Cleveland Circle- Our Lil’ Aberdeen Falls Apart

Aberdeen is an old term which means a coming together of rivers to one body of water. Its origin comes from the original Scotland area of Aberdeen.

I bring this up to signify the fact that 3 Green Line T-lines all come to a head at or near Cleveland Circle.

With the closing of the old Circle Cinema, I felt compelled to discuss the area since landmarks are closing down. 

If you walked through Cleveland Circle, asking younger folks (college students and young pros), you feel like your in the Twilight Zone.  Nobody knows where they are.  Some people think they are actually in Boston, MA; others say it’s Brighton or Brookline, MA; maybe it’s even the outskirts of Newton, MA?

As usual I spoke to a long time resident of Aberdeen to find out Cleveland Circle is a Brighton, MA location.  (Which, in turn, means it’s a Boston Area?)

Maybe it’s the history buff in me, or maybe it’s the politico in me, but with Cleveland Circle in mind I drafted a letter to my Representative:

Dear Representative Capuano,

I am writing to contribute to, what I feel, is one of the defining faults in Americans today. My generation lacks the dedication to question, write and demand answers or consideration by our representatives on so many issues. 

This, I hope, will be the first of many questions and considerations to share with my Representative.

Today, is dedicated to the land called Cleveland Circle, or as I have come to know it, ABERDEEN.

I know that the passage from Route 9 to Boston College, Comm. Ave and Beacon St runs through Cleveland Circle.

While the Circle may be the westward center of the Green Line railway system, I feel that the Department of the Interior or Transportation has lacked judgment or persistence over the past years in keeping up with the roads and flow of traffic in the circle.

I recommend you, either take a look for yourself, or have someone take a look at the disastrous conditions of the roads in Cleveland Circle and the intriguing fact that NOBODY knows where they are when they are there. 

Some say it’s Boston; some Brookline; I learned from an older gentleman that it is a Brighton neighborhood that goes by the name Aberdeen.

With the recent closing of a Circle Landmark (The Circle Cinema), Cleveland Circle seems to losing its past to the stadium seating lives of the future.

Please take a look at this forgotten part of our City.  It’s a center for students and professionals.  It can be more than it is, and I believe that has to start with at least knowing where we are and having a safer and better paved area to walk and drive.

Thanks for your time and I hope to hear from you.

God Bless.

Joshua Spencer

Ramblings: Decision ‘08

It’s now September and it beg’s the question “What is the American frame of mind?”  I truly believe we need to focus on what really matters and it’s not the economy, or the war or that he’s a black man and she’s a ill-prepared VP candidate, or are we the best country in the world.

 

People who pay attention can see that John McCain is NOT a Republican.  Barack Obama is not the PERFECT choice for America, but it’s not about one man.  It’s about judgment, character and ideology.

We are not the country we want to be or have been in the past. The golden years are over and I am voting Obama because it’s time to shift focus.  Obama even seems to be weakening his stance on his own merits.  The War is wrong. We failed.  It’s Over. It’s not about that anymore and the idea that if we immediately pull out we are in more danger. GET US OUT.

If McCain wins, he will strongly pursue reversing Roe v. Wade.  He wants to eliminate the right to choose for women. This is not about life or death. It’s about freedom.  I don’t believe in it, but I will be damned if I am going to take any personal freedoms away from Americans.  I know women who have had an abortion and I think it’s very sad and wrong, but in those situations it was the best choice. CHOICE is what it’s about.

We are worse off right now than 8 years ago. Nobody can debate that. It’s not about experience; it’s time to focus on what we were taught many years ago.  We must look in the mirror and realize, who we are, is, who we were.  It’s time to lead by example and be proud of what we do. Make Health Insurance affordable for everyone and not allow insurance companies and large cooperation’s dictate our individual rights to proper coverage.

Keep all government out of our everyday decisions as much as possible.  Get back to fundamentals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  One World, One Peace.  Let’s take care of our elderly folk and children. Make the Upper Class pay more so the Middle Class can thrive.  CEO’s can deal with making 400k a year instead of 600k.

Democracy never survives. John Adams said ‘Every Democracy has committed suicide.’  We are a Republic. We choose our leaders and those leaders are not just meant to lead, but to follow to judgments of the people.

McCain is more of the same. The world has changed. His generation’s time has passed more than 8 years ago, but we were too foolish to see it.

It’s time for something new. Whether it works or not, is for history to decide.  But let’s find out because we deserve better than what we have and where we are.