Southwest Sierra #94 – Can We Get it Together?

It has been several weeks since I’ve written an article. The local fire district (plioceneridge.org) has consumed more time than usual with the presentation of a Public Safety First Aid Class for our local Fire Departments. This is a 21-hour course that meets the State’s minimum training requirements for first responders (Law enforcement, Firefighters and Lifeguards). The class was held at the Pike City Firehouse with students from the following fire departments: Camptonville, Pike and North San Juan. The class was completed on March 16th.

After the class was over, one of the Firefighters from Camptonville and I pondered the current state of affairs in the United States. The current situation in the White House feels surreal to many of us. President Trump’s federal spending cuts are hitting home in many areas, not the least of which will be our local region’s ability to fight wildfires. Thousands of regional Forest Service positions are being slashed. Even in the best of times, the strain on local volunteer fire departments to maintain operations is high. Most volunteers are unable to respond on weekdays because they have regular jobs (or their spouse does, and they have the kids). Add to that aging volunteers, a lack of new volunteers and you get the picture. The Alleghany force is down to only four active responders, and I have heard similar reports from Sierra City and Camptonville. The Camptonville Fire Department recently reported having only six active responders. Our local agencies work directly with the US Forest Service and CalFire. We rely on them to take over incidents that involve the forests that cover most of our response area.

All the way back to the Boston Tea Party, being “anti-government” is an American tradition. Complaining about the government is a national pastime. Now, we are witnessing what looks like the dismantling of the current government structure by Mr. Trump and Elon Musk. What is that saying? “Be careful what you wish for!” Reflecting on our Nation’s history, there have been many eras of “unprecedented” divisiveness. From the American Revolution to the Civil War and, more recently, the Vietnam era. How quickly we forget. I bring this up not to discourage but to encourage. “Can we get it together; can we still stand side by side?” Neil Young.

In difficult times, it is important to take care of ourselves and each other as best we can. Simple acts of kindness and volunteering at the local level are ways to do that. Working with our neighbors is challenging for many of the same reasons that national politics are so challenging, but how we respond to challenges defines us. Pointing fingers seems to be more satisfying than rolling up our sleeves and getting things done. Most of us prefer to point a finger.

Mom taught me that whenever a person has the power to “push your buttons,” it is because there is something inside of yourself that needs to be looked at. It is difficult to explore those “buttons,” but again and again, I have found truth in her advice. Braver Angels (braverangels.org) stresses learning to listen to each other. Hatred just breeds more of the same. “You cannot fight hatred with hatred.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Disclaimer: all opinions expressed are the author’s and not those of any other entity or person.