Communities - To Be or Not To Be

I wrote this 26 Jun, '11

If we want to talk about communities, it is important to understand just exactly what is referred to, what is the essence of Community, that which is so desired and to which such high value placed. But, what in reality can be a mere mirage, a projection our collective unconscious, reaching back to a primordial time before 'self' awareness. [I changed the grammar a bit - hope it reads a bit better now - Comments are something that should be banged out on the key board in 1/2 hr or so and 'damner the grammar' - 2 Oct.'11].

Community exists when the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and is defined and exists to that extent only. It is made up of that part of our existence that goes beyond the 'self', the 'me'. It occurs when we think, not what is good for me, but what is good for the whole and its boundaries are defined to the extent that we are willing to make such consideration beyond ourselves. It is the opposite of 'sink or swim', 'everyone for themselves', 'only the strong survive', 'the law of the jungle', 'might is right'. It was encapsulated in "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country". It is the stuff that allows us to survive a Great Depression, World Wars. It motivates us to pool our resources together to help those that need help and protect those that need protect.

During the Great Depression people helped on an individual basis, and the governments took a hands off approach (until near the end). With this and the 2nd World War fresh in their memories, people turned more and more to their governments to organize social programs to assist others, and willing to pay increased taxes to implement such programs. However, at the same time they transferred the responsibility, the direct contact and exposure to the point of disassociation. It freed their consciences to pursue a 'everyone for themself' attitude (and perhaps that was what JFK was addressing) and let the government take care it. The problem with this is when you have a government that wants to implement a hand off approach, an 'everyone one for themselves', reduce government, reduce taxes so that the individual may have more disposable income. With this both sides of the equation say 'me'. The result is: there is no 'Community', there is no 'social' there is no common ground or bonds, there is no identification with 'you', there is no 'us' (even if it is 'us against them'). There is only 32 million points, without significance in a Universe of billions.

I was at a Church on Friday evening and on the wall was a plaque that set what makes for a Community. I would reproduce here but for copy right laws. However, one thing it suggested was "Buy from local merchants". This seems innocuous. However, perhaps if people did buy 'local' as opposed to say, importing, even though it might be more expensive, we may not be able to afford all this stuff. But, when combined with the very 'me' attitude of spending beyond our means, how do you think this recession would look to us, to all those in our 'Community' who have lost their jobs, had their lives destroyed, live substandard lives, are unable to provide the opportunity to their children to allow them to reach their potential (and make us, as a whole, stronger).


Lloyd MacILquham cicblog.com/comments.html