tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post4416328183625416608..comments2023-09-22T06:22:50.820-06:00Comments on Ken Chapman: What do Progressive Albertan's Believe and Why?kenchapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-38699529761218749042010-04-18T10:01:02.238-06:002010-04-18T10:01:02.238-06:00Ken, it took a week for me to read that... what wi...Ken, it took a week for me to read that... what with all the other things I need to do, but it's Sunday and the kids are still abed and I'm being a little lazy about the farm... 'cause I know it's going to swallow up the rest of the day.<br /><br />I was thinking about the final community hockey banquet I attened last night in relation to what you've written about progressives. There were over 150 community members at the event and I'm closely acquainted with most of them. <br /><br />Yet when we gather in groups, I find great hesitancy for people to talk about issues that are facing the community and an even greater distance from issues of the province... the country and the world. As long as it's gossip about the village, people are interested in sharing what they know. However, as soon as I try to get folks to find a better way of doing something... or suggest changes, most people start squirming because they simply don't want to be seen as the agents of change.<br /><br />It's often said around here that it is the same 20 people who volunteer for everything... and that seems to be true. Still, even among that group of people, the volunteerism extends only to traditional tasks... like the hockey executive... Communities in Bloom... Spring Clean-up. Dare I say it but it seems okay to help the community in certain ways but NOT OKAY to challenge the way things are by proposing change... or even discussing change.<br /><br />In smaller groups I can find people who are willing to open up with their hopes and dreams and fears, which are almost always rational and within reach... and often things as simple as more time with family... not to be so busy and without a say in how things go in the village. Their ideas so often seem to mesh with my own but getting them to speak out in front of others is something that has me stumped.<br /><br />Many people in my community almost see frightened of having a discussion they are mostly capable of having in a civil way. I don't know what the fear is, but to me... in my small community it is palpable to the point of stifling.<br /><br />God knows, I am not a revolutionary... I'm no Che or Mao; I'm the Communities in Bloom guy and the President of Friends of the Library. All I'm interested in doing is keeping our little community vibrant and ensuring all the voices in my community have an avenue to express themselves in a working democracy.<br /><br />It sometimes defeats me that such an idea has to tread lightly and kowtow to some sort of pressure to accept and authority that does not come from democracy.<br /><br />Whether that makes sense in context of what you've written... I don't know, but I was struck this morning by the connection to my experience in this village and what you've written.<br /><br />Now, back on the tractor.Berry Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03447299342398591508noreply@blogger.com