Each day we have renewed opportunities.
We can go in many directions, even though we may all find ourselves taking many of the same paths in life.
Certainly the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley offers the same path in its effort to be a force for good.
Its 75th Anniversary Lasting Legacy celebration was held October 7. The note from the president and CEO, Julie Christman, offered an insight into the function of the organization.
“Many of you attended, sponsored, or participated in one way or another. Thank you for your support of our Youth Engagement in Philanthropy program. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate the past 75 years than to look forward to the future.
“Everyone has a story to tell and everyone has a legacy to leave behind. We all come from different backgrounds and experiences, but, we are all here, living in this community and sharing a common interest in making our community better. Together we are able to do so much more than what we can do alone. We encourage you to take the time to think about the story you want to share and the legacy you want to leave behind. We would love to connect you to causes that matter to you. Please reach out to me with any questions about the ways you can leave a legacy.”
The Community Foundation’s celebration October 7 drew more than 500 in attendance to represent various cities and towns, small and large businesses, nonprofit agencies, individuals and agencies.
A part of the process in the future is the scholarship application which will open October 30. We must be both interested and supportive.
War is all around us, even though the involvement does not include U.S. troops, at least not early this week. In the havoc in the Middle East with Israel at the center of attacks by its neighbors, we should expect no less, given the history of the geography since 1947-1948. Peace has been temporary over the decades, with war hostilities halted until the following time. Expecting anything less is unrealistic. In fact, on the world scene, war exists far more than peace. What it has taught us, realistically, over the years is that the world residents will not seek to get along with their neighbors if groups and countries can dominate their neighbors, or, seek to be dominant. The inhumanity exits in a smoldering quiet and then breaks out into outright war.
The aim in the United States must be to find a way toward peace and not be overtly be dragged into war. Hostilities ultimately are in a dead-end path for those who seek the escalation of hostilities. Can we keep hostilities limited to a small region and understand we can achieve peace, even if it takes great effort and persistence? Even though there are partisan naysayers, the thought here is that U.S. president Joe Biden and Antony Blinken, secretary of state, seek to keep war prospects diminished and that those who want to play roles in war attitudes and engagements, can be limited.
The U.S. has been powerful for more than a century through the size of its population, powerful military, and effective negotiating skills. We are best when we seek to be a force for good. It is effective. True war does not have positive outcomes, especially given the lethal force in the world among a half-dozen of the powers. Diplomacy does the better job.