Jonathan Meyer.

Ahhh, where did I leave off last week? I believe I had mentioned the idea of helping our community reach higher levels of civic pride through a few ideas. My main point was: through a sense of shared identity between everyone that lives here, we can achieve more.

Right off the bat I think of the immense culture we have here in town. Yes, I’ve harped on this before, but I don’t think some people get it. Yes, take that as a kick in the butt, maybe we need it.

I’ll say this next statement loud and proud: if you’re not willing to step up, what are you accomplishing? This concept has always bothered me. If you want to see change, be a part of it.

My grand ideas for these two things are actually pretty small and doable. I think at our community get-togethers, festivals and whatever else, we need to offer better ways to showcase the culture of Native Americans and Hispanic people. These folks are our brothers and sisters, who live down the street from us, who attend school and graduate with us, who shop in the grocery store with us.

I do not hope to fill this column with generalizations and vague platitudes, I hope to offer ideas and ways that we can come together. If nothing else, please think about this stuff, maybe you’ll have better ideas than I do!

I want to see diverse music and dancing, I want to see your families, I want for everyone in town to feel seen, heard, and loved. At the end of the day, that’s all we can ask for in life.

What I hope to see moving forward is a sense of responsibility over local governments in our area. I know the typical age of my reader, so please take this as what it is, you know I love you all. Do we always want to let older people dictate the future of our communities? Writing that sentence was difficult and I’m not sure if that will make it into my final draft, yet I said it and stand behind the merits of that statement.

We see it throughout any level of government, the older generation (who has more time) governs, while the younger folks respond to that governing by protesting and speaking out to legislators hoping for change towards something they see fit better.

Tangent aside, if you’re not willing to step up and be a voice for positive change, what are you doing? Does complaining on Facebook do much besides get you a few likes? Maybe a share or two? It takes dedication and special people to change the world for the better, I hope that happens in our community.

It is my honest opinion that we have one of the best communities around. We have years of building blocks being put into place, let’s put those pieces together soon.

I love Tama-Toledo.

Until next week, I’m Just Jonathan.