On 2005-01-30 12:11:00, Ft. Lauderdale wrote:
"Greg, Greg, Greg. JU went through the program just like everyone else.
But who, other than you, remembers him being in group?
Look, ya gotta understand that a LOT of what we were told was total bullshit.
You probably read that nice note from my brother. (and, btw, I'm not ignoring you, Thom, I'm just a little surprised to hear from you and trying to make a thoughtful response, privately, later)
I remember very well Art's frequent rants about government funding and shrinks that don't know anything. I even remember the grown ups debating the pros and cons of government funding in the parking lot while we were all waiting for either permission to enter the open meeting room or for Group to be dismissed afterward (sometimes, it was hours!) And I remember hearing and fully believing (why wouldn't we?) that Art never accepted any public funding.
But I've seen copies of the grant and reference to it in reports by various very credible newspapers.
Guess what, that whole song and dance was made up out of whole cloth, like much of the rest of the Barker legend.
So just that former Seedlings
believe that JU did his time on front row doesn't even approach the level of credible gossip.
Our family was around just about from the beginning. I remember John as a most intimidating presence on staff. But I don't ever remember him on front row. Maybe somebody does. Till they come forward, it's just another unanswered question.
Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause.
--George Washington, Revolutionary War General and U.S. President