I’ve always enjoyed Charles Dickens’ classic story,
”
A Christmas Carol.
”
Written back in December 1843, Dickens’ preface is short and
gets right to the point.
I’ve always enjoyed Charles Dickens’ classic story, “A Christmas Carol.” Written back in December 1843, Dickens’ preface is short and gets right to the point. He writes: “I have endeavored in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humor with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it [down].”
The story of course, has been made into multiple movie, TV, and cartoon versions. It’s the perfect movie to view during the holiday season, along with (of course) the 1946 classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Now I was thinking how Dickens’ classic tale might be applied here in Gilroy, circa Christmas 2003. I recognize that I’m probably being politically incorrect by even mentioning the word “Christmas,” but since I’m not hung-up about being politically incorrect, you’ll just have to bear with my insensitivities. But to begin with, I’ll make the assumption that you’re familiar with Dickens’ story.
While I mused over what it would be like to have some of our own Dispatch writers cast into the character roles of the story for a local drama production, I decided it would just be too difficult to pick the most appropriate man for the leading role of Scrooge. Personally, I think it would definitely be a toss up between Dennis Taylor and Bill C. Jones, both of whom have written their own versions of “Bah! Humbug!” on a variety of subjects and people during this past year. But no, I won’t pursue that story line.
Instead, I’ll consider as Dickens puts it, the “Ghost of an Idea” about Gilroy Past, Gilroy Present, and Gilroy Future. Our local Scrooge will have to wait for another time.
The Ghost of Gilroy Past – Gilroy, 50 years ago. Can you picture it? An agricultural community of some few thousands of souls. No freeway slicing through town. Monterey Road was highway 101 and was the main north-south route. And it didn’t snake its way through downtown then, it was straight. I’m told that First Street was the northern edge of town, bordering fruit orchards. And on Friday winter evenings, locals would gather at the local drive-in movie theater (located then where Safeway now sits) to enjoy a double feature under clear skies and the crisp cold air. Gilroy was a “Back to the Future” community indeed. No outlet stores. No housing sprawl. A community happy to be where it was and who it was – located in the heart of what was called “Pleasant Valley.” It must have been a pleasant valley back then.
The Ghost of Gilroy Present– Gilroy today. Ah, progress. But now is seems to be less and less of a pleasant valley. How did it get where it is today? Was it the freeway cutting through town? Was it the first few Garlic Festivals that spurred the interest in Gilroy for being a great place to live? Was it the building of the Outlets that then activated zealous builders and housing growth, resulting in demand for more retail complexes like we now see on the east side?
Was it greedy local politicians? Now it’s a moot point on how we got where we are today. But the fact is that Gilroy, just like Hill Valley in the movie “Back to The Future” has changed into something that Gilroy residents of the past probably never dreamed would happen – or even wanted to happen. And based on the very low voter turnout in the last election, maybe it’s something that most current residents don’t even care about. I think that’s very unfortunate. So at what price does “progress” come?
The Ghost of Gilroy Future – Gilroy in 10 years. Just as the Ghost of Christmas Future in Dickens’ story was veiled in darkness and unseen in detail, what will Gilroy of the future be like? A city of 60,000 people? Chemical problems in Gilroy’s water supply? A downtown even more dilapidated? More retail complex centers? A City Council totally controlled by outside interest groups? Voter turnout at the 10 percent level? Who knows? The only thing we do know is that change will take place. So be prepared for Gilroy of the Future. It’s coming.
And let’s hope the future will bring positive change. “The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order.” Thus said Alfred North Whitehead. So amid the coming change in Gilroy, let order be preserved. And finally, just as Scrooge changed his ways after seeing the Ghost of Christmas Future, I hope many Gilroy citizens will change their ways and get more involved in civic and community affairs. It’s really your future, so become an active part of it – now. And in the meantime, I say with Dickens, “A merry Christmas to all!”
