ON Beliefs
The 2010 Wisconsin Book Festival explores the theme of Beliefs. In the Festival's honor, we asked several authors, poets and other thinkers from across Wisconsin to reflect on the role beliefs have played in their lives. The multiplicity of perspectives you'll see here reflects one of the Wisconsin Humanities Council's deeply held beliefs: That when our beliefs get aired, shared and woven together, community life grows more vibrant and our individual lives are enriched.
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Civic Involvement & Responsibility
by Mary Jane Herber, Brown County Library, Green Bay
One of the beliefs I hold most dear is that civic involvement is something we must do as citizens of this country, state and community.
Our nation needs a resurgence in responsibility to community. Some people may say this country already is home to much civic involvement, given all of the various activities that can be found in most communities. However, true civic involvement is motivated not by personal gain, but by a desire for outcomes that serve the greater good.
Civic involvement means that you participate, that you pursue a deep understanding of the issues affecting your community, and that you be able to agree or disagree with others, in a respectful way, because you are informed. True civic involvement does not allow for retirement - it is a commitment that lasts a lifetime, a responsibility that should be instilled from the earliest age onward.
The true leaders of a community are those who continually stay involved, those who are available for advice and counsel, who are willing to speak out wisely, who are willing to invest time for no monetary gain. Many of the true leaders in each of our communities are still leading well into their 90s. Should we not continue their example?
If we wish to carry these ideas forward to the 300th anniversary of this nation, we must participate - not just when it is convenient, but also when it is not.
To read more ON Beliefs essays from the across the state, please visit the Wisconsin Book Festival website.