Amy Phillips Ginsburg

Posted on: Mar 04, 2025 at 5:18 PM

I've remained silent for a few months. I have vacillated between rage and anxiety, neither of which are particularly healthy and, as a result, my health has suffered. Then I realized I was giving up power to those in control and I refuse to yield any more than I am forced to. So, I'm back...just in time to see that there are efforts to stifle any discussion of the current state of affairs.

We're supposed to be the generation raised to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. How can silencing opposing opinions foster critical thinking? If anything, it inhibits it. It's very easy to just shut up and hope it goes away but you either end up frustrated, unhealthy, or tacitly approving behavior that should never be condoned.

I would hope that whoever has a problem with the opinions being expressed will step forward and own it. But if we haven't learned anything from what's going on, it's that accountability is no longer valued. So, I guess I'm not too surprised that the individual(s) who feel so strongly about limiting discussions is hiding behind the title of Reunion Committee. It's become clear that the opinion doesn't express the opinions of all of the members of that Committee. Perhaps we should also consider banning anybody who engages in untruths?

As has already been stated, nobody is forcing people to read posts on this site. If you don't like what somebody is saying and you don't want to engage, find something else to do. However, that's probably not a mature or reasonable solution. Instead, may I suggest that people who have comments that may potentially offend others label their post with an opening phrase? Perhaps just insert: POTENTIALLY INFLAMMATORY. And if somebody sees that, they will know to skip over the post and avoid a comment they might find uncomfortable. It may seem simplistic but it allows those who are okay with comments of those kind to read and participate in an active discussion. And for those who want to only read updates on our classmates' activities, they can read posts without the disclaimer.
But attempting to ban discourse is just another step in the evolving loss of our rights and liberties. Granted, a class site may not fall under the protection of the Constitution, but the principle is the same. To be honest, I'm glad that most of us still have cognitive abilities that permit intelligent conversation. As somebody who had both parents succumb to dementia, I'd rather keep my brain sharp by thinking about issues - even if they aren't always comfortable.

Hi Amy. I am deeply sorry for your current health status. I tried to reach you a few times on this site after you wrote to me last year. I did not hear back so no idea if you even received them. I even tried to find you on Spokeo but to no avail. You can call me any time. I would enjoy hearing from you. Cell is 713.503.2876. Leaving tomorrow afternoon for the reunion! You will be missed!

Hi Bill! This is probably not appropriate for posting here but this would be the easiest way to get your attention. I know you and my Dad spent time together after I moved away. If my memory is correct, weren't you with the Forest City at that time? If yes, is there a better way to get in touch with you? If no, I hope you're doing well. I find that I often don't check this site until I get a notification of another classmate's passing. Then, I'm fearful of what I might find if I check in. I'm doing ok. I'll be updating my profile later today, but quickly - I moved to Raleigh, NC in November since both of my kids were in the area. I've been facing some health challenges so moving into an area with better medical support was a priority. I do miss the Myrtle Beach climate, though. I forgot what winter felt like and this is mild compared to a Cleveland winter. I have a new dog - another rescue dachshund. If I could, I'd be a crazy dachshund lady with several of them running around, but for now, one is about all I can manage. Looking forward to hearing from you!