Success is measured by what you improve

The election is over. Political turf was won and lost. Winners gloat and losers pout. Verbal posturing is rampant and absurd. Claims of a mandate from the people are commonplace. Gridlock will quickly follow as sure as day turns to night. Alas, little will be accomplished while each side refuses to acknowledge even the slightest bit of logic in the stance of the other. Progress to come? Don't hold your breath.

I hope that I am wrong, but it appears to me that our Sisters community is inexorably slipping into this winner-take-all style of problem solving. When local issues are discussed lately, rigidity has too often taken precedence over cooperation, and verbosity has carried the day over listening skills. An amphitheater? Back-in parking? Roundabouts? City parks? Open markets? Pedestrian trails? Each proposed idea has been met with a withering array of verbal and written barrages seemingly out of proportion to the impact of the proposal on our community.

Don't like an idea at first glance? Shout it down, throw brickbats - and swear that each idea brought up will probably end civilization as we know it! Above all though, don't engage in reasonable dialogue aimed at compromise. Block everything!

Ten years ago or so, as a board member, I proposed that we attempt to convince Tollgate owners that a pedestrian/bike path should be constructed. Given the fact that this idea had been proposed and voted down twice in the recent past, other board members were understandably reluctant to bring the issue to a third vote. However, I felt strongly that despite opposition, we could not afford to have men, women and especially children continue to share our narrow roads with cars, and I was allowed to give it another try.

Knowing that there were strong objections to the trail, I asked three property owners who were openly opposed to join a small working group whose aim was to formulate a proposal that did not tread too heavily on any individual's rights.

Compromise had to carry the day, and it did.

We went door-to-door, attempting to talk to all interested parties.

Adjustments were made, and the proposal passed with more than the super-majority that was required.

Happily, the Tollgate pedestrian/bike path has since become an example of what can be done when we all listen more, and argue less.

Hundreds use this path and the benches built as rest stops each week.

I believe that most Tollgate residents can't imagine being without it.

I am not purporting that every issue can be settled through compromise. However, I do feel that openly discussing issues should not leave folks feeling attacked, alienated and angry. Critical examination of an issue is always welcome, but cynicism is not productive. Personal success should never be measured by what you have obstructed or stopped, but rather what you have improved. Additionally, I believe that those folks who propose ideas should not give up when objections are raised. Instead, look for common ground and compromise.

The future of our Sisters community rests heavily on those folks who are just passing through, are contemplating moving here, of retiring here. Reading toxic diatribes in he letters to the editor, or witnessing harsh exchanges in public meetings do not present our community in the very positive light that we have grown accustomed to. Let us remedy that by listening to each other, looking for common ground, and getting off of our backsides and helping out! Let's also resolve to demonstrate to our young people that we can practice the teamwork, cooperation, selflessness and listening skills that we are looking for in each of them.

John Kennedy once said "If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world a safe place for diversity."