I was meandering through a friend's facebook profile when I noticed one of her statuses showed an offering of suggestions about Jackson as a community. The first post I see is one that says, "shithole." nice. So I continue to read on and my friend wanted her to elaborate a little more and this person replies, "lack of culture, lack of things to do, lack of places to go. pardon my vague-ness, i just don't want my day to be completely ruined by jacknasty. lol" Our town is Jacknasty. Or is it?
I politely posted my reply saying, "No, Jackson isn't the typical all-for-one kind of town, but it's trying. There are a lot of bright stars waiting for their chance to shine, whether it be in theatrics or businesses or churches. My church, Rivertree, is all about trying to boost Jackson's own self esteem. And within that ... Read moretiny church community, it is so diverse, you'd never expect all of us to be under the same roof. And the Bon Ton. Where would Jackson's individuality shine if it weren't for Matt's creation? Within those walls lies another community that accepts everyone of different sexualities, races, and music genres. People can get away from the strange looks and be who they want to be!! It's only Jacknasty because we make it that way."
A lot of times, I hear younger people calling Jackson by demeaning names, Jacknasty being one of them. Lack of culture. What does that really mean? We see culture in other parts of the country, but how can we see it in our own town? I looked up the word culture on www.dictionary.com and these three meanings stuck out the most to me:
meaning 1. the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits
meaning 2. the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the youth culture; the drug culture.
meaning 3. Anthropology. the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.
These definitions are dealing with how we live in our communities. Traditions would be counted as something going on in our community. I definitely would have to say Jackson's got a few traditions under its belt. A few examples would be the Michigan Shakespeare Festival as well as the Christmas Parade downtown Jackson every year. I have never seen so many people in a community come together to celebrate in our town like those two events. (outside of race season - those people are out of townies!)
In meaning number 2, it talks about the behaviors of a particualr social or age group and "youth" being an example. The youth say we have no culture. Guess again. You youthies have your own culture and believing your own things. Just within that single sentence, you are showing your own culture within this community.
Lack of things to do. Yes, Jackson has its moments. But lately when I've been home I've found plenty to do. all fall there has been Flavor Fruit Farms. (although yes, that is a little ways away..its still close enough) The Bon Ton Room has events most every weekend, piano bar Wednesdays and Jazz Thursdays. Crazy Cowboy also has bands come in some Fridays (my friend is in the Vic Alan Band and they play there quite often) Also, Jackson Coffee Co. has local artists and bands playing in the upstairs quite often as well. You've got to do a little looking when you want to find something to do...
Lack of places to go. That shall be your own demise, my friend. Jackson is our backyard, explore it!!! Check out a coffee house, visit a cemetery, take photos at Cascades. Be a kid again and go to Allskate or Optimist. Or even go downtown and mingle through the shops and see the artwork in most front windows. If you really want some artwork to see...head to ART 634 on Mechanic. There's new stuff all the time! This is kinda sad, I'm not even home that often and I know what's going on.
Jackson is full of diversity and culture. Check out definition number 3: total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings. The high school generation of Jackson these days are always so negative. When you're around negativity and close-mindedness, it rubs off. They don't want to open their minds up to a different way of thinking or a different way of seeing things. They look around Jackson and see abandoned warehouses and potheads and slums. Yea, if you go down Francis, that's what you're going to find. But have you looked right down Michigan Ave? Or tried a new church? I have church at the YMCA Sunday mornings. "what?" you say? We have our own little culture shock there at Rivertree. We are a group of human beings that want to better the way we live and better where we live.
All of the places I talked about is Jackson. People coming together and seeing past the downsides and looking up. You just need to know where to look.
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