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Perspective on ‘poverty’

3 min read

I would like to offer a perspective on “poverty,” in Fayette County. I suggest that until we understand that poverty is “our” problem, we will not be able to enter any meaningful conversation. For just one moment, let us take a break from finger pointing and decide that we will be part of the solution. After all, there’s a reason we are still here when others are forced to leave the area for economic stability for their families. I suspect that we believe in the goodness that surrounds us. That’s a place to start. But, we must do more. Our non-profits are struggling with their budget shortfalls. We need volunteers. Better yet, we need to make a conscious choice about our associations and their purposes. In short, we each need to be leaders. I have heard that the first thing that a leader must do is become a good follower. While that may appear paradoxical, it really is not. A leader follows principles. Some of the most harmful principles we hold can actually create poverty. Some of those harmful principles are “get something with the lease amount of effort or inconvenience, it make us look savvy,” “find a victim, so we can feel superior,” “resent those who achieve, they must be crooked,” “resist inspiration, it will make us look foolish,” “complain about our condition, it makes us important,” “criticize others, it makes us look intelligent,” to name a few. These principles play out in our lives like recurring themes and undermine us whenever we are faced with a difficult challenge. We are looking for a “fix-it” shop instead of being leaders.

So, the question becomes what principles do we follow? Why are we still here when others are leaving the area? The answers are not negative ones. The answers are really very positive and provide us with the basis for the principles we can instill as leaders. One of the reasons we are here is because we believe in a strong family life. We are here because the community is relatively small in population, so that we can know our neighbors; yes, even our “poor” neighbors, although we do not recognize each other in that way. We witness the resilience in the natural beauty that inspires us. It is up to each one of us to determine why we are still here and then seize those opportunities to express it.

Out of all the arguing about “how poor we are,” one principle becomes clear. There is no more time for negativity, resentment, jealousy, and one-up-man-ship. We need to be the leaders our media keeps denigrating. Because, there is something worse than poverty and that is ignorance.

Denise B. Simon

Farmington

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