[Vision2020] as a whole...

[Mark Seman]

I just saw the front page photo of Friday's Arg.  Bill London and Doug
Wilson talk radio.  Even though I did not listen to their show, I understand
it was an effort to air their differences.  I want to extend kudos to them
both for doing so.  I also truly hope, and some may say, I even pray, that
their efforts will expedite some of the healing this community is so dire
for.  From my eyes and mind, I am so disenchanted with the amount of
negative sniping that was exhibited on V2003 and I loath its' continuance
into 2004.

I recognize that there is good in all.  Even in all it's initially venomous
intent, good can be derived from bigotry, slavery, intolerence, deceit and
V2020, if there is effort applied in that direction.  In a sense, it is only
through the passage of time that brings good from evil and vice versa.  I
know this community, as a whole, has the will to be a good one.  I look for
us to work through our issues together, embracing a strong support for the
concept of tolerance.  The level of tolerance which we exhibit is up to
ourselves to set, but it will in-turn define our community.

I look forward to the day when Moscow is beyond it's tantrums and can focus
on positive reform.  Instead of arguing, vandalizing, boycotting,
influencing, propagandizing ... tearing down ... working towards enhancing,
correcting, improving ... building.  There are serious issues for us to deal
with, and this venting has its purpose ... is it needed? ... I could see us
doing without so much.  I can see people's need for it, though I want less
... but I can tolerate it ... for a while.

Everyone realizes that neither one of us is alike another.  We have our
similarities as well as our differences, they can both be positives.  We can
celebrate our sameness as well as we can celebrate our differences.  Though
doing so seems so contrary to our nature, maybe it is just against our
culture.  Someone doesn't believe as we do and we can easily point that out
and put a label to it.  Differences, somehow too often, appear negatively
rather than positively and our percieved commonalities are what bring us
together.  We can, if we want, work towards better Vision and a better
community.  We can tolerate people having beliefs contrary to ours.  It
doesn't matter much what those beliefs are, how divergent they are, or how
contrary they are.  What is important is how this community, as a whole,
values its' diversity.

In our own way, we are all seeking to maintain a sort of balance.  As the
momentum of life carries us forward, it does not neccesarily travel a smooth
path and our equilibrium gets tested.  I see this community struggling to
maintain balance.  It has experienced a number of bumps recently, with the
unforeseen being the most disturbing.  That which occurs below radar
generally has troubling results that take time to repair.  Moscow has
numerous committed citizens working to implement repair.  Whether you are
committed to talk about it or work towards it, let's do it together in a
productive manner.

I can see a brightness on the horizon.  I don't know how distant the horizon
is, but I sense good things are coming to this community.  I'm measuring in
time rather than distance, and I hope (pray) that its' time is soon, I trust
we all do ... as a whole.

Mark
***   *****   ***
Mark & Heather Seman
Full Circle Studios
828 South Washington, Suite B
Moscow, Idaho 83843
v 208-883-3276
f 208-883-0112
FCS@Moscow.com