What is the community's theme for the coming year? If we do not have one at the present, I am going to suggest that we adopt SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY as our theme. This them is not limited to young or old, but to every one of us. We are building one of the best communities in this world, and every one of us must make his or her contribution. I was drawn to this theme after the death of Ted Kennedy. This family personifies Personal Responsibility, and what is good for the Kennedys is very well good for us. It was Jack who challenged the American people with the following statement: Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country! I challenge all our citizens this year with this statement: ASK NOT WHAT PORT ALBERNI CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR PORT ALBERNI!
Let us stop the complaining of what they could have done. We have to be the solution. I know that many of you are already involved in many of the activities that go on. I am aiming my words of those who intended to do something some day! That day is now. I would like to get in touch with the teacher in charge of Social responsibility and ask him what are his plans for all our children this coming year. I am suggesting that each one of us take on a POSITIVE PORT PERSONAL PROJECT! What is your P.P.P.P? There he goes high into the sky! That man is not living on this earth, and then I hear someone saying, so people see things and ask why, I dreams things that never were and ask. WHY NOT? I think this is another quote from one of the Kennedys.
I live and am going to die here. I have high expectations for this community, and all we need is a small group of dedicated citizens fired up with the greatest aspirations for the people of this valley. This quote wants to be shared: Whatever the mind of man could think and believe, it can achieve! We have one of the greatest gifts in this Universe, the gift of choice! If you are saying to yourself now..we will never be able to have the kind of community that you are advocating. To you, I say, you are correct in your perception. Then there are the few daring ones who believe that we can achive the appellation of the greatest community in the world, then they are right! It is all a matter of perceptions.
We have ten moths of opportunity ahead of us, let us make good use of this time. Every moment, we can be reborn. It is a matter of choice..YOUR CHOICE! All that I can do is to write and share my views, but I have a
greater obligation. I have to be the change that I am advocating in this column. I am responsible for all my choices, and I will take all my advices.
Let me end with some words by Helen Keller: "When indeed shall we learn that we are all related one to the other, that we are members of one body? Until the love for our fellow men, regardless of race, colour or creed, shall fill the world, making real in our lives and our deeds, the actuality of human brotherhood-until the great mass of people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be attained."