If it’s true that “this land is your land,” we must not be too different from each other.
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I live just off of Exit 105 on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey. Growing up, I identified myself with exit 109. This exit is the entrance to wealthy towns like Middletown, Colts Neck and Rumson (where I am from).
Yea, 109.
The Garden State, careful, please don’t step on the seedlings. Flying in a plane across the USA you will see more plantation in a minute than the drive it takes to cross New Jersey.
Huh, 105?
Well, it’s no 109!
Or is it?
Exit 105 is an access point to Tinton Falls, which is where we live. My town borders Colts Neck—that’s where Bruce Springsteen lives. Though Bruuuuuuuuce does have a house in Rumson, he grew up in Freehold but became famous for Asbury Park. You can spit from one of these towns to another but …
There is a perceived difference around here. You can see and feel it wherever you go.
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There is a perceived difference around here. You can see and feel it wherever you go.
Man, I thought it was just us ugly Americans who are viewed as NJ Devils when we went abroad. We get similar looks when we expand our balance sheet or flaunt our SUV’s at Mother Nature. We seem to want to test how much she can take. But around here, within spitting distance, people think we’re different.
It manifests itself in our most vulnerable, our children.
I am the product of one-half Sea Bright (where super storm Sandy raised hell) and one-half Long Branch (where national gangs now reign). Somehow we made it to Rumson; my parents are the offspring of a plumber and maid by way of Germany.
Note: feels like my personal Ancestry journey here but I am not old enough to have an interest in this yet.
Our three sons are the products of Germany and two hot-blooded Italians.
Again, it’s all in spitting distance now.
We have Heroine around here, Coke and more Weed than you can imagine.
Why?
Not sure.
Being 40 miles south of New York City in an area with access to wealth and poverty is a dangerous combination. There are guns around here, the bad guys have them and will always find them. The good guys have them to protect themselves. Unfortunately, few have knowledge of how to use them. They want to protect themselves from the bad guys within spitting distance. They often use them in anger on their family and friends.
Some have guns because they have been the victims of terrible tragedies. They want to protect their families from the same torment. I won’t pretend to feel their pain; I can understand their right to defend themselves.
There are an estimated 300 million guns in this country.
That seems like a lot of weapons to me. There are even more bullets.
I will say that I am not afraid my government will show up at my door for any reason. I am certain they will not have guns pointed at me to take my liberty, freedom or possessions.
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I would bet there are fewer toothbrushes than guns out there. I am certain there are less who have had a healthy meal or a roof over their head. On that score, there shouldn’t be one.
What a mess.
I will say that I am not afraid my government will show up at my door for any reason. I am certain they will not have guns pointed at me to take my liberty, freedom or possessions.
I will say my government may expose us to dangers far worse. They must get their act together and work as a two party system that debates for the greater good for all.
Whether you are just off 109, 105 or another exit. In “this land is your land,” I venture it is not too different. That said, I think we all agree we must change.
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Photo: Getty
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All over the place…not sure what your point is 🙁