Sorry, Kids, You Can't Go to the Library, Your Grandfather Voted Against It
|
||||||||||
| Printer Friendly Story View |
The group gathered at the restaurant had grim faces when I mentioned the library millage vote.
"We're all "no" voters here," said my friend.
My dismay was heightened when I realized my friend was otherwise a major supporter of the city and its positive aspects. I assumed his prosperous looking friends were much like him in that regard.
"What are we going to do with the libraries, then?" I queried.
"Turn them into casinos," came the not entirely joking response, the group laughing and nodding to each other with knowing smiles of those in common agreement.
Deciding it would not be a good idea to argue the issue publicly, I backed away. But the brief confrontation with otherwise positive folks made me think. What could I have said to convince them to vote "yes."? At that moment, probably nothing. They would think I was a jerk for disputing their opinions, based on real deep-seated feelings. But, then again, I surmised that perhaps they haven't thought through all the consequences of their stand against the libraries in the heat of the political wrangling of today.
On reflection, it became apparent to me that people are going to have to make up their own minds and the basis of their decision-making ultimately will be this vital question: Do we vote in hope or in despair?
Do we vote "yes" for a culture of hope based on support of education represented by libraries? Or do we vote "no" for a culture of despair that ultimately will be self-destructive?
The culture of education/libraries is the polar opposite of the get-rich-quick culture of casinos/gambling.
Assuming that unless a miracle drug that prolongs life is found, many of us will be gone in a decade or two.
I can imagine my six year old grand-daughter, Claire, as an example, ten years from now asking her mother: "Mom, I need to find some information for a report at the library but I heard they are closed? It's not on the computer. What can I do?"
Or, imagine a child who has no computer at home (half the homes in town have no computer) asking: "Dad, why aren't the libraries open so I can use a computer to look up some stuff I need for my class?"
So, put yourself in the shoes of a parent of the future: what do you say to the child?
Based on today's arguments, here are some possible parental responses:
"Honey, they built a library that people thought was too big, so they closed it."
"Johnny, some people gave a lot of money and they put their name on the library and some voters didn't like it, so they closed all the libraries."
"Jill, some people got in a fight about how the main library was built and so they voted down the money to run all the libraries. Understand?"
"Bobby, they sold some of the old books that were out of date and paid for the election so lots of people got mad and voted against paying to keep libraries open."
"Suzie, your grandfather got angry with the people who ran the library at one time so he voted against keeping libraries open. He sure taught them a lesson."
The small cost of keeping libraries open and running at full efficiency does not seem to be the main issue at all. The issue seems to be whether we embrace hope or despair about our community.
I have a friend who lives in a wealthy area of Florida who has given up on Bay City in despair. He is absolutely convinced that nothing will save this town. Even though he made all his money here, he has nothing but contempt for us, the current residents.
I do argue with him, continually, about the future. "Hang on, don't give up on Bay City, I tell him. We have fought through worse situations before and we still have alto going for us here in Bay City. The town is clean, crime is low, industry is growing, retail is strong, people are decent, they own nice homes and send their kids to good schools. Hang on, things are getting better all the time."
If my friend in Florida had the chance, he'd vote "no" in despair, because he's given up on Bay City.
His grandchildren would be standing out in the cold in front of closed libraries.
He'd sure show them by voting "no"!
The ultimate question is: What message are we going to send to our grandchildren?
"No" for despair. Or "yes" for hope.
It's up to you. It's the future of your grandchildren and/or those of your relatives and friends that is at stake in your vote on Nov. 6! ###
| Printer Friendly Story View |
|
|
Dave Rogers |
|
|
|
Printer-Friendly Story View
0200 Nd: 04-21-2024 d 4 cpr 0
12/31/2020 P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm
SPONSORED LINKS
12/31/2020 drop ads P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm