Yesterday morning at around 7:00 am my three-year-old son – who woke us at 6:00 am – pulled me away from my computer screen and put me into time-out after I refused to play with his trucks before my first cup of tea. Well, I got away unharmed after explaining it was Father’s Day after all, and that I had to write a few responses to some CAVE (= Citizens Against Virtually Everything) people who had responded to my post The CAVE People of Greenfield, Mass. And The Wastewater Issue.

I was somewhat surprised by the sudden popularity, especially since the post is almost two weeks old. My website receives decent attention from all over the world, mainly the United States, but hardly ever from Greenfield, Massachusetts, or better, Franklin County. Yesterday’s responses were mostly not in favor of my view, but, nevertheless, fair. The only room for improvement I see is that people, before responding, should read my postings more carefully.

For the record, I do not support the biomass plant. I simply observe what I call the CAVE (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) people, and their disturbing degree of aggressiveness when it comes to dealing with opposite opinions. That’s where the thought of politburo came to mind.

As I wrote, yesterday’s responses were pleasant and civil, and I responded in my usual style. This morning, however, I received a not-so-pleasant, aggressive, at times even insulting blog response by a person – Janet – for whom the shoe apparently fits. She wrote (excerpt): “Who do you suppose the CAVE people are? Who concentrates on one issue? Who is leaning back? What facts are being miscontrued. Name one, please.” (Note: The typos are not mine; I merely copied and pasted.) In all consequence, I don’t need to answer these questions, because, again, apparently the shoe fits. Let me just say that I don’t maintain an “offender” database, and I do read the local newspaper.

There was also a question as to why I moved to Greenfield (a personal decision that I don’t need to discuss), and the voter turnout in Germany. Apparently, Janet knows nothing about Germany.

Again, for the record, I was born and raised in Germany, but for the last 21 years I have lived in New England. I don’t make a case that everything in Germany is better than in the United States, or specifically Greenfield, Massachusetts. I did have the unique opportunity to take the best of two worlds, and my choice was to live in the United States of America. I am in the process of applying for American citizenship, and you will be able to read about the progress here on this website. My son Patrick was born at the Franklin Baystate Medical Center here in Greenfield, Massachusetts. I am a member of the Episcopal Church, and we go to the services of St. James on Federal Street, where I serve for the task force to create a new website for the church. I am also on the board for the Franklin County Community Meal Program (FCCMP), and my wife, who is also on the board, and I maintain the FCCMP website.

Like everybody who lives here, I do have the right, and I do take the opportunity, to observe life in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Coming from a foreign country may not only include a different view on things, but also a special knowledge. In the case of Germany let me say again (and every American citizen who visited Germany lately will confirm this), they push environmental protection to the maximum.

However, let’s focus back on the CAVE people, whose motivation of environmental protection I seriously doubt. Today it’s the environment, tomorrow it will be something else. Add to this the profound lack of dealing with opposite opinions. Eric Hoffer once said, rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength. Rudeness is one of the CAVE people’s attribute, and Janet’s response is a fine example. CAVE people push the freedom of speech to borderline oppression, and the vote-turnout on the  non-existing wastewater issue was organized by the CAVE people by means of unfair representation of the facts.

Chris Collins, News Director at WHAI, once addressed the issue of motivation in The Recorder. Unfortunately, I didn’t keep the article, but I remember his take was that the management of the proposed bio plant facility always provided facts and honest responses, while the opponents claimed environmental concerns (for the biomass plant site as well as the proposed big-box store location), but were never present when it came to other projects with more potent impact on the environment.

Last, but not least, if you want to leave a response you are welcome to do so, whether you agree with me or not. My only request is to keep a professional tone.

And to all the CAVE people out there: Keep it coming! Show the world what you are.