The odious machine Part III
Finally, before you think I’m some crazy right wing nutjob, here are photos of my parents back in the 60s.
My mom was at Woodstock. My dad owned and operated a healthfood store from the late 60s to mid 70s at the corner of Ashby and Shattuck. You don’t much more dirty hippy than owning a health food store on a main intersection in Berkeley in the 60s. My in laws both came to Berkeley in the 70s. My mother in law even owned and operated a flower shop over in North Berkeley back then, while being a crazy Marxist, too. Dirty hippies abound in my ancestry.
And as far as trees are concerned, both my mom and my mother-in-law are botanists. I grew up surrounded by a series of botany-oriented home businesses, each one less successful than the last. After long days at school, I would come home to pruning or weeding or planting or soil distribution. My mom had 2 greenhouses in our backyard growing up. Further, as previously noted, my mother-in-law owned a flower shop in Berkeley in the 70s. Later, my in-laws would own and operate a plant installation business in Miami. My connection to botany is strong.
So, I come from a long line of dirty Berkeley plant hippies. Well, dirty Berkeley plant hippies and Jews. But until Jon Stewart climbs an oak tree, let’s just focus on the more important aspects here, ok? I gots me the street cred. I care deeply about the growth of Berkeley as a local, state, and national city. I want sustainable growth for our fair city. One aspect of that growth is maintaining its stark physical beauty. We get to live, work, and watch Cal football in one of the most amazing settings in the world. Certainly, none among us want to jeopardize that. Nonetheless, the positive benefits of this Memorial Upgrade plan FAR outweigh the negative benefits.
I just hope one Alameda County Judge realizes that.
GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great post! You should send this to Sandy Barbour and Birgeneau.
Comment by Nathan — February 25, 2007 @ 5:11 am
You are doing a wonderful job of bringing the truth to light. Thank you for everything you do!
Comment by Seth — February 25, 2007 @ 1:28 pm