GwinnettForum | Number 21.28 | April 15, 2022
UKRAINE RELIEF: Efforts to benefit the people of Ukraine are continuing in Gwinnett. The Norcross Gallery and Studios recently held their own fundraiser, which totaled $1,500 for Ukraine relief. Anne Emerson Hall, left, of Atlanta, conceived and organized the event. She is shown with her husband, Larry Hall. Winning the colorful sunflower painting by Anne Labaire was Linda Ellis of Lithonia. Artists were invited to create paintings of sunflowers, a symbol of Ukraine. Other artists participating were Beth Arnold, Cynthia Corbin, Patty Grewe-Mullins, Anne Emerson Hall, Elma Orr, And Adrienne Zinn. Norcross Gallery is an artist-run, community, serving 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, located at 116 Carlyle Street in downtown Norcross.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Is the United States moving toward autocracy?
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Read more responses on caring for someone with Alzheimer’s
ANOTHER VIEW: War. Violence. Greed. All are enemies of civilized life
SPOTLIGHT: The 1818 Club
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
UPCOMING: Gwinnett Place redevelopment plans to be unveiled April 20
NOTABLE: Duluth seeking creative ideas for playable art for downtown
RECOMMENDED: On the Shortness of Life by Lucian Annaeus Seneca, the Younger
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Johnny Mercer wrote for the most popular jazz artists
MYSTERY PHOTO: Try your luck in identifying this beautiful scene
LAGNIAPPE: Rare orange azalea in bloom in Gwinnett
CALENDAR: Recycle at CoolRay Field on April 23
Is the United States moving toward autocracy?
By John Titus
PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. | Increasingly, I am concerned by the challenges facing our nation in the coming years. Most issues are ones that are debated as to which approaches are the best – progressive or conservative. People of good will can often reach compromises which allow solutions to emerge, and progress made. The challenges to which I refer are much more fundamental and involve the norms underlying our democracy.
Titus
In their book, How Democracies Die, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt outline four indicators of authoritarian behavior. The first is a rejection of or weak commitment to democratic rules of the game. Examples of this are undermining the legitimacy of elections and refusal to accept credible election results.
A second is the denial of the legitimacy of political opponents. Examples of this were the questioning of President Barack Obama’s birth status as an American citizen, or suggesting opponents are criminals.
A third is the toleration or encouragement of violence. We saw this in the encouragement of violence against protesters at campaign rallies.
A fourth is the readiness to curtail civil liberties of opponents. Examples of this are declaring that the media are “the enemy of the people” or restricting the right to vote.
We take for granted the commitment of the citizenry to democratic norms. However, over the past few years we have seen a portion of the electorate supporting candidates who often seem to have questionable commitment to democratic norms. It is important that candidates be strongly challenged when their statements or actions are not supportive of our democratic norms. I, for one, will not vote for any candidate who supports the position that the 2020 election was fraudulent or “stolen.”
Levitsky and Ziblatt recognize forbearance as one of our informal rules. They define it as restraint in the exercise of power. The president can do many things unilaterally, but our institutions work better if he exercises restraint.
But this exercise of forbearance needs to be exercised by congressional leadership also. Senator Mitch McConnell’s refusal to hold a hearing or vote on the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court during the last year of the Obama administration was an instance of this informal rule being broken. Such a naked exercise of power weakens the operation of Congress and only invites reprisal by the other party when they are in power. In its own way it is an acceptance of authoritarian behavior.
The extreme partisanship which we have seen in recent years only exacerbates the difficulty of finding solutions to these challenges. Citizens and politicians need to recognize that in the political sphere their rivals are legitimate, patriotic and they can govern legitimately. Members of the opposing party are not enemies, they are opponents. To regard them as enemies only poisons our democracy and encourages authoritarianism.
We need to regain the civility, sense of freedom and shared purpose that characterized our democracy a few decades ago. In this time of increasing racial equality and unprecedented diversity, this is both our challenge and opportunity to “create a more perfect union.”
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Read more on caring for someone with Alzheimer’s
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
APRIL 15, 2022 | Readers might like to know of the outpouring of response to the article Rick Krause wrote about caring for his wife, Sandy. While GwinnettForum had several comments about it, Randy has sent along many others.
We’ll only show some of these comments, without identifying who made them.
“You are so kind and thoughtful to share this with us. What a beautiful job you did on behalf of both you and Sandy in telling your story!”
* * * * *
“This is lovely! I am so happy to see you refer to yourself as a care PARTNER. I wish more people would view themselves that way. I have passed the article on to others.”
* * * * *
“Thank you for this beautifully crafted article. It is such an inspiring yet honest sketch of your journey with the love of your life. Your deep appreciation of who Sandy is and how much she means to you is coming through in a very special way.”
* * * * *
‘’Well done! Enjoyed reading the article. I am sure this will be an inspiration for anyone on this journey. You are quite a writer!’”
* * * * *
Rick and Sandy Krause on Amtrak near Tucson.
‘’Thank you for sharing. I can only admire your honesty and upbeat tenacity on your situation.”
* * * * *
“Your courage and wisdom in ‘accepting life on life’s terms”’ is inspiring, and it’s beautiful to hear of how you care for one another and find joy amidst the challenges. As poet Mark Nepo reminds me, ‘We’re all just walking one another home.’”
* * * * *
“That was an excellent article, very well written. It was totally how you live, and the things you have said, very sincere and helpful to anyone that reads it. You describe it all, plus you gave people insight in how to deal with problems. You always seem peaceful. From a fellow caregiver, whose husband has Alzheimer’s.”
* * * * *
“Your journey is undoubtedly a challenge at times but what strikes me is the courage you two are facing it with.”
* * * * *
“ Oh, Rick! I can’t seem to stop crying as I read your article. I’m so sad thinking about the effects of what’s happening to Sandy and you. Especially when you described the ever changing of what works one day may not the next day. Your article is an amazing one. I see how your spiritual life pervades your writing and of course both of your lives. And how powerfully it enables both of you to live today.”
* * * * *
“You are so kind and thoughtful to share this with us. What beautiful job you did on behalf of both you and Sandy in telling your story!”
* * * * *
“Sandy is beautiful. I have heard you talk about her and how nice that I now know what she looks like as you shared the picture of you two in the article.”
* * * * *
“(As a fellow caregiver) positive, grateful, and happy are attitudes I hope we maintain too. Thanks for your quiet yet powerful example of living as a couple with this disease!”
* * * * *
“To my way of thinking, the ways you and Sandy are dealing with your circumstances are answers to prayer and your caring relationship through this difficult time is a miracle.”
Thanks for these comments, and those of many others, for sending them to Sandy and Rick Krause.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
War. Violence. Greed. All are enemies of civilized life
By Ashley Herndon
OCEANSIDE, Calif. | With all that is going on today across this country, it makes me wonder what do people do to handle the pain?
Herndon
One of my mentors shared in a training class a few decades ago, “There is no such thing as stress, only the inability of some to handle outside pressure.” That took a little thought and practice to achieve. I try my best to live by that philosophy and actually sleep better, primarily because living a non-violent existence works.
Creative thinking and living the nonviolent life wins, without bringing religion into the discussion. It’s not easy, but possible and plausible. It was Gandhi who said “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” (I heard that as an undergrad at Mercer, but had to experience pain to understand.)
Violence and war are built into national budgets and have broken many countries and empires. Still, historical civilizations were and modern civilizations remain convinced of the efficacy of violence and war when discussions and events about how to handle violence arise. Imagine that: using the word modern in conjunction with the evil and horror of war.
Violence never delivers on its promises. There can be no war without violence and greed. They are accepted and absolute sins, practiced offensively for centuries by Western civilizations, praised by various religions and governments.
As a child I played “Cowboys and Indians” roaming all over the Morningside neighborhood, alternating between the roles. Being part Cherokee, I really enjoyed playing the Indian role. Then study intervened. I learned that by treaty all of northwest Georgia was Cherokee land. I was so proud. But then I learned gold was discovered in Dahlonega. We know the result of that discovery. Stop by Gainesville on your next trip and visit Chief Whitepath’s home on the Brenau University campus. It was moved from just north of Ellijay in Gilmer County. He and his people were forced to Oklahoma.
War, violence and greed are all seen today in the Ukraine, this war as an evil event. Ukraine has also given cover to too many here who practice the evil three in the USA. West Point graduate five-star general and former President Dwight Eisenhower realized: “There is no glory in war! War is Cruel.”
Do we enjoy creating pain for our fellow creatures? War, greed, and violence, whether they are political, verbal, or physical, are all enemies of life. They are not a de facto defender of values. Principled resistance (non-violence) is stronger and actually works. Violence only expands fear and usurps humanity.
Pope Francis advised, “There was a time, even in our churches, when people spoke of a holy war or a ‘just war.’ Today we cannot speak in this manner. Awareness of the importance of peace has developed.”
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
The 1818 Club
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s underwriter is The 1818 Club, named for the year that Gwinnett County received its charter. The 1818 Club is a member-owned, private dining experience providing the best in food, service and meeting accommodations for its members. Whatever your business or social dining needs, the 1818 Club has the proper facilities, recently renovated, to gracefully host your gatherings.
- 100-seat formal dining room open for breakfast and lunch.
- Capital Room open for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as cocktails.
- Three private rooms which can be used for dining or meeting space. AV is offered in each room.
- 220-seat Virgil Williams Grand Ballroom, divides into three sections, all with AV.
- Gwinnett Room for upscale dining, with Frankie’s menu available.
Our top-notch service team enhances your experience by providing a sophisticated social atmosphere, engaging events and a full serving of dining and entertainment opportunities. If you want an urbane and central site to entertain people, consider joining the 1818 Club. For more details, visit https://www.the1818club.org/Home.
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Send us your thoughts
We encourage you to send us your letters and thoughts on issues raised in GwinnettForum. Please limit comments to 300 words, and include your hometown. The views of letters are the opinion of the contributor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send feedback and letters to: elliott@brack.net.
Gwinnett Place redevelopment plans to be unveiled April 20
The Gwinnett Place Mall Site Revitalization Team, which is comprised of the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (GPCID), Gwinnett County, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and the planning firm Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB), are planning multiple events to provide the community with opportunities to weigh in on Gwinnett Place Mall site redevelopment concepts.
The team is inviting community members to participate in an open house and design workshop that will take place at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites (3530 Breckinridge Boulevard in Duluth) on Wednesday, April 20 from 3 to 6 p.m. There, it will be creating two redevelopment concepts for the mall site based on community feedback received throughout the fall of 2021. The open house workshop will provide community members with an opportunity to meet the team, give their added feedback and share what they would like to see at the new-and-improved Gwinnett Place Mall site.
If community members are unable to attend the open house on April 20, the revitalization team will also be at the 2022 Atlanta International Neighborhood Night Market, also known as the Glow in the Park event, (330 Town Center Avenue in Suwanee) Friday, April 22 from 5-10 p.m., and Saturday, April 23 from 2-10 p.m. The revitalization team will display the two completed design concepts from the April 20 workshop and community members can provide added feedback.
As part of the mall site revitalization process, VHB completed a Starter Vision that compiled all the previously proposed plans for the mall site from 2012 to 2021. Next, they conducted four community engagement methods which included stakeholder interviews and focus groups, community pop-up events, online-interactive activities and a short survey. From these methods, they were able to learn community members envision the new Gwinnett Place Mall site as an affordable international village where people can live, work, play and eat. They also learned community members would like the new site to have more trails, wider sidewalks and more public transportation options. To view the full results of the studies, please visit the Gwinnett Place To Be website here.
Art on Chattahoochee scheduled for April 30
Every year, Art on the Chattahoochee brings together outstanding artists and crafters to share their talents with the community. This free event will be held Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Jones Bridge Park in Peachtree Corners. More than 40 artists will be on hand with a Kids’ Zone for young people. New this year, dinosaur lovers can participate in a Dino-Art contest, open to all ages with prizes awarded.
Tina Pangle, Recreation Manager, says: “We’re looking forward to hosting this annual art-centric event that’s been growing in size and scope since we launched it in 2012. Beautiful Jones Bridge Park offers a lovely backdrop to support local artists and crafters, as well as provide a unique and artistic experience for our community.
The deadline for vendor applications is April 22. For more information, call 678-277-0920 or visit GwinnettParks.com. Jones Bridge Park is located at 4901 East Jones Bridge Road in Peachtree Corners.
Earth Day recycling is April 23 at Coolray Field
In celebration of Earth Day, Gwinnett Solid Waste Management and Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful are offering residents the opportunity to shred old papers and recycle paint, clothing and sneakers, tires and electronics.
Bring your hard-to-recycle items to Coolray Field in Lawrenceville Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m. until noon for sustainable disposal. Keep the following quantities and fees in mind:
- Paper (limit of five copier paper boxes);
- Electronics (no fee for computers; $35 cash fee per projection or console TV; $15 cash fee per monitor or television, and $5 cash fee per printer;
- Paint (limit of 10 gallons per vehicle);
- Tires (limit of eight; no dealer tires).
Materials should be placed in disposable containers or boxes; containers will not be returned. For more information, call Solid Waste Management at 770-822-7141 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or email GCSolidWaste@GwinnettCounty.com.
Duluth seeking creative ideas for playable art for downtown
The city of Duluth wants you to stir up your creative juices, allow your imagination soar and let your adventurous hair down. The City of Duluth is hosting a design contest for visionaries and creators of all ages and skill levels. Your goal is to inspire the next piece of playable art in Downtown Duluth.
What is playable art? Well, imagine sliding down the arm of a giant robot or climbing the spiral staircase of a mystical tree house. You could even pilot your own flying car…in theory. The city wants a playground which is not your typical slide, swing or monkey-bars. We want entrants to use their wildest imagination to help create a lasting, innovative piece of Duluth’s landscape.
Entry is open to all ages who reside in Gwinnett County. Designs may be created using any medium: pen and paper, 3D model, digital design….all are acceptable. Please: no to-scale models! Multiple entries per person are permitted.
Deadline for submitting entries is May 13, 2022. The winning inspiration for the newest piece of playable art in Downtown Duluth will win $1,000; second place will get $750. And third place, $500. For more information and rules, go to duluthga.net/playgrounddesigncontest.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
On the Shortness of Life
By Lucian Annaeus Seneca the Younger, translated by John W. Basore
From Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill: This little gem of a book brought me to my senses after I retired and was wandering aimlessly about without direction. I think it’s a wake-up call to anyone who’s wasting time and not even realizing it. Spoiler alert – Roman Stoic philosopher, Seneca, did NOT believe life is short. On the contrary, he said human life is amply long enough to accomplish any number of great things. Unfortunately, most of us mis-manage our time and treat life as a replenishable resource. Seneca said we rush about with social duties allowing others to trespass upon our lives. We engage in unimportant busy work and have a passion for learning useless things. We multitask, dividing our attention so that our minds take in nothing very deeply. He encouraged the study of philosophy and put a high value on leisure time. Do not, he said, ‘toil for an inscription on a tomb.’
- An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (150 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. Send to: elliott@brack.net
Mercer wrote for the most popular jazz artists
(From previous edition)
Winning a singing competition staged by the big band leader Paul Whiteman at New York’s Hotel Biltmore set Johnny Mercer’s career on its successful trajectory. He not only performed with but also wrote for the most popular jazz musicians of the day.
Hollywood provided Mercer with numerous opportunities as a lyricist for several studios, including Warner Brothers, MGM, Paramount, RKO, and Twentieth Century Fox.
With the outbreak of World War II (1941-45), Mercer was involved with such propaganda films as The Fleet’s In (1942), Star Spangled Rhythm (1942), The Sky’s the Limit (1943), and Here Come the Waves (1944).
In 1942 Mercer co-founded Capitol Records in Hollywood with movie mogul Buddy DeSylva and music store owner Glen Wallichs. Under Mercer’s presidency, Capitol’s innovative marketing strategies revolutionized the recording industry. With the sale of Capitol to EMI, the three partners made millions. Out of his share of the proceeds, Mercer sent a check for $300,000 to a Savannah bank in 1955 to pay off the remaining debts from the failure of the G. A. Mercer Realty Company. He explained his actions as clearing his father’s name, but the settlement reflected a deep sense of southern honor.
After conquering Hollywood and establishing his own record company, Mercer stood at the pinnacle of his career, yet the goal of a Broadway success remained elusive. His last big show, The Good Companions, written with André Previn in 1974, recalled his early days in the traveling theater, and was produced in London.
Throughout his career Mercer drew on a sense of place to localize his lyrics. Uncomfortable in airplanes, he crisscrossed the country by train, and imagery of the railroads often figured in his verse. He peppered his songs with mockingbirds and meadowlarks. The evocative Moon Country describes opossums in the pines, and other songs describe singing crickets, lovers peeping around chinquapins, and moaning polecats.
Mercer often returned to Georgia, having purchased a house near Vernon View on Burnside Island as a Savannah retreat. When the Georgia General Assembly asked Mercer to compose a new state song, he drew on Stephen Vincent Benét’s epic poem John Brown’s Body for inspiration. Although his contribution lost out to Georgia on My Mind, written by his former collaborator Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell, Mercer’s lyrics recalled the rural greatness of the Empire State. Later, Georgia’s politicians distinguished Mercer when they renamed the Back River—which flowed past Bethesda down to his house on Burnside Island—the Moon River.
After receiving a diagnosis of brain cancer, Mercer underwent surgery, from which he never fully recovered. He died June 25, 1976, and is buried in the family plot in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah. His widow donated his papers to Georgia State University in Atlanta, which maintains a Mercer Website and interactive museum in his memory. The city of Savannah named its municipal theater in his honor. Family and friends created the Johnny Mercer Foundation to introduce school children to American popular song.
In 1995 the Georgia legislature declared April 19, 1995, to be Johnny Mercer Day in the state for Mercer’s “outstanding contributions to the field of music.” He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1980 and posthumously inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame in 2011.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Try your luck in identifying this beautiful scene
Isn’t this a beautiful scene? Wouldn’t it be nice to be at this place, and enjoy the scenery of the water and the mountains. No doubt you would also enjoy the good food and the hospitality of the locals. But where is it? Send your ideas along and include your hometown. Send to elliott@brack.net.
Lou Camerio of Lilburn was first to recognize “….the Au Sable Light Station on Lake Superior near Grand Marais, Michigan. It was built in 1873-74 and discontinued in 1958 when the US Coast Guard departed.” Bob Foreman of Grayson added: “This lighthouse is part of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, near Munising Township and Grand Marais, Michigan. This is on the upper peninsula of Michigan.”
Others identifying it were George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill; Dick LoPresti of Berkeley Lake; and Cindy Evans, Duluth;
Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex. wrote: “Thanks for publishing my mystery photo submission of the Au Sable Light Station at Grand Marais, Mich. As to how long it will take for the GwinnettForum to publish a picture of all of the lighthouses in the USA, Assuming you were to publish such a picture twice a week, every week from this day forward (without any breaks or holidays), it would take longer than 6-1/2 years. According to Fodor’s Travel, there are more than 700 lighthouses in the United States. Good luck with that! HaHaHa.”
Rare sighting: You seldom see rare orange azalea in Gwinnett. This normally-wild azalea is more often seen in the North Georgia mountains. This plant is among many alive with color these days throughout Gwinnett.
Earth Day: Recycle your electronics, paint, tires, and paper on Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m. until noon at Coolray Field, located at 2500 Buford Drive in Lawrenceville. Attendees must remain in their vehicles at all times. Items to be recycled should be placed in the trunk or back of the vehicle where they will be removed by vendors. Materials should be placed in disposable containers or boxes as containers will not be returned. This annual Earth Day event is brought to you by Gwinnett Solid Waste Management and Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful. For full details, visit GCSolidWaste.com.
Take Back Initiative: The Gwinnett Police department is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration for the National Take Back Initiative on Saturday, April 30 to provide a safe and convenient way to drop off unused and expired medications. Tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription drugs can be dropped off at Police Headquarters and six precincts from 10 a. m. until 2 p.m. for proper disposal. Liquids, syringes, sharps, and other drugs will not be accepted. Find a collection site near you.
Sell to the county: Join the Gwinnett County Purchasing Division Thursday, May 5 at 9 a.m. or 2 p.m. to learn how to do business with Gwinnett County government. During the one-hour virtual clinic, Purchasing and Community Services staff will share information about the different divisions of Community Services, current and upcoming opportunities, and how to do business with the County. Register for one of the two virtual sessions at gcga.us/QuarterlyClinicSignup.
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