March Article / 2021 - COMMON SENSE
Buffalo Latino Village
COMMON SENSE
When neighbors accept that “It
takes a village to fully raise a child” STUFF HAPPENS! I grew up on such a
block; a village within a village. I got punished because of neighbors ratting
me out whenever caught doing or saying something out of line. Neighbors shared
resources as simple as cups of sugar or milk.
I didn’t like or understand it at
the time but remember; the name of the neighborhood cop that walked the
beat and would take us to our parents instead of jail for trivial stuff, the
mailman that delivered the mail with a smile, sprinkler caps put on fire
hydrants for kids to cool off in the summer, and trees getting planted to
beautify the blocks. That’s what united block associations can do to hold
community boards accountable to use available resources (city, state, and
federal projects and funds) for the betterment of the whole community. Sure,
there will always be a few bad apples in the barrel; a drunk, a junkie, and/or
a thief here and there but the barrel was still full of good ones to savor and
get things done. That’s the way we, the little people can still be.
We are all feeling neglected and
left behind but the world is too small for saying “mind your own business” or
“everybody looks out for self.”
Consider February and March as
preparation to celebrate Easter, a day for resurrecting new attitudes and
direction. Year after year we celebrate the birth, fall, and rise of Jesus
on the scene without considering a practical, deeper meaning. He cried “I
am the truth, the way, and the light”. Confronting political, economic, and
religious corruption he cried “what you have seen me do you can do also”. As
Gods creation, we are all called to be ambassadors for the cause: Love, Justice
and Equality for all.
We still face those same issues.
Do not government officials need transparency (the truth) new direction (the
way) and wisdom (the light)? Can’t our neighborhoods be a, tightly bonded
village committed to raising our children, the next generation, destined to be
our future leaders in government, business, church and so on? That’s our job!
As vanguards, government
and institutions are appointees meant to support and assure our efforts to
achieve a healthy society. They were not meant to pigeonhole communities to
pursue individual fame, power, and economic royalties. While there may be
little we can directly do on their level, communities are still the backbone
for a healthy society. We’re a melting pot of different colors, races,
religions, and economic standings meant to be promoted and protected.
Is that so difficult? Don’t
continue to be deceived into feeling hopelessly helpless. In his 1776
publication “Common Sense”, Thomas Pain sought a true democratic
republic and sparked a united peoples revolution by urging the common, not the
affluent, persons of the existing colonies (communities) to dispose (get rid
of) tyrants (the powers that be) and demand independence (from political
rhetoric and institutionalized inequalities). They pursued and manifested a new
destiny with a still developing vision to continue fighting for.
Comments
Post a Comment