Wednesday, February 18, 2004

So, a red light district in Fayetteville ...

What has happened to the Fayetteville I had come to know and love? When I moved here 38 years ago, everyone knew everyone, knew their mother’s maiden name, and which uncle not to mention because he was an alcoholic. Deals were made with handshakes and you could enjoy going to church without the latest board of deacons greeting you with their hands out. You could stand in the middle of Main Street on a Saturday morning and not worry about being run over.

Now it seems the city elected officials are more concerned with cramming their points of view down our throats, whether we like it or not.

They talk of leveling homes that have been in place for 100 years, to make a park. Council meeting time is being wasted on whether a perfectly charming moose, standing regally out front of a restaurant, far from downtown, can remain in place.

Yet downtown there is a music store that has loud speakers out front on warm days, blaring music and making us look like a honky-tonk town to passersby. Now this place of business has a red light blinking in its window.

I grant you that we have had our share of characters throughout the last 180 years, but we’ve managed to escape having a red light district, and frankly, I see no point in starting one now.

And, oh, yes, there’s a place of business on the square that’s had a sheet hanging up in its window for weeks.

An adorable moose a mile north of town, or a honky-tonk, red light district right on our historic old courthouse square. Guess which one I would vote for.

Carolyn Cary

Fayetteville, Ga.