Slighted
I remember, years ago, when Jefferson County was so deeply split that living in a different city or part of the County was like living in a different Country. Some of that went by the wayside when Jefferson County High School opened the doors. For the first time, cross county rivals were on the same team. Granted it took a little while for various parts of the County to give up their individual monikers and become Jefferson County Patriots and for those of us who attended high school in the early days the mixing didn’t always begin on the first day of school. But, by the time we were walking across the stage most of us had a hard time recalling schools of origin. Now, I believe that the mixing occurs even earlier. You can put that down to many things. Better roads, anticipation of being a Patriot, the need to do business in other areas of the County mean actually visiting those areas. Whatever. The world is just a smaller place than it used to be and, thus, Jefferson County, despite the growth, is a closer place than it used to be.
That is, unless you sit in on a couple of government meetings. While elected officials are representatives of their districts they are not without obligation to the entirety of Jefferson County. It is in these meetings, where the decisions are made that impact every resident of Jefferson County, that you can most clearly see the dividing lines. It is much like the rivalries of the past never died. We expect our children to come together as a cohesive unit and make things work, yet adult decision makers can’t get over thinking that someone is trying to put one over on them. That giving someone else their fair share takes away from their own wants. Always thinking that someone or some entity believes that they are better than another. It is reverse snobbery at its worst and it is detrimental to the fabric that holds this County together.
Nothing for any school unless MY school gets what it wants and needs first. No money for any fire department unless MY fire department gets what it wants and needs first. You need a road paved? Get in line BEHIND me. Your need may be legitimate. Your need may be great. But it is never as legitimate or as great as MY need. You are a HAVE and I am a HAVE NOT. Therefore, the universe owes me, and so does Jefferson County.
Until this County, and by County I mean elected officials, work together, open their eyes and see the big picture, there is little hope of real growth. There are no have and have nots. There are just citizens paying their taxes, looking to live a quality life. I am not so naive that I believe that all things can or will be fair and equitable but I do believe that should be the goal. We are one County and when one part of the County is getting slighted it is up to the rest of the County to come to their defense. And if our elected officials have a hard time remembering that the line in the sand is the one that leads away from Jefferson County then it is up to the citizens to remind them that we stand together. There are no Elks or Cyclones or Hornets or Plainsmen when it comes to what is right for our citizens. And if it is wrong for one, it is wrong for all. That is the one compromise that we should, never ever be willing to make.
