By Marjorie Logman
There has been a trend in Aurora for a long time. I call it Aurora sentimentalism. Everything is fine, we all get along and we all have the best of intentions in running government and organizations. It is similar to a fog over the City. Anyone challenging this with realism is deemed negative and a naysayer. Pushing back on those who love the City by exposing its flaws to make it even better, and more equitable, is just not nice.
After so much push back it is easy to just enter the fog of an unrealistic assessment of the City. Although we all follow this situation many are filling their pockets with money and basking in ill-gotten fame. This tension between realism and sentimentalism has grown this year with displays of immaturity.
I have received this push back to start writing more positively. The Voice does an excellent job. It has a combination of human interest stories, notifications of events, and City government awareness. It has the section for reader’s comments and opinions on most anything. There has been a trend to push the papers only to the positive. This, I believe, would only reinforce Aurora sentimentalism and limit the marketplace of ideas. If I had a column I would write about many positive things. I am basically a joyful person, but I do feel called to hold us to account.
To advance my argument, I often think how I would like ancestry.com to remove a few people from our family tree. They were not criminals but to say it nicely, quite eccentric. Much to our chagrin Dad would bring them to the table. I think he was saying that family is not based on meritocracy. I went through mental and physical healing. What was so helpful was reading, “Make Friends with Your Shadow” which would be great for Aurora. It caused me to look at the shadow self with its capability do be dysfunctional and even cause harm. Being aware of this situation allowed healing and made me a better person.
So, in the marketplace of ideas, opinion, and commentary especially in Aurora, another view, another counter opinion should be taken into account. Those with the courage to speak really care about the City and all that it offers and just want to make it realistically better.
This why I am supporting John Laesch for mayor. He not only listens, but engages with residents. His interest is in good governing that supports all that is good about Aurora but with a realism to grow the City to be more equitable and inclusive.
The marketplace of opinion offered through editorials and commentary promotes the free press, democracy, and our freedom. Realistic opposing views are necessary for not only personal growth, but that of our City, and should be welcomed.