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> The attitude of Michigan City
Southsider2k12
post Sep 17 2007, 11:46 AM
Post #1


Spends WAY too much time at CBTL
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From: Michigan City, IN
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I am going to admit my bias here quickly... I loved this letter. I was curious to hear other people'e impressions of it.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=49521.11

QUOTE
Paul Venckus

Writing a eulogy is very difficult. You reminisce about the past. Fun times. Sad times. Mostly good memories of days gone by. Recollections etched in our souls define much of who we are today. How quickly the days, then years slip away.

I first met my friend 44 years ago when I was just 6. We had so much fun at school. Pine School, Barker, then Rogers. There was Shoreland Hills, the beach, skating, parades, fireworks, etc. Who can forget Mount Baldy, the zoo and Marquette Mall? I have this longing to somehow hold onto these memories as I try to write words of hope and meaning.

Hope. Is there any hope? You see, my friend hasn't died yet. But I see the despair, the fear. The disease has spread to a point where only radical surgery can help. But my friend is in denial. She says things will be all right though disease ravages the very marrow of her being. It is a disease of quiet resignation. Of mindless hope that things might be better in the future. I am greatly saddened.

I write that you may somehow help her. I know that you can help her. Unfortunately, I live too far away to be of any real help. But I deeply care about her.

Who holds such a special place in my heart? Her name is Michigan City. These thoughts have been stirring for many years with each new visit deepening my convictions. I've been witnessing this slow decline for the past 30 years. Perhaps the final straw was the YMCA. A place where I learned the value of working hard toward goals from people like Paul Dimke. The countless hours I spent there as a youth. The place is now in the dark. Closed due to apathy. The teaching of toughness, being fair, and doing your best by people like Jerry Karstens seems to be from another era. The sports teams have sunk so far that losing by close margins is almost like a victory. Where is the pride in being your best? Where is the next Doug Adams? In addition, the amount of crime astonishes me. It is absolutely appalling. People move to thriving communities such as Chesterton or Valparaiso to raise their families.

You have a phenomenal asset in Lake Michigan, but then there is the eyesore of NIPSCO. You have vast amounts of land use potential close to the Lake. Think Big. Think Great! You have thousands of good people who have slowly resigned themselves to the fact that the city is in decline and they're helpless to change things for the better. Michigan City, it doesn't have to be this way. Instead of being this decrepit shadow of a once vibrant city, why not strive to once again become this vibrant city?

I know these words will anger some of you. I feel bad about that, but something has to change. Don't expect the politicians to save your city. You are responsible as residents of the city and you need leaders. People who truly have the best interests of the city and people at heart. People with courage, strength and conviction. These leaders may be teachers, businessmen or soccer moms. You need people pulling in the right direction with a much greater vision. I believe these people are already there. They just need to step forward. And these leaders will need your help.

My father-in-law, Nate Winksi, was the type of person who truly cared about the community. Contribution and action were at the core of his character. People like him, his friends and peers, once made this community special. It is now time for a new generation of leaders to step forward. The children are out on the playgrounds, not realizing that their future is in your hands; I implore you to take these words to heart. Your future is sown in the decisions you make today.

Paul Venckus is the owner of Aspen Polymers, Carmel, Ind., and member of the Rogers High School

Class of 1976. His e-mail is paulvenckus@aol.com
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Posts in this topic
southsider2k7   The attitude of Michigan City   Sep 17 2007, 11:46 AM
mcstumper   Just another jag who abandoned Michigan City and t...   Sep 17 2007, 09:08 PM
JHeath   Just another jag who abandoned Michigan City and ...   Sep 18 2007, 08:31 AM
lovethiscity   Just another jag who abandoned Michigan City and ...   Oct 13 2007, 06:57 AM
southsider2k7   Interesting point of view, and I gotta say, I comp...   Sep 18 2007, 08:23 AM
Ang   Jenny, while I'm not going to get involved in ...   Sep 18 2007, 09:58 AM
JHeath   Yes, as any family member should be, I am protecti...   Sep 18 2007, 10:57 AM
Ang   I totally agree with you about the change thing. ...   Sep 18 2007, 01:21 PM
mcstumper   Jenny, If you took my response that I was criticiz...   Sep 18 2007, 02:50 PM
southsider2k7   I have a good friend who is a Springville residen...   Sep 19 2007, 07:47 AM
lovethiscity   Jenny, If you took my response that I was critici...   Oct 13 2007, 07:20 AM
Ang   Keep in mind, recent government release of stat...   Oct 13 2007, 09:51 AM
southsider2k7   An interesting article in the Chicago Suntimes a ...   Oct 13 2007, 01:29 PM
lovethiscity   Yet Freight yard jobs are a big step above the jo...   Oct 14 2007, 09:09 PM
southsider2k7   It is a viscous circle. We are to wipe out any ch...   Oct 15 2007, 07:19 AM
lovethiscity   I'd actually disagree with you, and I would u...   Oct 15 2007, 09:57 PM
southsider2k7   The history you speak of is based on new immigran...   Oct 16 2007, 06:13 AM
lovethiscity   The collapse of the only real middle class jobs 2...   Oct 17 2007, 06:40 PM
southsider2k7   Now we are back to the begining of the thread and...   Oct 18 2007, 06:37 AM
Ang   Well said Stumper. And just out of curiosity, is ...   Sep 18 2007, 03:34 PM
mcstumper   Well said Stumper. And just out of curiosity, is...   Sep 18 2007, 05:01 PM
Ang   I would also like to be involved in a "Frien...   Sep 19 2007, 08:37 AM
mcstumper   Then start one. Put an ad in the paper, post on ...   Sep 19 2007, 05:04 PM
Ang   People often pay for personal fitness trainers, b...   Sep 20 2007, 10:13 AM
Roger Kaputnik   mcstumper posits a very good counterpoint on Paul...   Sep 19 2007, 10:54 AM
mcstumper   Regarding the Ruby Woods, let's find out how ...   Sep 19 2007, 05:02 PM
southsider2k7   You can't afford her! :lol:   Sep 20 2007, 07:02 AM
Roger Kaputnik   Keep us up to speed, maybe there is some way we ca...   Sep 20 2007, 07:41 AM
southsider2k7   An interesting local reply... http://thenewsdispa...   Oct 8 2007, 09:10 AM
Roger Kaputnik   Good discussion, especially the part about looking...   Oct 9 2007, 01:09 PM
RedDevilMC   Open Fighting is within the races now. Crazy. In...   Oct 10 2007, 09:00 AM
Ang   I don't exactly recall the Fedder's Alley ...   Oct 10 2007, 09:12 AM
Roger Kaputnik   Red Devil, I mean fisticuffs, etc. As far as Fedd...   Oct 11 2007, 11:34 AM
Roger Kaputnik   Amen, amen, Southsider!   Oct 15 2007, 08:31 AM
RedDevilMC   I agree with Southsider. My parents relocated to ...   Oct 16 2007, 08:47 AM
mcstumper   We have to build a skilled workforce within our c...   Oct 16 2007, 09:08 PM
RedDevilMC   I LIKE THAT!!! Angie   Oct 16 2007, 09:15 PM
Roger Kaputnik   Your two cents, RedDevil, are worth two golden egg...   Oct 17 2007, 10:34 AM
southsider2k7   Think "State of Opportunity" instead of...   Oct 17 2007, 10:38 AM
Roger Kaputnik   Incidentally, the class gap in this country is wid...   Oct 17 2007, 11:38 AM
Roger Kaputnik   SSider is hitting the nail on the head. That is w...   Oct 18 2007, 11:35 AM
Ang   SSider is hitting the nail on the head. That is ...   Oct 18 2007, 01:14 PM
lovethiscity   SSider is hitting the nail on the head. That is ...   Oct 18 2007, 08:59 PM


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