Uplifted and united; we can deal with any adversity, or
build fresh realities from snippets of dreams. Together we can accomplish much.
As we digest this good news we are challenged by common day
adversities. High unemployment. Homelessness. Barriers to health care. Lack of
alternative transportation. International unrest. Global market collapses
regarding real estate values, monetary instruments, credit worthiness and
banking. Energy tugs of war over oil and reliable supplies of it. Religious
fanaticism. Growing geopolitical fanaticism.
The mind of man is fertile. The troubles it can conjure!
But the opposite is also true. The good things we can do.
Not alone, mind you. But together. United. The United Nations built on the
ideal of universal peace. UNICEF to improve on the quality of life of children
everywhere. St. Jude Hospital
Then why can’t we see other woes that plague us? Accept that
they can and will do us in if we don’t take notice and do something? Have these
plagues not threatened us personally yet? Not enough in our backyards to be of
critical concern? What might some of these be?
Readers of this blog will recognize many; they have been
mentioned in this blog before. Here are some:
- Finite supply of oil; need for alternative energy sources
- Education for career development and career shifting as we encounter obsolescence
- Barrier free international trade for maximum use of resources and improvement of quality of life for the masses
- Social justice regardless of bias
- Religious freedom and Freedom From Religion
- Affordable housing alternatives
- Maintenance of public infrastructures
- Civility in media and public squares
- Respect for differences among us: ideology, gender, race, culture, etc.
- Social services for the elderly
I was at a community planning meeting yesterday. A cross
section of volunteers in our section of the city. We were asked to help identify
what we want the city to be like in the next five years. What should we focus
on to help make that dream come true. Small groups worked to develop ideas.
Then we were asked to discuss them, rank them and report to the larger group
what we had come up with. The larger group then put together the items of
coincidence among the groups. And these were the items we agreed to focus on.
Trouble is the list was short term, not long term. It didn’t
involve dreams; it did involve safety and comfort. We discussed water quality,
cable TV service rates, maintaining no public debt and maintenance of community
spirit. We rejected senior services (most notably alternative housing for
seniors). They felt that was not the job of the community.
They did want no or low debt; but our community doesn’t have
any and has survived from 1833 to present without any debt currently, and only
small amounts for short periods in the past. They want open space but we
already have that. A lot of it. They want environmental programs but we already
have those and the results desired from them. Maintenance of them surely, but
new ones?
Yesterday’s blog was about leadership and the courage it
takes to be one. The humility it takes to risk public rejection and ridicule
until they get it. Jettisoning ego to make the effort to educate others of
emerging needs. Needs that are building blocks for a sustainable community.
I encountered that rejection yesterday. My point was: why
place on our list of critical issues no or low debt when we already have that
position? And the long-term discipline to retain it! Why not place on the list
something that will strengthen the community, something like affordable housing
alternatives for senior citizens? I
recounted my recent struggle to manage this issue in our household, not to
curry pity, but to alert them to a problem that will negatively affect our
community sooner rather than later. Here is what my struggle found:
- Seniors living alone suffer higher incidences of declining health
- Seniors living in their long-time homes often fall prey to health crises that go undetected; they die alone without prompt medical attention or communication
- Seniors who do find alternative housing with appropriate services remain in the communities which have such services; they move to those communities that offer the programs
- Our community doesn’t offer any senior housing program whatsoever; our seniors are on their own to find help wherever it may be. It is outside of our community
- The loss of our senior citizens represent a loss of accumulated wisdom and culture in our town; a brain drain if you will. These are the people who know the community, and volunteer to get good things done
- Without these services we encourage seniors to leave our community
- Without these services we are saying they don’t matter
These issues are not about me or our household. These issues
are about our community and its soul; its ability to care for others. It’s
about how a community includes people rather than the opposite.
I was shocked by the insensitivity I encountered in the
group setting of ‘leaders.’
I spent several hours mulling this experience for its fuller
meaning. I think I have it figured out. Leaders have to be selfless lest the
important things get ignored. The public, even its involved volunteers, do not
always recognize the facts staring them in their face. They need to be exposed
to those facts. They need to be nurtured in understanding those facts and their
eventual impacts. It takes time. And effort.
But the leader knows these things must still be pursued, not
given up on.
A lesson learned. But will it be heeded?
May 14, 2012
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