Everybody Has One

Tempers are running high in Jefferson County. There are several emotional issues that are facing, or have faced, our County in the past few months and it has left many residents feeling a little raw. For those that are not stakeholders in the sense that their daily life is going to be impacted by these issues, it may be difficult to understand why emotions are so near the surface. Humans are…well, human. When our private and personal space is in jeopardy of being violated we fight. It is a natural response and those of us that are not directly in the path of these changes must be respectful of those that are. It is fine and also natural for people to disagree on issues of importance. Perspective is everything and I can’t see your view from my own front door. All that I can see is my view, my perspective, because that, simply put, is where I live. But, though we cannot walk in each other’s shoes, we must acknowledge that other perspectives do exist and we should be reasonable enough to realize that our own view point may not be the only valid point of view. Sometimes the best ideas come from compromise and, more often than not, the answer to life’s most challenging issues lies not in the extremes but in the middle.

There are those in this County that seek change. They want industry, jobs and growth that will support a different vision of Jefferson County than the one that currently exists. There are those that want to retain the rural integrity of the County. They want tranquility and respite from the issues associated with large industry and growth, be it in academia or economic. I suspect that the most attractive path for Jefferson County lies somewhere in the middle. A stagnant society cannot thrive but growth can be controlled and directed so that it is not overwhelming and is manageable. Jefferson County had more than a decade of overwhelming growth and it stretched and stressed the boundaries of this community.

When the doors open for upcoming meetings, I hope that they open wide and without reservation. And when people speak, I hope that they are heard by ears that are attached to heads, that hold brains, that control minds, that are open to view points other than their own. My view, your view, the view of the guy down the road…viewpoints are like brains. Everybody supposedly has one.