We Josephine County residents have a history of coming together, despite major political differences, for a common goal. Remember in 1995, when 1500 people gathered at the courthouse with “political agendas as diverse as the crowd that assembled” to let the Aryan Nation neo-nazis from Idaho know they were not welcome here, that we did not want that level of hate and violence in our community? We stood together, we stood strong and the aryan nation did not come.*

Recently, our elected officials have been making some very controversial changes. They stopped supporting programs that have always been considered so beneficial that voter-approved taxes fund them. Many, many people voiced their disagreement and concerns and found - something surprising: Common goals.

At a time when national politics are dividing us, Josephine County residents are discovering that despite differences, we all share life’s basic values.

We all want a community where we feel safe, where those we elect have our best interests in mind, where everyone is treated with respect. We want our taxes to provide things for the good of the community: from clean water and appropriate sewage treatment, streets and roads in good repair, and emergency services, to excellent education, enforcement of laws, care for the natural resources around us, and much more. We have these things in common. How we achieve those goals is where we may disagree, and sometimes we lose sight of the bottom line. 

So how do we resolve our disagreements? It all begins the same way: what’s working? What are our strengths? How do we build on them? What are the concerns? How can they addressed? If what has been tried isn’t working, is  another approach possible? In mediation, it’s called the Strength-Based Approach, Asset Based Development, even Appreciative Inquiry and it boils down to listening, really listening, to each other.

As controversial issues arise, people want their voices  to be heard. Together we represent the full range of the political spectrum, and as we come together over common goals, we are learning that our different viewpoints, shared, give us a broader view of the world.

Here in Josephine County, we are beginning to talk to each other about ways we can support our vital, but now endangered, community programs and services. As we continue these discussions, we are all getting better at listening to each other. 

Solutions are found by realizing we have common goals.  It’s working, these first steps in finding ways to achieve our shared goals. Together.

http://www.thedailycourier.com/archives/story.html?i=s_17489