Matrix Key: Personal Awareness - Community - Legislative
"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help." - Ronald Reagan
Malala. Do you recognize the name of the young Pakistani woman whose name swept our headlines last autumn? Malala gained international attention as a young teenager for speaking out in support of keeping girls in the educational system. At age 15 she survived a gunshot to the head by Taliban sympathizers.
Fortunately, local politics here in the United States are not a life or death matter. However, local issues affect our daily lives much more than what happens in Washington or in the rest of the world. Do the firefighters have sufficient equipment to respond if your home catches fire? What if your garbage was no longer magically removed from your sidewalk? Those potholes in the road will not be fixed by your congressperson. And on the upside, your local leaders are probably truly interested in your opinions and welcome a chance to talk with you. Your input and support could be a crucial factor in the outcome of a community issue.
In the WholeLife Matrix, I suggest four ways you can be involved with your local political community:
- Knowledge of Issues
- Voting
- Dialog
- Support
When you stop to think about it, Malala did not set out to become an international activist. She was a Pakistani schoolgirl who passionately wanted to continue attending her local school. What local issues are you passionate about?
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