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March 15, 2007
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March 15, 2007 |
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Editorial The sounds of democracy What does democracy sound like? What might you hear living in a town with an active, engaged citizenry? You might hear something that sounds like last week’s meeting of Village Council. Many who attended spoke up regarding the possible annexation of the Fogg farm; others spoke on energy conservation, or the conditions of downtown sidewalks. Villagers addressed topics both local and global, and on all topics they were informed and engaged. Some spoke with calm, some with passion, and some voices rose with frustration. And because many who attended were parents, you also heard the cries and the rustlings of children. Some villagers worry that the recent passionate debate on the Fogg farm annexation means that Yellow Springs has become polarized. Some worry that villagers have returned to the antagonistic and divisive days of the recall campaign and Glass Farm affordable housing referendum. Nobody wants to return to those days. But during the recall and Glass Farm issues, passionate debates weren’t the problem. The problem was that people felt — and often were — personally attacked, and the hurt from those attacks lives on. It’s made people cautious. Caution can be a good thing, as can old-fashioned politeness. But when big ideas conflict with each other — ideas about how Yellow Springs should grow, how it should look, how people want to live, how to attract a more diverse community — voices may rise. Villagers can speak with passion and fire and still respect the integrity of those with whom they disagree. So far, that’s what those who attend Council meetings seem to be doing. They engage over ideas rather than personalities. They speak firmly and passionately, but with respect. This is one way that democracy sounds. It’s a good thing that so many villagers come to meetings, write letters to the editor, stand up and speak. And it’s a wonderful thing that Yellow Springs is home to many engaged young adults, including those who attended last week’s Council meeting. Having chosen this town as the place to buy their first homes and raise their families, many take a keen interest in local issues. They read the studies, do their homework, ask tough questions. Our town is richer for their presence and caring. (Note to Council: an easy way to encourage these young people to attend meetings? Provide child care.) What does democracy sound like? It sounds a lot like Yellow Springs sounds right now.
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