I was in the Havasupai Canyon during election day, our last backpack of the year. It was peaceful and beautiful, and the ten-mile hike out on a pristine desert day was calming and inspiring. It gave me a chance to reflect on the turbulence in our American political landscape, but to also reaffirm some of my core beliefs about the good ol’ USA and what we each locally can do to overcome division.
First, I believe that the American institutions will overcome the current-day schisms. We have been through so much in nearly 250 years of history, and our system has gotten us through. We did it before and we can do it again.
Second, I believe that the majority of American are compassionate, good people. Almost all of your fellow Americans will be kind if you are kind to them. So now, we should all stay informed and think unity. Be attuned to those who want to divide and resist that. Instead, help bridge those divisions with consciousness and listening.
Third, despite the “hot-button” issues, most of us share certain basic beliefs about our citizenship and what it means. The great majority of us do believe in the rights that have been our bedrock: life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. We believe in freedom of speech and religion. We are all individuals, but we are all Americans. Let us start our discussions from the common points and work from there.
In one of Judi Smith’s recent local columns, she spoke of maintaining our “village atmosphere.” I agree absolutely. Let us do it. How? Just do it!
Offer basic humanity to each other in every interaction, regardless of differences of opinion and differing social agendas. In my experience, starting a relationship or conversation as human being to human being ensures that the first steps are unifying.
We live in a world now where divisive disinformation spreads like wildfire. We need to develop our skills to sniff out the suspicious and the inaccurate.
Be open – but discerning. Your vigilance and consciousness and a touch of intuition are the best keys to protection from that stuff.
I believe that most Americans are fundamentally kind and appreciative of each other. The ability to listen to each other, to be curious about others’ reasons for their views, and to try to understand can lead to remarkable openness and empathy.
As a first-time politician in later life, I have to make decisions based on the broadest set of information I can absorb, including various opinions and influences. I need your ideas and opinions, and it does no good to get angry at those with different opinions. Anger dispels focus and divides us.
The sun comes up every day (sometimes behind snow clouds). We have much work to do to keep Estes the place of beauty it still is after 150+ years of settled history. Let us start each day, and each interaction, from a point of humanity, and we can solve most problems together.
The proposed (and still in progress) Planned Unit Development ordinance amendment will continue to inspire strong differences of opinion as the board considers the changes.
At essence is: How do we create an ordinance that would allow PUDs in a wider range of zones but still have guardrails that would prevent current and future planners and boards and developers from going off track and overdoing PUDs to the point of changing the character of our town in negative ways?
Well, we can never guarantee what future elected boards will choose to do, but I want to see that type of clarity of purpose and benefit, so that future boards will at least consider staying within bounds and maintaining Estes’s character and beauty.
I have recently heard the old refrain “You can’t fight City Hall.” If we have a feeling that the walls of city hall are too high and mighty, communication ceases or becomes divisive. I do think that many Estesians know the paths to work with the Town staff. And my methods are patterned around collaboration.
Do you still feel that the Town is unassailable? If so, what steps can be taken to lessen that sense of futility?
I will be setting up the next Mayor’s Coffee in December. My goal is to hold these approximately three times a year since I will also be participating about three times a year in Trustee Talks. That will give me about six open sessions for public interaction. Plus, I have many meetings one-on-one with citizens.
If that is not enough – let me know!
As always, I appreciate your feedback, questions, debate, and commentary.