The Chinese word for crisis combines the symbols for danger plus opportunity. For decades this nation has been in one crisis or another. Politicians, preachers, news people, and other public person are always declaring, The sky is falling_ The sky is falling_ Run for cover__ Danger seems to be every where.
First it was the big war in Europe. Then the Atomic age_ The Evil Empire of Communism_ Global Warming_ Bigotry_ Zero Population_ Dictators_ The Far Left_ The Far Right_ The Indifferent Middle_ Danger every where_ The world and this nation are going to hell in a hand basket_
Could we please do something different this time? Let us assume the dangers are self evident and focus on the opportunity side of each crisis faced. Aunt Mary taught me long ago that every girl has some nice or unique qualities. I also learned it was true about the boys. If I know another's strengths and good points, I know what opportunities we can have together.
Relationships are meant to be constructive not destructive. The same is true when viewing communities, nations and planets_ Perhaps it might be more beneficial, if we approach a crisis with the intent of discovering more opportunities than dangers? The old sayings carry a lot of truth. _You can get more flies with honey than vinegar._ or _The glass is half full not half empty._
Would this approach work at local levels in our society? Can we focus on opportunities in a crisis, rather than danger? If so, how? We know what is wrong. What about what is right? Local communities, already know the dangers of one particular crisis. That being the growing crisis of the poor. Amongst the poor education levels have diminished to near extinction; jobs and career opportunities have all but vanished; crime and gangs have become the norm; welfare has become a demanded right and a way of life; families with two parents are an exception rather than a rule; and the pride of a community has no clear focus. Yet every segment of society is affected in this crisis.
Initially in each community, gather a designated group of people under one roof. Then challenge, no, demand the group answer two questions: _What opportunities exist for our poor at this time?_ and _What opportunities may we have to create for them ourselves?_ Keep them assembled until they have listed and acknowledged actual opportunities apparent in the crisis of the poor today.
Who should be in the group? First, no elected officials. They have a mechanism to do all of this and they fail to ever use it properly. The group might be about thirty people from a variety of backgrounds and positions. Maybe a local federal judge; a local school superintendent; an unemployed single parent; an adult in a two parent home; a high school junior; a college senior; a tech school sophomore; a member of the local police and fire departments; a divorce lawyer; a criminal lawyer; an assistant district attorney; a fourth grade teacher; a high school teacher; a public housing resident; three clergy - fundamentalist, liberal, and moderate; a member of AA; a county prisoner convicted of robbery; a owner of a small business; presidents of three businesses - small, medium, and large; a doctor with a family practice; a hospital nurse; a food stamp counselor; a homeless person; a newspaper editor; and a TV reporter. A farmer or rancher would be a good chairperson.
Thirty people, vowing to enter a room together and not emerge until the opportunities available in the crisis amongst the poor are discovered. The resulting list of opportunities would be a social agenda and mandate for eliminating this crisis amongst the poor in our community. Opportunities would be provided for everyone, because everyone is involved. While the poor feel the biggest impact, we are all effected by their plight.
The list will provide signs of hope, not more warnings of danger. It produces something everyone enjoys, progress. Any win - win situation stimulates enthusiasm, cooperation as well as progress. Examinations of opportunities are much more productive than those that only look at dangers. In this up lifting approach, the dangers of the crisis are not ignored, they are simply treated as cautions.
Over fifty years ago, president Sukarno of Indonesia used this method to stabilize his nation. That small, but populated, nation still remains one of the few stable areas in the world. This approach is not limited to small or local communities. It is a perfect instrument for a nation in crisis. As a nation what would result if we addressed a budget deficit crisis with the same positive approach? We know the problems. Now we want them solved_
Crisis produces opportunity not just danger. Let us once again make this wonderful nation a land of opportunity seekers and not a brood of chicken littles_
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