THE BARGE

NO ONE SHOULD FEAR THE CRITICAL APPROACH TO SOLVING A PROBLEM - THE DEBATE IS THE TRUTH SEEKER - OPERATION OF THE BARGE IS ON THE TABLE, THANKFULLY

"CRITICISM SHOULD BE THE VOICE OF IMPARTIAL AND ENLIGHTENED REASON."

"LET US AIM AT SEEING ALL WE CAN, AT GAINING AS MANY POINTS OF VIEW AS POSSIBLE. LET US ALL TRY TO BE CRITICS ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF OUR ABILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES. LET US AIM AT SEEING ALL WE CAN, AT GAINING AS MANY POINTS OF VIEW AS POSSIBLE. LET US COMPARE CAREFULLY AND JUDGE IMPARTIALLY; AND WE MAY DEPEND UPON IT; WE SHALL BE THE BETTER OFF FOR THE VERY EFFORT."

I didn't write this. I wish I had. It is simple and uncompromisingly honest. And it came from a man who earned great respect for his intellectual pursuit of fact, even in the clever mire of the most intricate, abstract and complicated philosophy. As an historian, he challenged accepted thought, and the milestones of history, and was despised by many of his contemporaries……usually the ones he happened to be debunking at the time. The man who wrote the words above, challenged status quo. All the time! I most heartily endorse his assertion, that critical thought is complacency's worst enemy. It is profoundly important to my own profession, also as an historian, while routinely facing unfounded historical fact, entrenched wrongly for decades, representing nothing more than a convenient fiction that was never corrected. Consider the fact it has been assumed for more than a century, that Gravenhurst, was named after a reference in a book, by American author Washington Irving. It wasn't. Believe me!

These few sentences make critics and criticism seem almost welcome and sensible, such that we might even come to believe a room of critical thinkers, could transform what may be perceived as a cold blast of negativity, into a force of proportional and effective reckoning. That we can put our criticism to damn good use, instead of casting it hurtfully as thundering jabs from afar, that offer no merit other than the temporary release of frustration and anger.

I've thought a lot about criticism over the past few days, hunkered down here at Birch Hollow, with this computer screen winking at me, trying to make sense out of a quagmired situation that seems so ridiculously burdened by civic mismanagement. How I feel myself about the the whole deal of social / recreational responsibility, volunteerism, community co-operation, and faithfulness to the old home town. You see I believe heartily in the words of Dr. William Dawson LeSueur, when he writes about the advantages of the "critical approach." Not being critical, as related to "arse-like" mucking about, to cause an argument for argument's sake, but to appreciate fully all the realities of a problem or situation. The opening quotes were written by Dr. LeSueur many years after he named our town. It was in 1862 that this literary-minded, historical type, who just happened to be a federal postal authority at the same time, named our town after the work of an accomplished British writer, poet, philosopher, William Henry Smith. LeSueur admired the work of Smith, and decided to borrow the name from the book he had recently published, entitled formally, "Gravenhurst, or Thoughts on Good and Evil." It's true. But it's also a very big honor to have been named after such an accomplished author, and entitled on the federal postal document, by a writer who became one of this country's best known literary critics and a revered Canadian historian. And he thought the critical approach was a good thing, to ferret out the truth of situations and events. As an historian he was well known for debunking what had long been held as historical truths.

So how does the recent impasse, or miscommunication regarding the Barge on Gull Lake fit into /a. critical thought, /b. William Dawson LeSueur, or /c. William Henry Smith? Well considering that I'm the lead critic in this most recent foray, to help save the deteriorating Barge, at Rotary Gull Lake Park, and help the Concert on the Barge manager stay with the program in the foreseeable future, it requires a willingness of all the critics "throwing their oars in," these days, to come to the table and work our the truths of the entertainment venue's future. Some seem to know more than others, many are just speculators and story spinners, some others are ardent supporters who are frustrated into self-imposed silence, and a few cases of exile, and rumors have been flying fast an furious around the town most recently. I can be blamed for blowing the lid off the debacle, which had seen at least one major resignation of a key volunteer, and threatened to take-out the manager himself, frustrated by the many obstacles the municipality has thrown his way over the past year. I guess then I'm retreating to the words of Dr. LeSueur because I find them appropriate to the present situation.

There was no need for the impasse at all, if town council, yes, the newly elected bunch representing the wards of our fine town, had done their homework. It is their job to know what is happening in this municipality, regardless of the department, regardless of the complexity of the issue, because inevitably, they will be asked to comment, support and vote on a motion that deals with the particular issue. Many councillors have known about certain conundrums facing The Barge, and its need for restoration, but have not extended their interest much beyond what they have read in the minutes of committee reports. Not knowing there was a tempest brewing, and some problems that could have been solved by general interest alone, it seems a good time to offer these words from Dr. LeSueur, on what should have occurred between the Music on the Barge Manager, Parks and Rec., and councillors themselves months earlier. The kind of meeting where truths are important and hearsay is struck down in its tracks. Much of what has caused chagrin, and a near collapse of this year's Music on the Barge program, could have been dealt with by proactive, insightful, progressive-minded investigation of what has become a sickly, injurious "commonplace." Plain and simple. The manager of The Barge has been trying to get improvements on The Barge for years, to little avail, and for the most part has just opted to either do them himself, take advantage of volunteer kindnesses, such as the Rotary Club's recent restorative work. He has found the town difficult to deal with over several terms, and it has just become too much of a hassle, to achieve anything more than bandaid repairs on a shoestring budget. Sounds like the name of an oft-repeated song about going nowhere fast. He has felt that criticism, on his part, wasn't appreciated at town hall. Thus my point. What criticism and critical discussion could have accomplished, ironically, in an eventual emergence of goodwill and co-operation, has become a precarious gap between those who run the concert series, and those who administer it from town hall. What LeSueur didn't write, was what pent-up criticism can cause. I can write it for him, because I've seen it up close and personal. Like dropping a cherished heirloom onto the floor, and the regret misadventure inspires, this was a close call for the town. As far as putting it back together again, well, that's not so easy.

There has been progress made in this present Barge impasse, thanks to the kindness of several councillors, who have agreed to meet with the Music on the Barge manager, Fred Schulz. At a fairly bleak moment for Mr. Schulz, when it seemed the only way out was resignation after the present season, some compassion and concern is being expressed that may herald a new relationship between manager and the Town of Gravenhurst. It may even be the case, the optimum situation, that Fred is even invited to be a part of the restoration discussions, and ultimately part of the solution to a very worrying possibility…….that The Barge may cease to exist.

While many councillors and administrators may find my liberalities with criticism, a little overwhelming at times, and terribly generalized, let me tell you, it's never, ever, criticism shot out of a cannon, for shock value or to cause grievous injury. In my measured approach, with as much tact as I can employ without tickling myself with gentleness, I practice what the good Mr. LeSueur taught me. That criticism isn't intended, by free thinkers, to confound sensible proportion, but to guarantee that reality, and its truths, aren't buried by self righteous, self-serving opinion, and the ills of faulty logic. When all the folks with a sincere interest in the future of The Barge get together, to discuss its future, I'm willing to bet a good plan can be forged……just as it was when it was originally planned and built on such sturdy posts, surviving for all these decades.

I was heartfully uplifted by news a meeting has been set up for this week with Mr. Schulz, and several municipal council representatives, to address some of the immediate problems of week-to-week operation of The Barge. Bless them for this speedy reaction to a rather stormy situation rising along the horizon.

"We thus see that culture leads directly to criticism, and that, if you would suppress criticism, you must suppress culture." W.D. LeSueur (1879).