It's been almost a week, but unfortunately the City of Ferguson, Missouri continues to be in the spotlight. It's hard to keep up with the news, which changes almost hourly. Based on the headlines you might think the entire area is in turmoil. You'd be wrong.
Ferguson covers a little over six square miles. The unrest and riots have been confined to a very small portion of the city. Yesterday Hubby Tony and I listened to a local radio show as we were getting ready for bed. The host talked to a few restaurant owners in downtown Ferguson whose business had dropped off as a result of the disturbance. Tonight we decided to show our support for the area.
There are about two dozen restaurants and food service places in the downtown area, most of them along South Florissant Road. We chose the Ferguson Brewing Company where we enjoyed an awesome meal. We weren't alone; I heard the large group at the table next to ours talking and it sounded like they were there for the same reason.
After dinner we went to church at the nearby Our Lady of Guadalupe church. The Mass was very inspirational and uplifting. I wasn't surprised that the topic of the nearby violence came up several times, but each time they focused on what we could do to help alleviate it.
Five years ago today: Summer's Bounty
good for you supporting the town. Yes, news travels fast, especially the bad stuff.
ReplyDeleteEven faster in the age of social media.
DeleteI kind of half way watched the news tonight and was under the impression from what little I saw of the Ferguson segment that the whole town was pretty much under turmoil. Good to hear that it's not.
ReplyDeleteThe media's insistence on sensationalism does make it seem that way.
DeleteI hope cooler heads prevail all around, soon. Good for the public spirit supporting the life of the town.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, too!
DeleteGreat post because it shows your heart.
ReplyDeleteThe News, shows what "they" want not what is the real truth. We all need to read between the lines and find truth.
I think there's THREE sides to every story....yours, mine, and the truth.
DeleteI think of you every time I hear more reports from Ferguson. What a kind and proactive thing you did to help out the local merchants who are suffering. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your nice words :-)
DeleteThe churches in Fresno were urged to speak to this and how we can work in our communities on forgiveness, reconciliation, and racial integration. I have friends who get scared when they see young black men walking in the street. EVen though the young men are not menacing.
ReplyDeleteWe're all interrelated. This is indeed a national issue....one that won't be solved easily.
DeleteI just read, on another blog, about the school system in Ferguson not being accredited. Perhaps this is where we need to put the effort. http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/white-district-sends-black-kids-back-failed-schools
DeleteIt's a tragic situation. The vast majority of Ferguson isn't in this school district (instead, it's in the Ferguson-Florissant district), but I don't know how much difference a boundary makes in this instance. Things have changed yet again since that article was writtten...students CAN choose to attend suburban districts, but many of them are staying put so they can have a little stability
DeleteAnd this blog post from Diane Ravitch just sent me through the roof: http://dianeravitch.net/2014/08/14/this-was-michael-browns-high-school/
ReplyDeleteYes, Ferguson needs justice, justice in the school system.
Sadly, the district has been on a downhill slope for at least 35 years.
DeleteWow Kathy it has been big news here too. Good on you for doing that. Very thoughtful indeed. I hope things can settle down again soon.
ReplyDeleteI hope it settles down again soon, too!
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