Positive charges attract. Negative charges repel. Basic
physics. The same is true in human relationships: positive attitudes attract
while negative attitudes repel. Not exactly physics but it is based on the similar principles.
Not long ago I read a treatise on positive attraction. It is
a theory that if you think positive thoughts the related good things will come
to you. Your life will slowly fill up with abundance. Whether the plenty is
measured in dollars, food or space is not known; more likely it is measured in
good things happening for you as you relate to other people.
Such positive attraction can bring financial success, but
that is not the focus of the theory.
Quality of thought, mind and spirit is the focus.
In our newspaper distribution market we have a small town,
actually a village. It prides itself on resident participation and healthy,
vibrant public discussions. Over the years their local newspapers have
trumpeted this characteristic. But they suffer from interior view, a lack of
perspective.
External observers tend to see the real nature of the
village. I have not especially focused my attention on the town, but for 43
years it has been a neighboring community and the goings on there have become
noisy enough to be noticed by people from other towns. Now as I help publish a
newspaper serving that village among other communities, it has become more
noticeable to me.
Here’s a quote I wish the people of Winfield , Illinois
“A
negative mind will never give you a positive life.” ~Anonymous
For many years residents of Winfield have allowed broad
public discussion to take on strident negativity. At times it is ugly. Both
sides claim ‘truth’ as their banner but in all honesty, they both hurl insults
and emotional attacks designed to intimidate and hurt the other 'side'.
No wonder in such an environment little good gets done. And
yet they blame the ‘other’ not only for the problem but the inability to repair
the problem. Sound familiar? Sound like
the Illinois Legislature? Or Congress? Or countless other politicized debates
roiling our nation?
What these combatants have failed to realize is: they create
the public paralysis they wish to allay. Their game of one-ups-man-ship poisons
the very forum in which the solutions reside.
Base line in Winfield is this: they are mostly dyed in the
wool republicans. They take hard lines on national and international issues.
They carry the fight home to their own community. They fight because they know
little else.
I think the truth is simple: focus on those things you already agree on,
identify actual problems needing to be solved, and then work together on
crafting the solutions for the good of the community. Leave personalities
outside the meeting room. Maybe over time the personalities will actually learn
to be tolerant of disagreement in a positive manner. Stranger things have
happened. I still believe in miracles.
Leonard Peltier shared this thought with the internet
recently:
“I
don’t know how to save the world. I don’t have the answers or The Answer. I
hold no secret knowledge as to
how to fix the mistakes of generations past and present. I only know that
without compassion and respect for all of Earth’s inhabitants, none of us will
survive – nor will we deserve to.”
This is from a man convicted of murdering two FBI agents during
the American Indian movement skirmishes of the 1970’s. His imprisonment is for
two life terms.
He has learned he doesn't have the answer. Most politicians
and radio/TV talking heads don’t either. But they certainly have the words and
ammunition to keep the fight going even when they no longer know what that
fight is about.
It’s time public discourse quiets down and tolerance of
differing views grows. It is in this environment that good things get done. Winfield residents and leaders need to focus on these
issues:
- Repair all roads so they are safe and support basic daily commerce; keep them that way
- Determine the scope of budget needs: the high, medium and low needs
- Determine the range of options that could be implemented to grow village revenues which will begin to solve budget needs
- Identify one or two things the town can never give up lest it lose its identity
- Develop a written vision statement of how the majority of residents wish to see their community described in 20 years.
My hunch is that most people in Winfield agree on most
things. Those are the important issues that guide the bulk of the community’s
life. The disagreements are few but manage to grow into enormous barriers to
progress on managing issues.
It is time for the public to urge leaders to change the
discussion to a positive one. Negative and personal attacks destroy the very
comity of the community needed to build a wonderful town experience.
Maybe the leaders will jump to do this without constituent
pressure? We can only hope so!
April 2, 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment