[at-l] Community Spirit

[kahley7@ptd.net (kahley)]

  Rooty (since "Rocky" is taken) asked
>What
>exactly is that community spirit?
>
>     OK, sis boom bah Ruck, Ruck, Ruck!!!  Pom poms and cheerlead!

No.  Real community spirit means you do not ignore or exploit
the needs or the desires of the community without a damned
good reason.  In ALDHA, this list or in America, people have the
treasured right to speak their mind as they choose.  But most
of the members, listers and citizens hold their fellow's comfort
and sensibilities in high esteem.  They do not exploit their own
liberties to intentionally upset or outrage.  Unlike you, they
temper their speech to be appropriate to the nature and purpose
of the occasion.

Why is this a good thing?  Because it allows us to live in community,
unburdened by a ton of additional laws or rules that mute
every distinction.  America has slipped into that mess in that,
as response to the bigoted we created PC madness and quotas
and a thousand new laws which have made us paranoid in
everyday conversation and almost willing to re-create history
with the proper demographic "look",  All because some people
refused to consider the effects of their actions and words on
the whole, we have bound ourselves in a crazy web that
truly reduces our freedoms.  Every law was created to prevent
a few people from exploiting the general good nature of the
rest.  And all laws restrict freedom, even the freedoms of those
they were designed to protect.

You demand an answer as to why, if this country is supposed
to be free, we don't salute those who make the most (not best)
use of that freedom.  It's because most of us are coming to
realize that there must be some limits and those limits are
better imposed by each of us on our own behavior rather
than by more laws and restrictions, whenever possible

ALDHA, blessedly, is a small org of sensible people who are not
likely to create a couple dozen rules and procedures to prevent a
re occurance of the incident.  They are not likely to struggle
to craft  regulations to limit the subject matter of future speakers.
They could have said no poetry or no poetry that isn't directly
hiking related but then again, that would preclude inspirational poetry
that would be entirely appropriate.  I doubt they will create a panel
for the review of future presentations.

Instead, Jim will have a_talk_, and despite any allusions to violence,
a_talk_with his friend.   Beyond that, as to Warren's future with ALDHA
and the Gathering, since I am lapsed <oooops> I have no say in the
matter since I'm not a mamber.  As to Warren's future in the Trail Community,
I don't feel confident in predicting, since I wasn't there and don't know
exactly what was said and don't have the same personal outrage from
the hearing of it.  He has an awsome history with the Trail and I'd hate
to loose the knowledge he bears.  He has probaly bested by a factor of
two, the boasted mileage and experiences of another Trail icon whom you
so dearly love to defend.  I'd hope, in fact, expect that at minimum he
would be treated cordially if he shows at the Ruck.

I have often said that here on the list we try and "treasure our ogres"
because with or without faults, we are all hikers and as an endangered
species <g> we need to protect our own.....especially when a person
has done sooo much to futher the sense of Community as Warren has.

I hope that applies in this case to the best extent that  each of us can
manage.  We are all human and subject to blowing it, from time to time....
sometimes we blow it 'big time'  and have to suffer the consequences
of our actions.  Each of us has to evaluate our own reaction and more
importantly how we will evidence our reaction.  I can only hope we bring
a sensible attitude to the situation and not dampened the spirits of
another Trail meeting.

Jeeze....if we can tolerate you, Rooty, we ought to be able to do a little
bit better than that with Warren .