Pattye Benson

Community Matters

Community Service Beyond the Individual

A question that we need to ask ourselves is whether we are striving hard enough to put aside self-interest and are looking to find a stronger collective social conscience. Dedication to community is a progressive ideal and my fundamental belief is in the importance of giving back and serving the community. Remembering JFK’s famous quote, “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

America is fortunate to be one of the world’s birthplaces of the concept of community service. Early pilgrims had to serve each other to keep from dying in early times. When the early colonists realized they had a choice between tyranny or freedom they banded together in every community to keep their communities safe from the tyranny of British military oppression. Men, woman, and children with deep conviction and high integrity rose to face the difficulty of the times with heroic character.

Today’s society has problems as well as any other time in our history. Daily we see dramatic scenes of the very people who should be the lighthouses of community service, acting inappropriately. We may witness certain elements of society riddled with corruption, poor character, and far more concern for themselves than any community they serve.

Community service in its ideal form is a way of doing something positive for the community. When everything in the community seems to be breaking, families falling apart at the seams, economic leaders telling us to prepare for a loss of economic will, I get upset and I ask myself have we really arrived at a true and lasting definition of what community service really means. Community service and giving back is what I know and it is what I contribute to Tredyffrin Township. Community service is a positive way of making the community a better place for everyone. Regardless of the outcome of the November election, I remain committed to serving our community and giving back.

Share or Like:

1 Comment

Add a Comment
  1. Good posting. It is interesting to note how far we have wandered from our community concepts. Maybe with so many of our friends and neighbors impacted by the economy we will have a resurgence of selflessness. If we are only for ourselves how much do we matter?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Community Matters © 2024 Frontier Theme