Personality Trumps Issues?

Earlier this week I posted a blog that was picked up locally on Facebook. It dealt with the predilection of local citizens squirreling up ‘issues’ based on people, personalities and gossip rather than focusing on the issues that matter.

What has been the result? Mostly good feedback. By far more people (200+) liked the post while 15 or so reacted against the post. Their reactions were typically based on personality characteristics – “I used to respect him, but now…”   “Shame on you for twisting…” – you get the idea. The small number of citizen/readers chose to follow the low road yet again rather than deal with the real issues.

Thank God the vast majority of reactions were positive. This means that most of the readers were focused on the things that matter. They neatly avoid dealing with people who cannot get beyond the meaningless and trivial. Gossip is like that, isn’t it?

Each of our communities have lives that happen because individuals care enough to do something, get involved, read up on an issue, offer their opinion or advice, or even lend their hand to fixing something. In so many small ways we all tend to our villages and towns.  Cities, too. And life is better because of it.

More than that, though, as people become involved in their communities they also become aware of the real issues and do something about them. If enough people see a need, organizing the efforts of others is natural and solutions are discovered and implemented. The result is a healthy community. And satisfied, happy residents.

The same can be true for our county, state and nation. Getting involved results in educating the participants about what is actually happening. They learn the true nature of the issues and are in a better position to do something about them. That’s how it works in most organizations – companies, volunteer groups, churches, charities, etc.

I don’t want to sound Pollyanna-ish, but really, isn’t this how the world functions? We get interested in something close to our hearts, and are moved to take action, do something, and wonder of wonders good things happen!  The opposite is true as well – do nothing, know nothing, nothing gets done.

Trouble is the do-nothing mode allows shallow minds to fiddle around and make trouble. Every community has these people. Every community.

Too bad, because their energy and ability could make a big difference in fixing things that need our attention.  When do you suppose they will wake up to this fact of life?

We can only hope and pray they will do so before they have wasted their lives.

Not all of communal life is a conspiracy. Certainly such life is personal to each of us, but not in a way that keeps us from doing good things.

I think the issues do trump personalities. Evidently so do the vast majority of our fellows!

That’s a good thing. Yes, a very good thing.

July 24, 2015