Doctor My Eyes

Doctor my eyes have seen the years,
and the slow parade of fears,
without crying.
Now I want to understand.

I have done all that I could
to see the evil and the good,
without hiding.
You must help if you can.

Doctor my eyes,
tell me what is wrong.
Was I unwise to
leave them open for so long?

As I have wandered through this world
and as each moment has unfurled,
I've been waiting
to awaken from these dreams.

People go just where they will.
I never noticed them until
I got this feeling
that it's later than it seems.

Doctor my eyes,
tell me what you see.
I hear their cries.
Just say if its too late for me.

Doctor my eyes,
I cannot see the sky.
Is this the price
for having learned how not to cry?

--Jackson Browne

I really like that song. It's a song from my childhood. Jackson Browne always got played in the mini-van on the way down the shore. We'd all listen to the open tones and sincere lyrics and watch for the sand to appear along the curbline. Honestly, I think that the music you listen to when you're young, the music that your parents play for you- influences your poetic sense, your own ideas about self- expression, how words are supposed to go together... streaming like the sand along the road, or crashing like the waves against your heels.

As you can see, I am most comfortable streamlining my thoughts, running them into one another and using far too many commas. hehe I guess I have a thing for dramatic pause. Maybe it's ego, or maybe I'm just very particular about the reading experience and understanding that takes place after I've left and moved on.

It's probably both, though mostly ego.

I'm really dehydrated.

And here you have it folks, the response from the University came this afternoon as I prepared myself for some PB&J time. It's a good feeling to get a response, and to be able to tell that letters and emails are actually read. Or maybe just the awesome ones like mine. haha. anyway try to enjoy it as much as i did.
-----------------

Dear Genevieve:

President McCormick has asked me to respond to your message
of February 20, 2005 concerning the naming of sandwiches at the College
Avenue "grease trucks."

In your message, you express a clear sense of the complexity of the
issues surrounding this case. In particular, you note the need to
support freedom of expression and to protect a supportive learning
environment for all members of the University community.

As you know, the food vendors who operate the "grease trucks" on College
Avenue are granted permission to use university property under a
contractual arrangement supervised by Rutgers' Parking and
Transportation Services. Licensed vendors must agree to abide by
various regulations intended to best serve the Rutgers community, as
well as the public. Their contractual obligations include providing
copies of posted menu items; showing respect to all students, faculty
members and staff; and operating in a professional, courteous manner.
Consistent with its rights under the food vendor contracts, the
university has enforced those provisions by requiring vendors to remove
offending language from their posted menus.

Thank you for your commitment to the responsibility we all share to
encourage the growth and development of a strong sense of community here
at Rutgers University.

Sincerely,

Greg Blimling

Gregory S. Blimling
Vice President

I AM MY FATHER'S DAUGHTER.

http://www.dailytargum.com/news/2005/02/16/PageOne/Students.Split.On.Grease.Truck.Names-865457.shtml

http://www.dailytargum.com/news/2005/02/14/Opinions/Censored.Grease.Trucks-862608.shtml?page=2

http://feministing.com/


Ok so after reading some articles, seeing it myself, and getting a petition through an IM, I've decided to do something. Sure it's not much, but perhaps my father's influecne has finally amounted to something in me. I'm all for the freedom of the individual, but in the same breath I am for the responsibility of the individual, and when those two aspects don't coincide, something must be done. Also, there are fights to fight, and fights not to fight. This is not today's fight. These kids speak of traditions being lost, dear traditions that are above offense... but these kids aren't worried about traditions. They just don't want to lose their cuss words. Well children, today is not the day to fight mom and dad because you're sister is old enough and confidant enough to object to you naming your fish "stinky sister". So I sent the president of rutgers an email today. Check out the links above for the speedy story catch up. (hehe, that wasnt an intentional pun.. but hey why not) (if u get that, i love you) -- so yeah. enjoy.

President McCormick,

There is fear at Rutgers. I have been approached with a petition which opposes the censorship of Grease Truck sandwich names. I disagree with this petition because I feel that as a member of the Rutgers community I am responsible for the well-being of the rest of the community.

Normally I am the type of person to sign any sort of petition because I believe in active participation on the part of citizens in any sort of government, however this letter is a letter of support, and a challenge to be more than just a politically correct force in the community, but a community building force. Rutgers College is known to greatly lack any sort of semblance of community, and I see that as a big problem.

I understand that people will appeal to you that there is a sense of tradition being betrayed by the censorship of these sandwich names. However to this I would argue that wherever the tradition of a community is hateful and fearful, there is a need to dissolve such traditions. I also understand that some of the words aren't specifically offensive to any particular group, but are still "bad words". To this I confess that some of the words chosen as controversial I would have let slide, however I recognize that it is a very thin line between offensive language and college common-speak.

With all of the acts of violence and hate that have terrified and raped our community in the past year and a half, I see no reason to delay acts that will secure some sort of moral responsibility and security in this community. Truthfully, I think in most situations censorship is wrong, however I refuse to tolerate any instance of racism, sexism, or homophobia, and so I stand with you behind your decision and with the people of this community whom have urged it's action.

-Genevieve Purcell '07