Austin Studio & Garden, 1209 E. Sixth St.
We Are the Peacocks
RECEIVED Wed., Jan. 6, 2016
Dear Editor,
I’ve been musing about why the Green Pastures peacock flap has struck such an emotional chord with neighbors (petitions, TV coverage, and T-shirts).
I’ve come to the conclusion that for many of us long-term residents, at some deep metaphysical level, we identify with those beautiful, wild, raucous birds.
We like to wander and strut our stuff, we don’t like being fenced in or fenced out, and we don’t like our long-held patterns of living being suddenly put in peril by newcomers.
And while this particular peacock welcomes all the new birds that are moving to our increasingly popular roost, I simply ask the new birds to give some space for our long-held patterns of living, while we try to accommodate your different sensibilities and expectations. (I personally want to hear some new bird songs in the 'hood.)
We may be loud and ridiculous sometimes, but we’ve graced the community too, and for many years, cutting down that too-often soul-sapping barrier between private and public with many fine displays of collaboration (creek cleaning, socials, and other community initiatives).
Forgive our wildness, our love of the human-scale houses, of a walkable 'hood, and of green spaces and open front yards, and we’ll try our best not to mess with your personal space.
Communalist birds and private property birds of the 'hood: Can’t we all just get along?
I’ve been musing about why the Green Pastures peacock flap has struck such an emotional chord with neighbors (petitions, TV coverage, and T-shirts).
I’ve come to the conclusion that for many of us long-term residents, at some deep metaphysical level, we identify with those beautiful, wild, raucous birds.
We like to wander and strut our stuff, we don’t like being fenced in or fenced out, and we don’t like our long-held patterns of living being suddenly put in peril by newcomers.
And while this particular peacock welcomes all the new birds that are moving to our increasingly popular roost, I simply ask the new birds to give some space for our long-held patterns of living, while we try to accommodate your different sensibilities and expectations. (I personally want to hear some new bird songs in the 'hood.)
We may be loud and ridiculous sometimes, but we’ve graced the community too, and for many years, cutting down that too-often soul-sapping barrier between private and public with many fine displays of collaboration (creek cleaning, socials, and other community initiatives).
Forgive our wildness, our love of the human-scale houses, of a walkable 'hood, and of green spaces and open front yards, and we’ll try our best not to mess with your personal space.
Communalist birds and private property birds of the 'hood: Can’t we all just get along?
Stuart Hampton
