People come to or move to areas for many different reasons and many times think or believe that they need to bring changes with them. It happens over time. Sometimes it's for the good and sometimes it's what makes a place worse. In the end, it's all a matter of opinion. People move to a peaceful, quiet bit of paradise. They enjoy it and want to share it. So they spread the word and little by little the peacefulness changes. The local coffee shop isn't just right. It would be great if they did this or did that. What if they offered more baked goods, different papers, etc. So it goes, so it goes....
Now there has to be a balance between staying the same and stagnating and planned growth. Sustainability, competitiveness and all of what comes with keeping communities alive and vibrant are critical issues to be faced.
I happen to live in one of those peaceful and beautiful places. Broadly it's defined as the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. It's filled with the beauty and tranquility of the lakes themselves along with waterfalls, vineyards and fertile farmland. Communities struggle to deal with growth, taxes, the call for more services, better schools, housing options, etc. What were once small family cottages have been replaced in many cases by huge McMansions where people can get lost in oversized space with views from every window or panel of windows.
Planning boards, economic developers and local legislative bodies struggle with the balance and the change. Chambers of Commerce do their jobs and sell the area and businesses more and more. They sell the small town feel and soon are faced with large corporate interests wanting a piece of the action.
All of this requires choices along the way and sometimes people pay a big price for choices that have been made by previous players or by people who have some huge vested interest. The compromise demanded by the choice making can be difficult. People and entities can be pitted against each other for years to come.
It seems to me that a clear mission and vision for a community or region is necessary before choices start to be made. There is also the issue of community ethics relative to change and choices. Are stakeholders always and truly a part of planning and development processes? Are people prepared for the economic payoffs or losses related to decisions that are made? Is the information about these economic factors widely shared?
There are those who still long for manufacturing jobs that will most likely never return due to the global economy and technological advances. Our industrial revolution that created the manufacturing sector transitioned to the technological revolution in the blink of an eye and some people missed or refused to see the transition.
So where does this all leave us in the Finger Lakes Region? Well, we've already made choices about wineries and they certainly bring an influx of tourists. They continue to expand along with craft breweries and distilleries. With all of these come many positives along with a few liabilities that can include large buses, rowdy visitations and a few dangerous encounters on area roads when designated drivers seem to have fallen off the wagon. The newest choice for the tourism buck and traffic will offer Casinos in all of their glory to the north and to the east. This choice is fueled by a governor's hope to garner some regional & upstate support. We will see how successful these choices are for the area. To the south we have pipelines and a planned LP Gas storage and transportation hub for the northeast in salt caverns along Seneca Lake. A Texas firm is enticing local officials with payments that are most likely way too small when one considers the potential risk to the community and the environment. So it goes, so it goes.....
I sit and contemplate all of these choices and their impact on the area we call the Finger Lakes. I sip my coffee and watch for the eagles that float above in the sky. I see an osprey carrying a fish back to its nest and a blue heron flying past the dock on this bit of paradise, hoping that it can continue for a little longer but realizing that hoping does little. We all need to make choices about our environment.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Hating the Hatred
This week we're in the process of burying, memorializing, grieving and celebrating the people who were shot and killed at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, So. Carolina. We've been debating a symbol, the Confederate flag, and ignoring for the most part, the issue of guns and access to them.
It seems Dylann Roof was filled with hate. Hate that he said came from the Trayvon Martin case and research he conducted about black on white crime on the internet. There are literally millions of people who have reviewed and seen the same information and they've been able to handle it without shooting up a sanctuary in a church.
It is easy, simple, to hate Dylann Roof. He has made it easy for everyone to hate him and everything he stands for and represents. The families of the people killed and wounded in his attack have done something much more difficult. They have forced us to think about peace, nonviolence and reconciliation. Yes, of course they are hurting, but they've shown us that hurting is not a natural leap to hatred. Dylann Roof has strong beliefs but so do these families and friends of the people shot.
I'm trying to figure out where this 21 year old really did come up with all of this hate. Only by understanding where it came from can we attempt to do something about it relative to others. Was it something he grew up with? Were there experiences that impacted him? Was he recruited or radicalized intentionally? These are just a few of the questions I'm asking and so far very few answers are coming up.
There's one thing I've concluded however, and it has to do with our response to hateful acts like this. To me it's clear, we need to hate the hate. We need to hate it and do something about it by finding solutions and methods to change it. We need to stand with those families in Charleston.
It seems Dylann Roof was filled with hate. Hate that he said came from the Trayvon Martin case and research he conducted about black on white crime on the internet. There are literally millions of people who have reviewed and seen the same information and they've been able to handle it without shooting up a sanctuary in a church.
It is easy, simple, to hate Dylann Roof. He has made it easy for everyone to hate him and everything he stands for and represents. The families of the people killed and wounded in his attack have done something much more difficult. They have forced us to think about peace, nonviolence and reconciliation. Yes, of course they are hurting, but they've shown us that hurting is not a natural leap to hatred. Dylann Roof has strong beliefs but so do these families and friends of the people shot.
I'm trying to figure out where this 21 year old really did come up with all of this hate. Only by understanding where it came from can we attempt to do something about it relative to others. Was it something he grew up with? Were there experiences that impacted him? Was he recruited or radicalized intentionally? These are just a few of the questions I'm asking and so far very few answers are coming up.
There's one thing I've concluded however, and it has to do with our response to hateful acts like this. To me it's clear, we need to hate the hate. We need to hate it and do something about it by finding solutions and methods to change it. We need to stand with those families in Charleston.
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Some Tests Are A Pain But Necessary
Yup, they are, and the one most of us dread and unfortunately sometimes put off is the colonoscopy. I had missed a couple of years until last year when my cancer was found. So I've been having quarterly blood tests and had another (1 year later) colonoscopy a few days ago. All is well. As a matter of fact the results were great and my Dr. & Surgeon said 5 years is fine for the next one. He was happy and so was I.
It's interesting the conversations that take place in the pre-op area as people wait for their turn. People sharing fears, discomfort from the prep or eagerness of sorts to get things done. Sometimes stories of early detection like mine, surgeries and family histories. Bad jokes and references to body parts and bodily functions creep in along with nervous laughs. People of all ages, talking to each other, family members, nurses and Drs. Some people are there for the first time and others, like me, are seasoned participants. As always, great nurses make a world of difference and they always seem to be there.
When its over and people are still a bit woozy, pie-eyed, etc. first timers become more confident and everyone anticipates the results and report from the Dr. In most cases reports are fine. A polyp here, a polyp there, removed and sent off for testing. But there are different results. The ones where the Dr. tells the patient that there's something that really doesn't look good. That was my result last year although it was even more blunt. It was stated pretty confidently that there was a cancerous tumor on my colon. But yesterday was different, for me anyway. My Dr.'s euphoria, thumbs up and big smile was a welcome site. Me? I was still enjoying the drug induced state and so looking forward to a nice lunch.
The real point though is, these little inconveniences are important and necessary. When you consider the potential consequences of doing nothing or putting it off for a little longer, the prep, the conversations, the procedure itself are really not that big a deal. So get it done when its due. It really can save your life.
It's interesting the conversations that take place in the pre-op area as people wait for their turn. People sharing fears, discomfort from the prep or eagerness of sorts to get things done. Sometimes stories of early detection like mine, surgeries and family histories. Bad jokes and references to body parts and bodily functions creep in along with nervous laughs. People of all ages, talking to each other, family members, nurses and Drs. Some people are there for the first time and others, like me, are seasoned participants. As always, great nurses make a world of difference and they always seem to be there.
When its over and people are still a bit woozy, pie-eyed, etc. first timers become more confident and everyone anticipates the results and report from the Dr. In most cases reports are fine. A polyp here, a polyp there, removed and sent off for testing. But there are different results. The ones where the Dr. tells the patient that there's something that really doesn't look good. That was my result last year although it was even more blunt. It was stated pretty confidently that there was a cancerous tumor on my colon. But yesterday was different, for me anyway. My Dr.'s euphoria, thumbs up and big smile was a welcome site. Me? I was still enjoying the drug induced state and so looking forward to a nice lunch.
The real point though is, these little inconveniences are important and necessary. When you consider the potential consequences of doing nothing or putting it off for a little longer, the prep, the conversations, the procedure itself are really not that big a deal. So get it done when its due. It really can save your life.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
An Important Anniversary
Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my colon cancer surgery and next week I'm scheduled for a complete review (colonoscopy) of how things are doing. I've been having regular blood tests and Dr. visits throughout the past year and everything has been fine so far.
But anniversaries like this are significant, sometimes scary and yet also a time to celebrate. It was in May of last year that my cancer was discovered and the surgery was scheduled quickly with various tests, pictures and preparations made. I had a good expierience at St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell, NY. Great doctors and nurses and lots of support from family and friends.
What have I learned and experienced since? Well, the obvious things have been to try to take better care of myself through diet, exercise and moderation in lots of things. I've also spent a lot of time thinking about friends, colleagues and family. Memories have become more significant, relationships more important. I've also tried to inhale life a bit more intensely over the past year and yet I'm feeling the limits of age. I've learned to really respect and honor others who have struggled and fought the battle with cancer.
I lost a good part of the summer last year in various stages of recuperation. I wasn't able to do outside work, get out on the lake, etc. So far I've been making up for it this year and plan on continuing.
Anyway, that's an update and my own reminder of an important anniversary that I remember mostly from a hospital bed in a haze of medicine in early June of 2014.
But anniversaries like this are significant, sometimes scary and yet also a time to celebrate. It was in May of last year that my cancer was discovered and the surgery was scheduled quickly with various tests, pictures and preparations made. I had a good expierience at St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell, NY. Great doctors and nurses and lots of support from family and friends.
What have I learned and experienced since? Well, the obvious things have been to try to take better care of myself through diet, exercise and moderation in lots of things. I've also spent a lot of time thinking about friends, colleagues and family. Memories have become more significant, relationships more important. I've also tried to inhale life a bit more intensely over the past year and yet I'm feeling the limits of age. I've learned to really respect and honor others who have struggled and fought the battle with cancer.
I lost a good part of the summer last year in various stages of recuperation. I wasn't able to do outside work, get out on the lake, etc. So far I've been making up for it this year and plan on continuing.
Anyway, that's an update and my own reminder of an important anniversary that I remember mostly from a hospital bed in a haze of medicine in early June of 2014.
The Stupidity of War
Memorial Day just passed and we are in the very beginnings of the 2016 Presidential campaign. Both of these events present many opportunities for some people to wrap themselves in the American flag and promote war as a solution to complicated world issues. It's sad really and worse, dangerous.
Glib, emotionally based statements about nuking people and countries out of existence cross just about every moral and political line there is to cross. Sadly, there will always be those who are attracted to these kinds of statements. They imply a quick solution to some of the problems the world faces. Most of the hawks and war sellers have never fought in a war or paid any kind of price relative to the violence of war. Yet they spout about what they would do as Commander In Chief as if they have all of the expierience in the world. Boots on the ground - a few thousand here, a few thousand there - more bombs, more drones. We report and seem to celebrate the death of 10,000 ISIS fighters without questioning how many people end up being radicalized or recruited by these deaths. All of this is an acceptance of old concepts of war that over the centuries have been proven to be incorrect - and in the end we just keep repeating the mantra.
But war is stupid, really stupid and many times, as we've seen, a mistake. What do we do about those mistakes after the fact, after thousands are killed. They are no more. Their future and our future is affected by the loss. People we knew, didn't know or who now we have no chance of knowing. That is the real tragedy and stupidity of war.
As people talk about 'boots on the ground', perhaps as few as 3000 (a few unless you're one of them), we really need to remember and contemplate the mistakes and lessons that should have been learned from Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Wars are terribly stupid and tragic ways to find peace and many of us know it.
Glib, emotionally based statements about nuking people and countries out of existence cross just about every moral and political line there is to cross. Sadly, there will always be those who are attracted to these kinds of statements. They imply a quick solution to some of the problems the world faces. Most of the hawks and war sellers have never fought in a war or paid any kind of price relative to the violence of war. Yet they spout about what they would do as Commander In Chief as if they have all of the expierience in the world. Boots on the ground - a few thousand here, a few thousand there - more bombs, more drones. We report and seem to celebrate the death of 10,000 ISIS fighters without questioning how many people end up being radicalized or recruited by these deaths. All of this is an acceptance of old concepts of war that over the centuries have been proven to be incorrect - and in the end we just keep repeating the mantra.
But war is stupid, really stupid and many times, as we've seen, a mistake. What do we do about those mistakes after the fact, after thousands are killed. They are no more. Their future and our future is affected by the loss. People we knew, didn't know or who now we have no chance of knowing. That is the real tragedy and stupidity of war.
As people talk about 'boots on the ground', perhaps as few as 3000 (a few unless you're one of them), we really need to remember and contemplate the mistakes and lessons that should have been learned from Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Wars are terribly stupid and tragic ways to find peace and many of us know it.
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