COMMUNITY, CONNECTION, CITIZENSHIP AND CIVILITY: CHALLENGING OURSELVES TO THRIVE

by Dr. Sharon M. Cadiz

Without a sense of community that embraces connection; citizenship and civility, we become dangerous to ourselves and others. We become unable, or unwilling to gather together in peaceful and constructive ways. Fear and hatred of “the other” becomes the way that we consider those around us. We start to look to war and conflict as a means of protection. A singular regard for self-preservation; conquest and advancement, fuel the only movement that seems possible among those who trade compassion for a passion to control or dominate. I have observed how the pandemic has set the stage for advancing our capacity to see the road ahead more clearly. It has provided us with a laser focus on what comes up for us when we freeze the action momentarily as we did when “sheltering in place” was the global prime directive. With community and connection taken away to a large extent; and the lines of citizenship taking on a more global aspect, we began to open our eyes to cross-cutting views of civility based on honoring the brave actions of those on the front lines while glimpsing different views of coping. We seemed to jettison ourselves toward a different kind of future than the one we were previously headed toward. In a way, the pandemic gave us a look at who we could become. Alas, as we stumbled out of the most challenging and uncertain times of the pandemic that continues to reinvent itself, we returned to familiar patterns that seemed to make us forget what we had learned while under the effects of a global crisis that threatened our very existence.

Well, I think it is time once again to rub our tired eyes and reawaken to the high stakes endeavor in which we are engaged. Let’s recall how it felt that the first time we were able to come together when there appeared to be a level of safety that would support group interaction. Did you hug someone who you could not hug for a seemingly long time? How did it feel when you remembered hearing your neighbors banging pots and pans at 7pm in the evening to acknowledge the courageous medical personnel who kept showing up for those in need? Were you amazed when you recalled the creativity of others as you sampled TikTok or other social media platforms that provided a means of connecting with others? What was the experience like when you saw your neighbors or walked down the street that first time? Remembering what we learned is the key to going forward in the direction of a hopeful future. Please take a moment to express your gratitude, or perhaps the understanding and insight that you gained from realizing the depth of our human connection and the sacredness and meaning embedded in each interaction before you walk out the door; stand on line for groceries; drive your car in heavy traffic; make a decision about the value of sanctuary for refugees and immigrants; think about lives that matter; the future of an unwanted child; income equality or consider your new neighbors who speak a different language, wear different clothes or worship in different ways. The St. Pat’s Parade for All; minus some of the long winded speeches and political grandstanding, is my touchstone for unity, peace and harmony because for every year that I have attended, it is a gathering of well-meaning souls who refrain from judging each other. It is a model of peaceful coexistence demonstrated by the ability to walk in straight lines down a community block as diverse as the United Nations with men in skirts or kilts; women with green hair; elders with banners and flags, and no one minds. It is about women and men together on the bandstand making music to harmonize history and the present jam of different sounds. It is children seeing us at our best as we welcome each other into our loving embrace and thumb our noses at the skeptics and false prophets who want to keep us separate. By all means, come together; bless your community with your positive, active presence; be a proud citizen and speak well of your neighbor because they are a reflection of you. Find your own models of those values and ideals that allow us to prevail as we face the challenges in this destined walk we are on to the future. Perhaps most importantly, let yourself become the example to our children who watch our every move and hear our every utterance. They are watching and they are learning to be the citizens of that future that we all have a part in crafting through our imagination, creativity and most of all our beliefs and actions.

Due to the rising crime in our community, starting next Wednesday at 6pm. We will be hosting a FREE community selfdefense class (Krav Maga) and every Wednesday after that. This is free to all our neighbors in our community.

Supreme Team Boxing 34-09 Queens Blvd, Long Island City Call 718-709-9799 for info www.supremeteamboxing.com

The 2023 Sunnyside Restaurant Week will take place from March 22- April 3, 2023 and, like always, will feature restaurants in and around Sunnyside! Each participating restaurant will serve a 3-course dinner menu for $35, while some will offer a special lunch or combo menu. Sunnyside Restaurant Week features an array of dining options from the neighborhood’s beloved restaurants and food establishments – try cuisine from Mexican to Italian, Colombian to Japanese and Philippine to Turkish. We hope you find additions to your Sunnyside favorites, support local businesses, and discover another reason to love Sunnyside.