Thought for the day: neighbors

As I was reading an excellent speech by Bill Moyers, I came across the following gem:

"[W]hat matters most isn't what is said in Washington but what you do on the ground across the country to build an independent infrastructure, generate ideas, drive local campaigns, persuade the skeptic, organize your neighbors, and carry on the movement at the grass roots for social and economic justice."

He wasn't talking about DFA, but substitute Vermont for Washington and I think the statement remains true. Our organization's real strength is on the ground here in Lubbock and in the surrounding communities, because we are of these communities. So, while it's nice to keep up with what the national organization is doing, what matters the most is to understand the spirit of Lubbock and to have the credibility and courage to stand up and speak our views within the community. We need sympathetic hearts and minds, as well as energetic volunteers at election time. We won't find any of these by remaining silent.

Let me leave you with a few questions.

• When was the last time you talked to your next-door neighbors? Two doors down? Three? Did you talk politics?


• Does your neighborhood have a neighborhood group? (Many do.) Are you in it or can you start one?


• When was the last time you struck up a conversation with a stranger?

My own answers tell me that I have a lot of work to do.