Gloria Ferris

In celebration of ViKtor Schreckengost’s 100th birthday his wife and stepson have asked art galleries nationwide to feature Mr. Schreckengost’s paintings, sculptures, and prototypes.  I just received an email from Lake Erie Artists informing of an upcoming event this weekend.  Visit the website and click on events for details.

Mr. Schreckengost’s own website offers more information on the nationwide celebration of his birthday June 26th.  Recently, I had coffee at Artefino Gallery recently and noticed that Mr. Schreckengost’s paintings were on the wall and one of his Jazz bowls were prominently displayed.  I think that is where I saw the Jazz Bowl I know I saw one in town recently.

I think it well worth noting that Mr. Schreckengost calls Cleveland home. 

Alas! We thought we knew him well.  We thought that no matter what criticism was thrown at himk he would survive to fight for us another day.

Today, we find that we were wrong.  Democracy Guy is no more.
 
In the end, when those he warned became one with those he warned against, his spirit was finally broken and he could not muster the strength to carry on.
A fellow blogger said it best, when he said  “ I often thought that he was delusional, and sometimes downright crazy, only to find months later that he was spot on”–a statement often true of those destined to be visionaries, the seers of the world who warn us of what will befall us if our ways do not change.
 
Blogs are often compared to the local newspapers that rallied the colonists in the early days before the revolution. In today’s media, they are referred to, as “one subject rags” that were no longer needed after the Revolutionary War. Strangely enough, I would say that they were the birth of the newspaper industry in America. It is strange how history changes depending on who writes it.  And then, we have the comments such as these “bloggers will police themselves or we will have to police them”  Listen, and you will hear the thought police on parade.
 
The death of Democracy Guy should serve as a warning that unless we stand united, we will fall individually.  Freedom of speech and possibly, freedom of the press took a direct hit today, and depending on how those of us left decide to learn from this lesson, that will decide how and if democracy continues to live and breathe.
 
Too dramatic you say?  Too over the top?  Maybe, but if it gets you to stop, listen, and wonder what those sounds are, I will have eulogized my friend Democracy Guy in the only way I know how.  I will have tried to open eyes and ears to what is happening every day in this country.  Be careful, my friends, but continue to click on those keys and watch your backs because you are all we have–too many others have “sold out” or been erased because they dared to tell the truth.  
 
And the next time I see you at the Town Fryer, let’s raise a glass of vodka to our dear, departed friend Democracy Guy and plot the demise of those who do not believe in second chances, no matter who they are or who they know.