Bayview Boat Club News

Commodore's Log

September, 2007

9/20/07 - Reflections on the 9/11 Tribute
On September 11, I put a picture of a candle and ribbon, with the words “September 11, 2001”, on the home page of this website, planning to let the tribute run for a week. I thought it needed something more, though. I wrote, “We Remember” above it, then changed it to, “We Have Not Forgotten”, and posted it. This triggered a memory, and I had the chorus of the Darryl Worley song running through my head, over and over: “Have you forgotten how it felt that day?” So, about an hour later, I changed the caption to, “No, Darryl,… We Have NOT Forgotten!” As an afterthought, I did a quick search, and linked the caption to a music video of the song, posted on YouTube. I was on a slow dial-up connection, so I didn’t listen to the song at that time, planning to do it when I was on broadband. But with a Club party scheduled for that weekend, I became focused on getting ready, and didn’t get back to it until well after the weekend. Over the weekend, several people commented favorably about the tribute, and I thanked them.

I received an email from a long time member, whose opinion I am inclined to respect, sent on Sept. 14. I’ve only just been back to the computer where I check boat club email, since before last weekend, so I was late reading it. This member felt that it was quite appropriate to display a remembrance of the 9/11 tragedy on the club website, but that linking it to the Darryl Worley song, “Have You Forgotten”, pushed too far into the political. They pointed out that the Bayview Boat Club is a social club, and is, in fact, forbidden in it’s bylaws from dabbling in politics and taking political positions. They said they personally like the song and are in sympathy with its basic position, but the issue is not personal, but one of principle.

They're right. The song, on review, is more political than I'd remembered, or intended, for my purposes (though I'm now reminded why I did like it so much). I didn’t take time to first listen or read over the lyrics, and hope no one was offended. In retrospect, I should have displayed the picture and the caption, sans link, and let people draw their own associations. It would have been just as effective, and not risked alienating anyone. In future, as a club officer, if I want to express or link to something that could be considered political, I’ll make clear that it is my personal opinion, not an official club position, and probably put it here in the ‘Log’. Ironically, the sentiment I was actually trying to convey wasn’t really intended to be political, though perhaps a bit patriotic. Let me explain.

I impulsively linked to the song, based on the first line of the chorus, the line I clearly remembered. “Have you forgotten how it felt that day?” I remembered that it didn’t feel like we had experienced an attack on Democrats, or Republicans, or any other group. For that day, and several days – alas, too few – afterward, we were all Americans, again. Just Americans. On September 12, even the French paper, Le Monde, was headlined, “We Are All Americans”. We all shared in the bitter tears and righteous rage. And the flags. Everywhere were the flags. I wanted to invoke the memory and feeling – and the unity - of how it felt that day.

Sadly, we’ve since reached a point where even flying the American flag in front of one’s house is construed by some as a partisan political statement. Many of us come to our boats and enjoy the social life of the docks, as an escape from the rancor that has overtaken politics, today. I’m one of them. That said, I hope we can agree on this. Yes, we are a social club, not a political club. But we are an American social club. And proud of it. Is that too political? Impeach me!

9/19/07 - Weekends and Boot Scoot Closed
When Weekends Restaurant and Boot Scoot Club closed on Labor Day weekend, they really closed! Visitors and tenants of Bayview Marina were surprised to be greeted by this banner:

Weekends Closed for Remodeling

Remodeling? Well, it wasn't long before I heard the real reason the restaurant and club closed. Then I heard another, different reason. Then a third, and they keep coming. Also, I've been told, authoritatively, that it's "definitely not" one or another of the circulating ideas.

Don't you love it? Someone even wryly suggested that we form a betting pool on what the real real reason for the closing will turn out to be.

As we all know, owner Jim Rosenberg very much keeps his own counsel, along with our slip leases. So, basic human nature pretty much guaranteed that we'd entertain ourselves with rumors and speculation. Let's just be sure we squeeze all the fun out of it, while we can - and it is fun, I admit - before a crew of remodeling workers shows up and spoils it all!

Meanwhile, a lot of us will miss the convenience of having a good restaurant and bar in easy walking distance from (and crawling distance, back to) our boat. But, isn't it nice not having to circle the parking lot five or six times, trying to catch a precious, recently abandoned space?