To the editor:
Thank you, Jim Munn (My View, the Times, Monday, July 14) for writing your piece on civic pride and judgement.
I saw the ridiculous Beverly Farms floats on YouTube and thought to myself "those poor kids" — and I wasn't talking about the pregnant Gloucester girls. Thanks to YouTube, the crass and low brow "humor" of those paraders has been captured now, forever. Their ridiculous demeanor will be in the public record, for good.
The paving company that offended the most may get future business (their name is on YouTube) — should the American Nazi Party ever need a new driveway.
As far as Jay Leno goes, he should know better. I remember when he was a blue-collar nobody, ordering late night cheesesteaks and potato chunks at Buzzy's, behind the Charles Street Jail.
The Beverly Farms "Holier-Than-Thou's" Parade? Well, what would you expect from a group that made fun, in the past, of poor immigrants struggling to feed their children? But that's another Leno joke, for another time. (I do seem to recall certain immigrants with red hair and freckles entering the Boston area, sometimes illegally, in another time and place.)
At the end of the day, what we have is a handful or more of mean-spirited "entitled" adults, egging their spoiled rich children into ridiculing other children — children who have faced some very real adversity in their young lives.
It is always amazing to me how supposedly "upper crust" folks, can at times, be so devoid of compassion and kindness. They may have all the material possessions in the world, but lack the greatest possessions of all, patience, kindness and compassion.
I guess that's "mean girl society" meets spoiled rotten "entitlement" wrapped in a phony "free speech" bray.
The MTV shows "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills" are always looking for bubble-heads. Maybe the fine youth of Beverly Farms will get the casting call.
Jim Munn's statements are good and true. And Jim, your piece says what many have felt. Thank you!
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MITCH AASE
Rockport
