Community - Who's Responsible

As the second decade of the 21st century fades into the history books, I’m intrigued by the idea of community as our society becomes less defined by our geography and more defined by our interests and passions. The question I am pondering is who is then responsible for the community we live in, the actual geographic location?

Local government, local businesses, you and I? The simple answer is all of us, but when it comes down to brass tacks, do we as a collective give a damn? Local government seems to be more concerned with power and influence, Business has the shareholder, and you and I well we are pretty much apathetic. With everyone in the actual geographic area distracted, then who is responsible.

I am slightly concerned that we, as a community, have delegated or responsibility to Special Interest. Now a highly vocal energized minority of heterogeneous groups has us spinning around in circles and, in the end, accomplishing nothing to better the community but moving us further down the path to tribalism.

That’s why I am writing today. I have tremendous optimism about our future, but we, the majority collective, need to take back our responsibility for the neighborhood. No matter your political persuasion, religious affiliation, or whatever other group you identify with, there are constants we can all agree with. Now we can collaborate to make sure when we step outside, we see a neighborhood we are proud to call home. I hope that for the third decade of the 21st century, we stop letting the Special Interest run amok and start holding ourselves accountable because we are responsible for our community. 

As we think about our resolutions, I hope that you consider getting involved with your geographic community and working to make sure it’s a true reflection of all the amazing people living in it.