Building Bridges
Our seemingly perpetual political season isn't a bad time to reflect on the nature of community. A bunch of people living in the same place isn't necessarily a community, and a group of individuals who share some characteristic or profession is even less so. Yet we call both communities. The basis of community is evident in its correlation with communication. More than sharing something in common—a place, characteristic, or occupation, community requires a positive connection. Sadly, we live in a disturbing environment of rather constant noise; not only does it interfere with people actually hearing each other, but it prompts people to attack others generally without listening. I find this extremely disheartening. I, like everyone else, have ideas and opinions and like to express them. More often than not, the responses are either simple agreement or immediate hostility. Often I will post an article or illustration with what I consider to be a teaser, that is, a com