[Winona Online Democracy]
Terry,
Thanks for your comments. I think I need to clarify my earlier posting.
I didn't mean to say that the negatives I listed were characteristic of any
particular proportion of Winonans, so I wasn't thinking I was painting with
any size of figurative "brush". I hope the majority of Winonans don't fit
my description of the narrow provincialism often found in small cities.
However, I do know there are longtime Winonans who express many of the
perspectives I mentioned.
I'm well aware that people often justify their prejudices as a means of
preserving values or a way of life they idealize. (The KKK and the recent
renaissance of the Confederate flag spring to mind.) That's why my wish
would be for Winona to collectively find ways to preserve without resorting
to exclusion, derision and rejection of "others", whoever they may be.
I appreciate that individuals and groups have probably "come a long way"
since the 1940's or 50's. I think it's important to remember that our
society still has a long way to go before we are truly inclusive, or
equitable, or open, or however you choose to frame the issue.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> Scott, I would suggest that many in this community feel that a way to
>"conserve and nurture its unique character and flavor..." is to reject "
>influences and changes seen as originating from 'outside' the community.."
>For example, many view drugs as a result of immigration from the bigger
>cities.
>That isn't a successful strategy but I offer it as an explanation.
>I wonder if your brush was too broad when you said "(for example,
>smugness, lack of empathy for big city problems, acceptance of all-white
>leadership and staffing in most businesses and public organizations,
>anti-intellectualism, suspicion and prejudice related to recent
>immigrants)".
>My early childhood was spent in Winona in the '50s. It was quite an
>unusual sight to see anything but a lilly white face in town. So perhaps
>as a community, we have some catching up to do. And we aren't where we
>want to be but thank goodness we're not where we use to be? Again, not
>offered as an excuse but as an explanation. I won't deny that these
>things exist in Winona but if you take the midwest area, or the nation,
>and mark on the curve, what would our grade be?
>I think the schools and churches are a great source of positive leadership
>in Winona.
>Have a good weekend Scott!
>Terry Angst
>Scott Lowery wrote:
>[Winona Online Democracy]
>Steve,
>Here's one I'd like to throw out, in addition to those Dwayne listed
>recently. It's longer, but there's only one.
>1. How can the community of Winona conserve and nurture its unique
>character and flavor (history, topography, ethnic heritage, connection to
>the river, independent thinking, you name it) while at the same time
>growing beyond the confines of a provincial or parochial sensibility that
>unthinkingly rejects influences and changes seen as originating from
>"outside" the community (for example, smugness, lack of empathy for big
>city problems, acceptance of all-white leadership and staffing in most
>businesses and public organizations, anti-intellectualism, suspicion and
>prejudice related to recent immigrants). In short, how can Winona maximize
>the best qualities while minimizing the worst qualities of life in a small
>city?
>Scott Lowery 461 Sunnyview Drive, Rollingstone MN 55969 home phone:
>(507)689-4532 school phone: (507)453-3888 home email:
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] school email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be
>counted counts." Albert Einstein
>"You can fool too many of the people too much of the time." James Thurber
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Scott Lowery
461 Sunnyview Drive, Rollingstone MN 55969
home phone: (507)689-4532
school phone: (507)453-3888
home email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
school email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be
counted counts." Albert Einstein
"You can fool too many of the people too much of the time." James Thurber
----------------
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