Obama’s Town Hall Meeting

February 9, 2009 by  

I wasn’t there in person this time when President Obama came to town, but I was talking to a friend on her cell phone as she watched Air Force One land at the South Bend Regional Airport…  AND I did get to watch on TV while a couple of my neighbors shook his hand.  So, like millions of others, I heard the president’s words from the comfort of my living room instead of from the bleachers in the Concord High School gymnasium.

In short, Obama delivered. He used the office of the presidency to highlight our community as an example of a place that especially needs help, but also as an example of a place that needs to be willing to see this hardship as an opportunity. He reminded us all what this stimulus package is really about. It’s about moving forward with a new, greener and more socially equitable economy. He stressed the fact that when something is already in disrepair (like our local and national economy), that’s the best time to make important shifts, to rebuild better and smarter.

The roughly 22 percent of Americans who stood by George W. Bush until the end showed us that no matter what, some people will stand their ground. Let them stand. The rest of us better get moving…

Filed under: Environment, Politics
Tagged: , ,

Comments

One Response to “Obama’s Town Hall Meeting”

  1. Teresa Brouillette on February 27th, 2009 10:58 am

    Toward the objective of keeping things moving in a positive direction, I’m sharing the following open letter sent to Elkhart’s Mayor Miller and the Elkhart Truth earlier this morning.

    = = = = = = = = = = = = =

    February 27, 2009

    Mayor Dick Miller
    Municipal Building
    229 S. Second St.
    Elkhart, IN 46515

    An Open Letter to Mayor Miller

    Dear Mr. Miller,

    I wish to commend you and the City Council for continuing the Community Garden Plot program at the airport and the Hudson/Sterling garden. This is an excellent way to sustain the spirit of citizenship and community service generated as result of the recent national attention given to the city of Elkhart. To further support this program, I would like to offer the following adapted ideas which first appeared in the (October 9, 2008) New York Times Magazine article by Michael Pollan, entitled: “An Open Letter to the Farmer in Chief.”

    • Instead of planting flowers in the various flower beds on city-owned property, plant vegetables.
    • Donate fresh vegetable produce from the gardens to local food banks and homeless shelters.
    • If budget funds for tending the city-owned flower beds has already been cut, perhaps people assigned to do community service could perform this task.
    • If those city-owned flower beds would otherwise be empty this summer, perhaps volunteer organizations could adopt specific flower beds to grow a garden on behalf of a particular food bank.
    • Could the city at least keep those beds watered?
    • I’m reasonably certain the nature conservancy could provide compost.
    • Marigolds are natural insect repellants. Planting a combination of marigolds and vegetables could eliminate the need for pesticides on the vegetables.

    As Mr. Pollan points out in his article, this is not a new idea. During World War II people were encouraged to grow Victory Gardens. I’m now urging you to demonstrate the city’s commitment to the needs of our community by devoting city-owned green space to the growing of ‘Recovery Gardens.’ In turn, other Elkhart citizens might be inspired to devote a portion of their own flower beds to growing fresh vegetables for themselves or to share with their neighbors.

    Increasingly, we hear that one of the most important elements of a healthy diet – fresh fruits and vegetables – is the first element to be eliminated when family food budgets are tight. Enacting a city-sponsored vegetable garden of one kind or another would be a very valuable investment in the health of our city – particularly among those people who have been hardest hit by the economic down-turn.

    I’m delighted that the city of Elkhart has opened its doors to green industry. I’m also delighted to know your commitment to green initiatives includes support for green thumbs being applied to help feed our neighbors.

    Mr. Mayor, keep waving your green thumb!

    Teresa L. Brouillette
    Elkhart, IN

Comments welcome. If you'd like to be notified of follow-up comments on this post, submit your email address and check the box at the bottom of the page.