As I reflect on "The Week That Was", the words and feelings that come to mind are: Community, Neighborly, Unity, Helpers, etc.
The above quote from Mr. Rogers is so fitting for "The Week That Was".
Texas
Our thoughts are with our friends and neighbors in Texas. Lives have been lost, people are struggling for bare necessities - it's truly a disaster. And the quote above came to life with what's happening in Texas.
It's easy to say "It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem." This part of Mr. Rogers' quote was given life by Texas Senator Ted Cruz who fled the snowstorm and devastation with his family and literally left the country. Then when pressure was put on him - he came back early and blamed his children for his total disregard for those in his state who were struggling and dying.
And then there were "...those who see the need to respond." The "heroes".
There was Beto O'Rourke who organized volunteers to make more than 784,000 wellness calls to senior citizens and others around the state of Texas.
There was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who raised over $3 millions for Texans who are suffering.
"We hit $3.2 million in assistance for Texans across the state just last night," Ocasio-Cortez said at the Houston Food Bank Saturday morning. "I think this shows that New York stands with you, but the whole country stands with you."
But besides the "big names", there are regular folks who are stepping up to help as well.
Jim McIngvale, who goes by "Mattress Mack" is known to open his furniture stores to those in need. So when the snowstorm hit and many were left in the cold, hungry and needing water - he opened some of his showrooms and invited hundreds in for warmth, food, drink and a place where they could rest.
Locally
Locally, this past week - we've seen Mr. Rogers quote in action too.
Faribault Senator John Jasinski lived up to the "It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem." part of Rogers' quote as he continued his campaign to divide Minnesotans by declaring that tax payers dollars shouldn't go to help Minneapolis and St. Paul recover from the riots of last Summer. He continued to pit rural Minnesotans vs. metro Minnesotans. And his supporters are joining him - here's a sampling of Facebook comments on Senator Jasinski's posts:
"They made the mess they need to clean it up! They elected to inept people that run the city."
"Oh hell no. They made their bed and now they have to sleep in it!"
"No bail out!!! They allowed it to go on, they can live with it"
Senator Jasinski is the definition of a total hypocrite.
When a tornado hit Faribault the State of Minnesota - all Minnesotans came to the aid of Faribault. And Senator Jasinski wasn't shy about asking for state funds to help in the recovery effort of Faribault and surrounding areas, as he should've.
I was in Faribault that night with our Central Committee holding our monthly meeting. We were less than a mile from where the tornado touched down. It was hard to see a community I love, support, and grew up in and around be savaged by the tornado.
It was great to see the outpouring from all Minnesotans and the State Government to help Faribault recover.
Now some will argue it was different because it was a natural disaster. Well, I would argue that the folks who were affected whether by the tornado or by the rioting - the innocent business owners, families and residents who were affected would see no different in their damage. They were all hurt by something that was out of their personal control.
As Minnesotans we take care of each other. We take care of our neighbors - no matter what. That is the true spirit of the North. The true spirit of our state that we love.
There is no place for those who want to divide us for political reasons. There's no place for the mind set of "It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem."
We're in this together. No matter your political beliefs - when we see our neighbors needing help, we help them. Period.
- Shawn G.
