For Those Who Try To Make Things Better...
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 2:35 pm
Good friends in Lakewoodland:
With the recent passing of my dad, Robert Rice, I've had a bit more time now to reflect on the circumstances of his life, as well as my own, and those of the rest of us; as far as addressing the concerns that we have in our city of Lakewood.
Those of you who knew Dad, knew that, whenever possible, he tried to be a constructive, smiling, problem-solver, and that has been a quality that I sincerely hope to have inherited. My Observation Deck positive, sing-a-long, peace-making, virtual banjo antics have been on these pages for years, but sometimes, in spite of it all, two well-meaning sides just can't seem to get together.
My thought for today would simply be that, whether or not those two sides ever make it to that hypothetical campfire sing-a-long goal, that it would be equally important for us all to have the ability to continue to express our opinions, and to advocate for what we believe in.
Here on the Observation Deck, I've noticed that many, if not the majority of posts have been made by people who have attempted to achieve that same end of effecting positive change for our city. At times, I've found myself agreeing with them, and at times, not, but at least they have tried to make things better, as they perceive things should be.
Whether with snow removal, our hospital issue, politics, schools, or any one of dozens and dozens of issues that have come up since the Observation Deck was founded, this 'Deck has been a public forum; much like the old free speech-in-the-town-square model.
I do value free expression.
Therefore:
For those here with whom I have seriously disagreed and debated?
Thank you for being here. Be here still.
For those who have bravely stepped forward, who have tried to make a difference?
Thank you for being here. Be here still.
For those who have been afraid to post here?
Thank you for being here. Just reading the posts that others make can also make a difference, because interest shown provides a quantitative measure of a community's interest awareness. Be here still.
For those of you who hold "power" in Lakewood, whether political or otherwise?
Thank you for being here. Be here still, and thank you for being involved with change on a direct level, but please understand this:
Temporal "power" of any sort, economic, political or social, ultimately derives from the people who are being served. It is also (purely by virtue of the nature of our human condition) temporary.
We (ALL OF US) need to remember, as well, that- whatever issues may lie before us, any resolution of those issues would be as much our own collective responsibility, as they would be City Hall's, our school district's, or our hospital's. We all, therefore, share a part in Lakewood's decision-making processes. Remember too, that sometimes we take two steps forward and one, back, in the give-and-take of change-effecting. Do not lose heart. The journey in life is like that.
As has sometimes been said, some people leave a legacy in life, while others leave a trail...
Sometimes in life's pathway, we are indeed fortunate to be able to clear it just one-shovel-wide.
With all that's transpired however, I also truly feel that, here in Lakewood, there is hope. I truly believe that we've done pretty well overall. There are many caring people here, and many opinons, as well. Remember that it is when the opinions cease, and lethargy enters, that communities decline. We've not thrown our hands up in despair...yet.
Please forgive me if these thoughts sound overly preachy. Change however, sometimes comes with preachy people.
In conclusion, I believe here that it would be well to reflect on two quotes attributed to 19th Century British politician Benjamin Disraeli:
"I am a Conservative to preserve all that is good in our constitution, a Radical to remove all that is bad."
"I repeat that all power is a trust; that we are accountable for its exercise; that from the people, and for the people all springs, and all must exist."
FWIW
Back to the banjo, with the understanding that these are just my own opinionated reflections and I may be wrong. I just hope, not too often.
Disclaimer: I am a volunteer writer having no financial interest in the Observer Project.
With the recent passing of my dad, Robert Rice, I've had a bit more time now to reflect on the circumstances of his life, as well as my own, and those of the rest of us; as far as addressing the concerns that we have in our city of Lakewood.
Those of you who knew Dad, knew that, whenever possible, he tried to be a constructive, smiling, problem-solver, and that has been a quality that I sincerely hope to have inherited. My Observation Deck positive, sing-a-long, peace-making, virtual banjo antics have been on these pages for years, but sometimes, in spite of it all, two well-meaning sides just can't seem to get together.
My thought for today would simply be that, whether or not those two sides ever make it to that hypothetical campfire sing-a-long goal, that it would be equally important for us all to have the ability to continue to express our opinions, and to advocate for what we believe in.
Here on the Observation Deck, I've noticed that many, if not the majority of posts have been made by people who have attempted to achieve that same end of effecting positive change for our city. At times, I've found myself agreeing with them, and at times, not, but at least they have tried to make things better, as they perceive things should be.
Whether with snow removal, our hospital issue, politics, schools, or any one of dozens and dozens of issues that have come up since the Observation Deck was founded, this 'Deck has been a public forum; much like the old free speech-in-the-town-square model.
I do value free expression.
Therefore:
For those here with whom I have seriously disagreed and debated?
Thank you for being here. Be here still.
For those who have bravely stepped forward, who have tried to make a difference?
Thank you for being here. Be here still.
For those who have been afraid to post here?
Thank you for being here. Just reading the posts that others make can also make a difference, because interest shown provides a quantitative measure of a community's interest awareness. Be here still.
For those of you who hold "power" in Lakewood, whether political or otherwise?
Thank you for being here. Be here still, and thank you for being involved with change on a direct level, but please understand this:
Temporal "power" of any sort, economic, political or social, ultimately derives from the people who are being served. It is also (purely by virtue of the nature of our human condition) temporary.
We (ALL OF US) need to remember, as well, that- whatever issues may lie before us, any resolution of those issues would be as much our own collective responsibility, as they would be City Hall's, our school district's, or our hospital's. We all, therefore, share a part in Lakewood's decision-making processes. Remember too, that sometimes we take two steps forward and one, back, in the give-and-take of change-effecting. Do not lose heart. The journey in life is like that.
As has sometimes been said, some people leave a legacy in life, while others leave a trail...
Sometimes in life's pathway, we are indeed fortunate to be able to clear it just one-shovel-wide.
With all that's transpired however, I also truly feel that, here in Lakewood, there is hope. I truly believe that we've done pretty well overall. There are many caring people here, and many opinons, as well. Remember that it is when the opinions cease, and lethargy enters, that communities decline. We've not thrown our hands up in despair...yet.
Please forgive me if these thoughts sound overly preachy. Change however, sometimes comes with preachy people.
In conclusion, I believe here that it would be well to reflect on two quotes attributed to 19th Century British politician Benjamin Disraeli:
"I am a Conservative to preserve all that is good in our constitution, a Radical to remove all that is bad."
"I repeat that all power is a trust; that we are accountable for its exercise; that from the people, and for the people all springs, and all must exist."
FWIW
Back to the banjo, with the understanding that these are just my own opinionated reflections and I may be wrong. I just hope, not too often.
Disclaimer: I am a volunteer writer having no financial interest in the Observer Project.