the midst of a transition from community to runway."

The citizens and officials there are not amused.

"I think this is a great city next door to the busiest airport in the world. We have a tremendous amount of development going on in our community," said College Park city manager William Johnson.

Some College Park residents would like to know how Gilmartin picked their city to pick on. Several calls placed to Gilmartin's publisher were not returned to 11Alive News.

I like the part about the hillbillies...

Epitaph

My brother called me this afternoon and informed me that Steven, his best friend had suffered a tragedy. Stevens's youngest child, a boy three years of age named Caleb, was killed today. He was struck down when he ran in front of a moving ice cream truck.

I have no words of either of sardonic commentary or poetic grief to say. I have stared at this goddamn screen for over an hour searching for such and have found none. All I have to offer are my pointless tears.

I have known Steven since he was two and I watched him grow up with my baby brother and indeed I hold him very near a younger brother to my own heart. What else can be said? I grieve though no doubt it is nothing to pain Steven and his family have had thrust upon them. My brother too…They all witnessed the horror right before their eyes…I can imagine nothing more awful.

The world burns with these little obscenities. Maybe the more of us in the world that know of them can lessen the weight of the burden carried by the few who suffer them directly. I doubt this is true but what else is left to comfort us?

The only thing I can say is that I wish with all my heart this didn't happen. To be more detailed I suppose I should say I wish this had not happened to little Caleb, Stevens family and Kevin. That is an awful, vain and selfish wish true. Pain makes us so to a small degree. What makes us Human is overcoming such vain wishes . . . To at one time wish such a tragedy had not befallen one of our own and at the same time not to wish it on any other. In the end we all are human and everyone else is our own. Ones grief is grief to all of us. Empathy for another and the ability to care raise us above the savage within. I hope any wondering eye that finds this trite little passage will take a moment no matter how brief and grieve for Steven, Stevens family and friends, Kevin and above all for innocent little Caleb.

Peace to all.