The Harlander
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National Service the DebateThe 9/11 debate was about National Service. What is that? Is it being a small town mayor, a community activist or a prisoner of war? I paid particular attention to body language tonight. McCain was physically impaired due to his service for the nation but his mind sharp and focused on the issues. Obama young and vibrant but unsure. It is a 50/50 draw. Each complementing the other. Each reaching out with a call to you and me for a commitment to National Service. Yet, we here in Edgewater cannot fill our Boards and Commissions. We cannot reach out to our fellow citizens and come up with a Common Citizens agenda that meets the needs of our community.
John Kennedy said it best "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country". Both parties are aligned on this single issue but diametrically different on its implementation. The truth is that it lies with us. It doesn't matter who populates the White House come next January, if we do not find a common platform and find it soon, our society is bound to fail. What's the alternative? I shudder to think of that possibility.
Get involved, and attending City Council meeting to see the show does not count. Put in an application to serve on a board or commission, join the PTA or organize a day of wheelchairs in the park. What is the risk? Not everyone will agree with you. But you know what? At the end of the day you can look in the mirror and say "I did something, I count and I didn't do it for me". Priceless.
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