Turmoil verses resolution. Toxic verses refined. Tumultuous versus reverie.
We are worlds apart in many places and many view the world with friction instead of fraternity. We can make choices of how we want to see ourselves.
In spite of the raucous behavior of some individuals instead of tenderness, those with positive positions prevail in the majority. Nonetheless, those with wanton wiles often achieve more attention. Is it the spoiled child stomping feet rather than certitude and civility which can be insistent? Noise versus placid?
It can touch in various places, from the playground to the boardroom to politics and international relations. It was with a welcome cheer that we include former U.S. central Illinois congressman Ray LaHood’s column this week on achieving civility in Congress. Click here to see Ray LaHood’s column.
Statesmanship can reflect times we live in and so can belligerence. It gives us choices of how we want to see the world and how we want to conduct ourselves.
Will we be of good cheer only during the holiday season, or, can we conduct a change in course all year?
• Doing well by doing good includes the Cosmopolitan Club of Aurora which recently awarded the Aurora Historical Society a $500. grant to help reopen the Tanner House Museum. The Museum, on the near West Side of Aurora, will be open each Sunday noon to 4 p.m. this month for the first time in two years.
• Naperville Park District sites will be available to drop off toys in the DuPage Toys for tots drive through Saturday, Dec. 11. The sites include the Park District administration building, 320 W. Jackson Avenue and the Alfred Rubin RiverwalkCommunity Center, 305 W. Jackson Avenue. One of many good causes this holiday season. We must look around us.
• Santa Paws, an 11th annual fundraiser by Starfish Animal Rescue, will be held Saturday and Sunday, December 11-12 at the rescue shelter, 167 Oswalt Avenue in Batavia. There will be more than 70 raffle baskets.
• USA Cycling National Cyclocross championships will be December 7-12 in Cantigny Park, 1 S 151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. It is Cantigny’s first time as host to a national event. There will be food trucks available.
• Clear and Concise, Week 49 Year 2: Be a force for good this holiday season and each non-holiday season.