Quote:
Originally posted by sammyg2
I asked a question that has not been answered. Instead I received ridicule for not going along with the crowd.
Typical.
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I need to comment here, as I've just come back from watching our local hockey team in the James Brown Arena, downtown Augusta. I wanted to put this into context and add some 'local light'.
Mr Brown was a fairly common sight around the town. Never pretentious, never acted like a superstar, just a regular guy. He'd say hello to anyone who recognized him, but the locals never hassled him or asked for autographs, just respected him for what he did and let him get on with his own business. Of course he has had his moments and it's all too easy to dwell on those. But how many people will go on about all the good things he did? It doesn't make very dramatic news, so it probably doesn't get mentioned.
So SammyG2, do you know about all the charity work he did locally for the poorer communites?
For example, did you know that EVERY Christmas he would give out gifts to the under privileged children in Augusta?
Apparently he left his sick bed this Christmas to do just that, which may have been a contributor to his demise, but he did it all the same. He was a genuine good guy who appreciated his roots and wanted to give back to the town he lived in and the brighten the lives of the people who didn't have what he had. I'm sure he will be very much missed here in town.
Now, I'm not a huge JB fan. I mean I like some of his music and I saw him play the Hollywood Bowl in 2003 and he was incredible for a 70 year old, but I'm not defending him here for that, I just wanted to point out that there was more to James Brown than you heard on the news in the 1980's.
So don't just judge people from what you see and hear from the media. This guy, in my opinion, deserves respect.
Incidentally, there is a service for him this weekend in the James Brown Arena where I was earlier this evening - I expect it will be packed.