Plugging in...Why community is hard to define and even harder to find.

Okay. This is an article I found in Relevant magazine and I thought it would be an interesting read for everyone as it goes along with the whole community thing we've been talking about. The title of the article is the title of this blog. It's written by Cameron Conant. I'll be posting it in three or four sections so it won't be such a long read. Hope you like it!

"Hillary Clinton once said that it takes a village to raise a child.

Conservatives were furious, arguing that as a liberal, Clinton was incorrectly emphasizing the importance of community over the importance of families.

But in my life, I've seen the importance of both families and "villages" -- not only in the development of children, but in the development of adults as well. When my wife filed for divorce, my parents were steadfast in their support; they called, visited, encouraged, and listened. But I needed more than that. I needed the people who attended my church, my wedding. I needed a village.

Where were these friends and neighbors who witnessed my wedding vows? In a world where people change jobs and cities routinely, these people were scattered around the country. Meanwhile, I sat in my half-empty apartment, staring at white walls, mourning the death of my marriage -- a death with no tombstone, a death that would never see a stream of mourners carrying cards or casseroles.

Community is tough to find in our mobile, throwaway society -- a world where shopping at Wal-Mart an using Instant Messenger often become substitutes for long-term, more authentic community. Once upon a time, community was more than an emotional or spiritual need; it was a matter of survival. Many hands were needed to plant the crops and harvest them, as well as feed the animals and prepare the food. in an ear when calls to 911 or trips to the grocery store were unimaginable, neighbors were the first and last line of defense against life's inevitable problems. Community was almost unavoidable.

In our high-tech, free-market society we may have gained convenience, but have we lost something in the process? And what does community look like in a world where everything is only a mouse click away? I wanted to find out. As I started to write, I had several thoughts:
1) I don't like the word community -- it's overused, and I'm not even sure what it means anymore.
2) I can't think of another word for community.
3) I need to talk to someone smarter than me."


Okay. That's enough for tonight. I'll continue probably tomorrow or the next day. Hopefully, piece by piece we can have a little discussion about each section!!

Peace out!