Archie Bunker made a fuss about where
he sat. The politically incorrect TV
character would harangue anyone who dared to plop down in his chair, especially
his son-in-law, “Meathead.”
I don’t have a
chair. But wherever I sit, I want
something to read within reach. Before
breakfast, I’ve read several newspapers.
And before I turn out the light at night, I’ve read pages in a book or
two. In between early and late in the
day, magazines often fill the gap.
The PROGRESSIVE FARMER is a good
example. It’s always good for helpful
information. After scanning the cover, I
turn to the “Handy DEVICES” page. Readers
such as Gene Vitek of Stillwater, Oklahoma, send in tips for making chores
easier on the farm. Gene’s diagram is how
to reroute an electric fence under a gate—using a piece of rubber hose—so that
he doesn’t have to unhook the wire every time he drives through. Good idea, Gene.
But if you
don’t have a need for those kinds of suggestions, there’s always something
useful on the back page. “CORNERSTONES” is a collection of themed quotations.
September’s subject was entitled “Legacy.”
That topic never strays far from my mind. What kind of legacy are you and I leaving? Our children and our grandchildren are
watching. Do our actions set examples
for them to follow? If we don’t care,
how are we to expect them to care about the future?
Consider the
words of David Brower, as published in The
PROGRESSIVE FARMER: “We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors; we
borrow it from our children.” Think
about that, as it relates to what’s going on in our community right now. Decisions we make or allow to be made affect
us. But just as water runs downhill, the
impact of our choices cascades to the next generation and beyond.
Dumping toxic waste in and around our wetlands
was never a good choice. And we
shouldn’t be tempted to use potential coal-ash-dumping fees as part of our
solution to the county’s financial shortfall.
Consider this analogy. As a man, would
you force your wife or your daughter to become a streetwalker to bring in more
money to balance your household budget?
Prostitution can be lucrative. “Whaaaat?”
you howl. “That’s ridiculous to even
suggest such a thing!”
Of course it
is.
Now hold that
line of thinking.
The county is
struggling with its lack of income and too many expenses. Should we pimp our environment and risk our
health by allowing Wayne County to be a dangerous-waste dump for short-term financial
gain? “That’s ridiculous,” you say.
Of course it
is.
That’s why we
cannot be tempted to ignore the long-term consequences of shortsighted logic.
If you haven’t
thought about it in that way, find a chair—but not Archie’s—and have a
seat. Think about the legacy we want to
leave behind. And ponder the words of
David Brower: “We don’t inherit the earth
from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
dnesmith@cninewspapers.com
