July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Be thankful for all that we have (02/04/08)
Editorial
Let's talk about the wallpaper.
By that, we mean all that stuff that's a part of the local environment we never acknowledge.
What kind of stuff?
How about a consolidated school system that unites the county? We've had one for more than 30 years and have seen enormous benefits in terms of community-building, economic efficiency, and student opportunities.
But nobody talks about it because it's part of the wallpaper.
How about a county hospital? We've had one for more than a hundred years and have seen it grow from a primitive backwater facility into something we can brag about.
Do we? Not enough, that's because it's part of the wallpaper.
How about efficient local government? Down in Indianapolis, folks will tell you that Jay County is one of the "shining stars" because the people we elect to do the business of local government take their duties seriously and have kept property taxes under control.
Does anybody talk about that? Of course not, it's part of the wallpaper.
How about an arts center in a rural community that rivals places three times our size? Part of the wallpaper.
How about community centers in multiple locations with multiple gyms providing programming for young people? Part of the wallpaper.
How about a community foundation with an asset base per capita hard to match in America? Part of the wallpaper.
How about a smorgasbord of youth activities including everything from 4-H to every imaginable sport? Part of the wallpaper.
How about a sophisticated program aimed at kids who fall through the cracks at school and in society that works daily miracles bringing them back into the fold? Part of the wallpaper.
You get the picture. The list could go on.
The fact is, folks, we're spoiled.
Here we are in our corner of the central Midwest with healthy churches, healthy community organizations, healthy service clubs, and healthy locally-owned media, and we treat it all as if it's part of the wallpaper.
Almost anywhere else, it would be considered remarkable. Here, it's considered routine, ordinary.
Our suggestion is two-fold: First, take a moment to be thankful for where we happen to have found ourselves. And, second, do your best to make sure that wonderful wallpaper hangs around forever. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]
By that, we mean all that stuff that's a part of the local environment we never acknowledge.
What kind of stuff?
How about a consolidated school system that unites the county? We've had one for more than 30 years and have seen enormous benefits in terms of community-building, economic efficiency, and student opportunities.
But nobody talks about it because it's part of the wallpaper.
How about a county hospital? We've had one for more than a hundred years and have seen it grow from a primitive backwater facility into something we can brag about.
Do we? Not enough, that's because it's part of the wallpaper.
How about efficient local government? Down in Indianapolis, folks will tell you that Jay County is one of the "shining stars" because the people we elect to do the business of local government take their duties seriously and have kept property taxes under control.
Does anybody talk about that? Of course not, it's part of the wallpaper.
How about an arts center in a rural community that rivals places three times our size? Part of the wallpaper.
How about community centers in multiple locations with multiple gyms providing programming for young people? Part of the wallpaper.
How about a community foundation with an asset base per capita hard to match in America? Part of the wallpaper.
How about a smorgasbord of youth activities including everything from 4-H to every imaginable sport? Part of the wallpaper.
How about a sophisticated program aimed at kids who fall through the cracks at school and in society that works daily miracles bringing them back into the fold? Part of the wallpaper.
You get the picture. The list could go on.
The fact is, folks, we're spoiled.
Here we are in our corner of the central Midwest with healthy churches, healthy community organizations, healthy service clubs, and healthy locally-owned media, and we treat it all as if it's part of the wallpaper.
Almost anywhere else, it would be considered remarkable. Here, it's considered routine, ordinary.
Our suggestion is two-fold: First, take a moment to be thankful for where we happen to have found ourselves. And, second, do your best to make sure that wonderful wallpaper hangs around forever. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]
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