Welcome to my blog site that I hope will be a meeting place for folks from Decatur, Illinois to talk about their life growing up there or life now. I also want to provide a platform for folks to thoughfully and maturely discuss problems regarding my hometown.
3 years ago I posted a video of pictures of Decatur that slide show as my song "My Decatur My Hometown" plays in the background. What has amazed me is that I have received positive comments from former and current Decaturites all over the world! The video has been viewed over 12,280 times!
Unfortunately I also received TWICE as many negative comments that were mostly profane or so negative that I felt it necessary to delete those comments. I recently got a comment that the person believed the video should be deleted from YouTube because it wasn't REALISTIC. I heard all the comments that Decatur has too much crime, drugs, no longer safe - all the same generalities with no specifics and usually punctuated by profanity.
Why did I write the song and make the video?
Simply because for me growing up in Decatur from 1955 to 1979 it was the BEST place to grow up in!! My sister and parents continued to live there. Mom and Dad have passed away now but my sister is still there and loves it! I know and have many friends who still live there and love it!!
Does Decatur have problems? YES!
But the thing is - to some degree EVERY place has problems!
So if Decatur has problems is it helpful to gripe and complain? I wanted my video/song to make Decatur PROUD again - to look around at what is positive NOW and build on that! If folks think something is a problem, get invovled and fix the problem!
So here is the deal - I WELCOME all comments here BUT I ask that if you feel the need to be negative, back up your negativity with SOLUTIONS! Ok?
But mostly, let's share memories, laughs thoughts dreams or suggestions about how Decatur can move forward in the 21st century!
The video is also available at www.youtube.com/arnybarn and the song is available on iTunes and Amazon.com.
So again WELCOME to my blog for "MY DECATUR MY HOMETOWN"!
Dave Colvin
The Transfer House in Central Park in Decatur, IL
About Me
- arnybarn
- Have been a singer/songwriter since I was 10 - mostly songs with a folk/country sound to them. Also my songs pay homage to family, friends and growing up in Decatur, Illinois! Check out my website at http://arnybarn.net/ http://myspace.com/arnybarn http://reverbnation.com/davecolvin Become a Fan of my music on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/pages/Dave-Colvin/136912778519?ref=ts
If you notice on the left side of the page, I have added a section for links to websites where you can research all things about Decatru, IL.
ReplyDeleteThe first link is to the online edition of Decatur's Weekly newspaper, "The Decatur Tribune" which is a great resource of current Decatur events but more importantly a lot of information on Decatur's past - especiqally if you click the "Decatur Memories" link.
If you have other great Decatur resources, please let me know so I can add them to the Resources section!
Dave