Community

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 did not like or understood 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 is 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 is 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.” onsider 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 God’s creations, 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 is 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 are a melting pot of different colors, races, religions, and economic standings meant to be promoted and protected. Is that so difficult? Do not 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 an evolving vision to continue fighting for. Do not be blinded by the smoke of current bipartisan battles for power while forgetting our daily needs. This is a perfect time for local communities to flex the muscles of people power. A more peaceful and harmonious future relies heavily on the next generation needing local role models to follow. It is not rocket science. It is Common Sense! Read More From This Writer All Post Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Peace People COMMON SENSE March 16, 2021/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More TURNING THE PAGE February 16, 2021/No Comments TURNING THE PAGE Valentine’s Day! Make it an everyday event and collectively “Love Thy Neighbor as thy self.” Along with Read More NEW YEAR, NEW DEAL? January 16, 2021/No Comments NEW YEAR, NEW DEAL? Happy New Year! It’s done! The ballots have been tallied, verified, and announced. On January 20th Read More Load More End of Content.

Valentine’s Day! Make it an everyday event and collectively “Love Thy Neighbor as thy self.” Along with getting a new president, give your community a new Manifest Destiny.   Originally coined by journalist John O’Sullivan in 1845 to mean “expansion of colonial borders”, the term eventually came to mean “everything on this side of the hemisphere would be Anglo, protestant, and English speaking.” The ending days of the Trump era revealed that, to many, such mind set is not only alive and well, but expanding. Together with the 1823 Monroe Doctrine warning war with anyone attempting to encroach on, or interfere with the national agenda, look at your community. Is not the process of disinvestment and reinvestment displacing low and middle-income families and small businesses? If you do not harmoniously unite and protect your borders, the process of community gentrification will eventually feel like genocide. And make no mistake, it is a growing process in the making. Face it! If you do not collectively stand and fight for what little you have here and now, where will you go? If you do not love your neighbor, who will love you? There will be big regrets in having bought into the “Me, Me” mindset that says; “As long as it’s not happening to me, it’s none of my business.” So, as another one bites the dust, let Mrs. Jones get evicted, let Mr. Chen lose his business, let Pedro get fired, let Abdul get falsely arrested, let our children – the next generation – suffer the consequences. How many “Let’s” will it take to realize that if it is happening to anyone, it will eventually get to you? Yes! While what is happening on the global and national level is an important indicator of what is coming our way, now is not the time for feelings of hopeless helplessness. There is plenty that needs and can be done within the limits of our own community borders. And it is not so hard. With a simple informative community publication, healthy block associations can rise to make strong community boards able to identify and address common issues that may often require help from elected officials. Allow yourself to imagine how, under a simple but solid game plan, elected officials would be more inclined to listen and be sensitized into action. For example, instead of protests that can often be weathered or lead to violence, why not have an egg moment; where injustice arises, let the collective fling eggs or water balloons at the culprits. While many will call it dangerous, how harmlessly funny, exciting, and empowering it can be. It might be one of many creative ways to steer focus away from anger and hate. It might change the wording from civil “disobedience” to civil “resistance.” Extra! Extra! Read all about it! While marshals sought to serve an unfair eviction, or the police go ballistic during an arrest, or local officials turn a deaf ear, some neighbors hold a sit-in while others throw eggs and the rest go viral with their cell phones. Imagine, media would have a field day picnic… Point! America is burning and in need of drastic measures. So, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, let us be the fire extinguishers — one resident, one community — at a time. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics BETTER LATE THEN NEVER: WHY NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH! April 17, 2022/No Comments BETTER LATE THEN NEVER: WHY NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH! Women! Ha! What are they good for? Ha! ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING! For starters, Read More “LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD” February 17, 2022/No Comments “LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD” Wow! February! Lovey dove time for couples to share flowers, chocolates, dinner, special gifts, and of Read More FOR WHAT’S ANOTHER NEW YEAR January 17, 2022/No Comments FOR WHAT’S ANOTHER NEW YEAR The New Year is a worldwide celebration mainly full of parties, costumes, drinking and resolutions Read More Load More End of Content.