The reality: "we are they"

It should not be surprising to learn that rural communities in various parts of the nation share similar problems and aspirations.

But to see that reality first-hand in another southern state can be very enlightening.

That was the opportunity afforded a group of Northeast Arkansans interested in rural issues during a tour last week to North Carolina sponsored by the Delta Center for Economic Development at Arkansas State University.

There were numerous highlights of the tour, which included stops at small towns on separate all-day loops to the east and west from the state capital of Raleigh.

But in looking back over the many projects detailed and comments shared, one perhaps stands out above them all -- the "we are they" realization shared by a town councilman in the small town of Robbins, N.C., a community devastated by the loss of two major employers, a textile mill and a poultry operation.

The councilman told the Arkansas group he always had an interest in city government, but decided to become more intensely involved when finally realizing "we are they" when it comes to tackling the myriad problems of his own community.

By that he meant he now personally has overcome the easy way out of complaining "they" aren't doing enough to solve civic problems, attract industry and business or make the community better. How many times in your own community have you experienced someone sitting around, uninvolved personally, while blasting "them" for not improving the local quality of life?

The fact of the matter is that, in many small towns, "they" are a relatively-small group of people giving of their time and energy to make life better amidst the challenges faced in areas where agricultural jobs have disappeared and low-wage factory employment has gone off-shore. The same small group of "they" often appears at the city council meetings, the chamber of commerce gatherings and civic club work projects. "They" make an easy target for those who have chosen to specialize in detailing how much better it all could have been done. In essence, finding fault with the way "they" are handling things is the comfortable way out of dealing with the growing crisis facing many rural areas in modern-day America.

The North Carolina councilman ultimately realized "we" are all in this together and decided to become involved personally a couple of years ago and now is a functioning part of the solution in his hometown of Robbins.

While similar improvement programs are in place in both Arkansas and North Carolina, our friends to the east have, as a state, become more pro-active in dealing with the issues of rural small towns by developing a comprehensive program centered around that state's highly-visible and respected Rural Center. The tour group studied several success stories as a result of that renewed dedication to preserving and expanding the rural culture that has been the heart of America for generations.

It's not an easy task in light of the pressures facing small towns across this nation, but progress can occur when local residents become involved and develop a positive attitude of doing what they can personally to help their community and their fellow man -- and it is so much more rewarding than sitting on the sidelines and bitterly complaining about all the mistakes "they" are making in tackling the problems.

Furthermore, as part of the overall message received on the tour, which we will expand upon at another time, the days of a major employer magically arriving in the typical small town and "bailing us out" of our difficulties is beyond unlikely. Instead, each community must learn to start addressing its own problems from within and develop solutions which involve local capital, both financial and human. Small communities can indeed receive assistance from many outside sources, but the answer (again) lies in what "we" can do for ourselves, not what "they" will do to save us.

--REK